This Nicolas... is he really in such a hurry to die?
He didn’t want to take on the responsibility of the "Mirror" and escaped, yet he left a trail for Annan to find him?
Of course, there’s another possibility.
—— The so-called "Nicolas Flal" is an impostor.
After all, Nicolas left Noah much earlier than Annan did. The specific timing of Annan’s trip to Winter, especially the destination he was about to visit, had never been ntioned to anyone else.
Nicolas is indeed very strong.
But how could he have guessed out of thin air?
If soone could directly know Annan’s destination, there is a good chance that person is a wizard from the School of Prophets — otherwise, it might be that Annan and Nigel’s conversation at the station was overheard.
...Of course, saying it’s an impersonation might not be quite right.
After all, that person hasn’t claid to be Nicolas himself.
For most people, they wouldn’t even have heard of the na.
The very few who have heard of the na would certainly think that the Nicolas known as "Hers the Second" had died hundreds of years ago. Even if he claid to be alive, it’s unlikely anyone would believe him.
If soone ca right out and said it, they might even be taken for a swindler.
What did he say?
Sothing like, "I am Hers the Second, the forr Tower Master of the Jade Tower, from hundreds of years ago. I haven’t completely died, and if you could help , there will be a great reward once I am fully revived and take control of the Jade Tower" and so on?
Only a fool would believe that.
Even Qin Shi Huang wouldn’t send out such a ssage these days.
Therefore, this na instead makes Annan suspicious — even if the person is indeed Nicolas, would it be useful to directly reveal this na?
It is more likely to be considered just a coincidence of nas.
In this binary world view composed of curses and oaths, "na" is an important and weighty oath, not sothing that can be easily changed.
Just as Tan Juan could not use the na Tan Juan after his resurrection.
Casually changing one’s na is a very dangerous and aningless act in the Transcendent world. Many spells can determine whether the na used by the other party is their real na, and the Decree School’s talismans for verifying true nas are quite popular and practical magical artifacts.
More advanced spells from the Decree School and the School of Prophets can even directly discern soone’s true na.
For those nobles who are not Transcendents, this is even more true — their real nas may have been processed by the Idol School’s wizards, with specially made "substitutes" bearing the ritual focus of their nas, like an added firewall.
Although it’s not 100% certain, it provides so protection.
But if one were to casually change to a different na and truly consider it to be their own — that na itself would beco a vulnerability, allowing one to bypass the substitute and conduct rituals.
When so Transcendents say they’re "investigating a certain noble," they usually an "investigating the aliases or identities they’ve used."
After all, no matter how cautious a person is, if they’ve done sothing shady, they’ve likely used an alias. And if the alias is only used once or twice, it can almost certainly be assud there’s no substitute protection.
By finding a way to obtain the other party’s alias, one could also have the chance to specify them as a ritual target. Whether it’s entering their dreams, examining their mories, making them impotent, or besetting them with bad luck, or even cursing them to death, all are feasible.
Similarly, impersonating soone else is also aningless.
If an impostor used Salvatore’s na, then while thinking of this impostor’s face, thinking of the things he’s done, and starting a ritual with that na, the ritual would either fail or it would draw in the impostor. It would never get to the actual person.
So whether the person is Nicolas or not, as long as he has left his na, it’s possible to find him.
...So, should I give it a try?
Annan fell into deep thought.
Knowing the other party’s na and his deeds, there is no issue with directly using a ritual to locate him. And indeed, he knew of rituals that could be used.
But could this be a trap ant to mislead Annan, or even to pinpoint his location in turn?
After all, this na was just too easy to obtain.
Annan even suspected that Dorin might himself be the bait.
After all, Dorin looked very much like Bella.
Although Annan could no longer rember if he had been close with Bella in the past, what she had done, or if she was still working with the Hand of Winter... the fact that they specifically chose Dorin was definitely intentional.
"In any case, ’The Charlatan and the Missionary’ now belongs to . It’s also sowhat of a gain, and it’s quite useful."
...The problem now was, on which floor was the other party?
"I certainly don’t want to end up as a pancake..."
Annan sighed and put the crystal bell away.
Without knowing the other party’s purpose, it was better to stay cautious for the ti being.
First thing was to detain Dorin, and then hand him over to sister Maria... or it could work to hand him to Old Goose as well.
Gourt Goose also knew rituals. And since players were not afraid to die, if this really was a trap, Annan could just turn the tables using Gourt Goose - at worst, he could compensate him with a few thousand points in favor as compensation and reward.
"I might have to accompany you for a while, child."
"Giralda" looked at the werewolf girl kneeling before him with her hands bound, and said gently, "You know, the situation now is that soone is looking for trouble with , and I am quite innocent.
"If I were to kill you here, then the troubles you brought would indeed end. But if I can’t grasp the full situation, there will be new troubles waiting for .
"I am a very lazy person, hoping to settle things once and for all. If possible, you should accompany for a while, and help investigate your teacher, Nicolas... If I can be assured at the end that you are innocent, then I will release you and apologize to you."
What Annan implied was, if you are indeed part of it... it’s not too late to kill you then.
Listening to these words, half threat and half coercion, Dorin who was already trembling in fear, started to calm down instead.
...She realized that Mr. Giralda did not seem to want to do anything to her at the mont.
He was not like those easily angered important people who would destroy an insignificant pawn like her out of annoyance for losing face or being sched against.
This Mr. Giralda was extrely rational.
The calm born of that rationality was even so chilling that one felt cold to the marrow just by looking.
As for being deprived of personal freedom, being threatened with death... what value did the freedom of a werewolf like her have?
Just monts ago when the Frost Beast was draining her, she thought she was going to die there - it turned out that she was left with a breath of life when Mr. Giralda ordered the Frost Beast to stop at the last mont.
If she were ant to die, she would be dead by now.
Thinking this, Dorin felt there was no longer anything to fear.
She mustered her courage and asked, "Aren’t you afraid... that I was sent by soone?"
At these words, "Giralda" revealed a pleased smile.
Giralda stretched out his hands and helped Dorin up gently.
"—Because you are, so you are not."
Giralda lowered his head and touched his forehead to Dorin’s, saying with a smiling gaze, "That saying is a philosophy; you wouldn’t understand it."
...What does that an?
Dorin was taken aback and fell into thought.
She contemplated it seriously for a long ti, feeling as if she understood sothing, yet also as if she understood nothing at all.
But, but... it seed very impressive anyway.
Hopefully Mr. Giralda will not kill .
Dorin silently prayed in her heart.
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