The corpse was that of an adult man. His skin was bluish gray and damaged, his torn fingernails packed with soil. His contorted face held none of the peace of the dead.
He had clearly suffered pain and despair before he died.
"Can you tell when he died?" Annan asked Maria.
"No more than a month ago."
That was too recent. He had rotted before he could freeze. Someone could only have buried him in the Graveyard recently.
"Ask the City Guard responsible for this area whether anyone's gone missing lately."
That was the City Guard's job. But Reynaldo was Minister of War, so his City Guard was Annan's City Guard.
"You're going to handle this?"
"I don't have time. Ask your subordinates who's willing to investigate."
Maria asked around, and a Ranger named Terry volunteered.
"It's yours. Don't worry about causing trouble—the entire Purification Court and City Guard have your back. Oh, and take Martin with you."
"Uh..."
Who among the Free City People hadn't heard Martin's stories?
"He found the body. He might be able to help."
"Oh..."
Terry, who had dreamed of solving crimes since childhood, excitedly left with the frozen corpse. Annan thought for a moment. "What if I bring Iron Maiden a popsicle?"
"What's a popsicle?"
"An ice treat."
People of the Northern Frontier mixed cream, Honey, and water until thick, then left it outside to freeze before eating it. But it wasn't they who had invented ice treats. It was Wilhelm's mages, who could invent anything for pleasure.
"If she finds out a corpse made you think of ice treats, she'll trip you again."
Annan shrugged. "Then I won't let her find out."
Terry arrived at the Graveyard where Martin had dug up the corpse.
It lay in a district of commoners, so