The heavy iron doors of the dungeon groaned open, their rusted hinges echoing through the dimly lit corridor. A damp, musty scent filled the air, a mixture of mold, sweat, and despair. Flickering torches cast long shadows along the stone walls as Ravenna strode inside, her heels clicking sharply against the cold floor.

  Waiting for her in the dimly lit interrogation chamber was Captain Connor, seated on a simple wooden chair, his wrists and ankles shackled with thick iron chains. His once-pristine armor was stripped away, leaving him in a worn tunic, stained with dirt and dried blood. Though bound, he still held himself with a semblance of composure, though his eyes betrayed the exhaustion and anxiety gnawing at him.

  Ravenna took her seat across from him, her posture relaxed but her piercing gaze as sharp as a predator eyeing its prey. She smirked, her voice dripping with amusement.

  “Well, well… Look at this fool who dared to challenge me,” she mused, tilting her head slightly.

  Connor lifted his head, his expression unreadable. “I greet Your Highness,” he said, his voice steady despite his situation.

  Ravenna scoffed, crossing her legs. “Oh, trying to maintain your dignity now? Come on, Ser Connor. You disguised yourself as a pirate to attack my dukedom. Whatever honor you had as a knight is long gone.” Her tone was laced with mockery, her words cutting deeper than any sword.

  Connor swallowed hard but managed a curt nod. “I… I cannot deny it, Your Highness,” he admitted. “I am ashamed of my actions, but I had no choice. I was following orders.”

  Ravenna let out a short, dry laugh. “Ah, the age-old excuse. ‘I was just following orders.’ How convenient.” She leaned forward, her expression darkening. “Let’s get to the heart of the matter, shall we? Both your eastern and western beach squads were utterly annihilated. Only a quarter of your forces remain, locked up in these dungeons.”

  Connor’s jaw tightened as he absorbed the weight of her words. His fingers twitched slightly, the only sign of his inner turmoil. After a long pause, he gave a heavy nod. “Dame Lana and Keith’s squads… they’re gone, then?” His voice was low, almost as if speaking the words aloud made it real.

  Ravenna didn’t soften. “Yes. And now, I want the names of the knights and mercenaries among your remaining men who hold noble titles or are related to noble families.” Her eyes bore into his. “I trust, as a knight, you will honor the rules of war?”

  Connor took a slow breath before nodding. “Once you allow me to meet with my men, I will account for those of noble birth, their relatives, and any officers of strategic importance.”

  Ravenna leaned back, satisfied. It was a standard wartime practice—ransom negotiations for captured nobles and high-ranking officers. Their worth would now be determined not by their skill in battle, but by how much their masters were willing to pay for their release.

  “Good,” she said, rising from her seat. “We leave for the mainland in a few days. Whether or not your masters want you back… well, that remains to be seen.” She turned on her heel, her cloak billowing slightly as she strode towards the exit.

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  Connor remained silent, staring at the stone floor as she disappeared through the door.

  Back in her study, Ravenna sank into her chair, rubbing her temples as she reviewed the war report. Scrolls and parchments were stacked high on her desk, detailing the battle’s aftermath.

  Her eyes skimmed over the figures: Twelve soldiers dead in the western cliffs. Several militia members were injured. The worst blow had been the surprise attack from Keith’s mercenary squad, which had caught Dame Aisha’s forces off guard. Those twelve men had died holding the line, ensuring that the city remained standing.

  Ravenna exhaled slowly. “A communal funeral service must be arranged,” she murmured, picking up a quill. She quickly penned a letter to the Herptian Church, requesting them to conduct the ceremony in honor of the fallen.

  Once she finished, she set the letter aside and turned her attention to the shimmering Reputation System window that hovered before her.

  [ Reputation System v0.1 ]

  User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim

  Reputation Level: 61 (4032 / 9400 EXP)

  Current Reputation Points: 22,821

  Titles: Raven of the Sun Palace, Unruly Princess

  { View Reputation Log } { Spend Reputation Points }

  Ravenna tapped her finger against the desk, observing how the numbers continued to rise steadily.

  “I gained quite a lot of points… and they’re still increasing,” she muttered, narrowing her eyes.

  Pushing aside her curiosity about the system for now, she pulled a fresh sheet of parchment toward her and began drafting Marie’s speech for when she addressed the rescued slaves. The words had to be chosen carefully—measured, precise.

  The golden light of the setting sun seeped through the high arched windows, casting long shadows across the study. The air smelled faintly of parchment, wax, and the lingering embers of the fireplace. Just as she finished the first draft, a firm knock echoed against the heavy oak doors.

  “Come in,” she called, her voice calm but commanding.

  The door opened, and Alice stepped inside, her movements swift and precise as always. She carried a letter in one hand and a neatly bound report in the other.

  “The Merchant Association has confirmed their response,” Alice announced, placing the letter on Ravenna’s desk. “They will be sending two ships in two days. However, they have included an invoice demanding three mana coins as payment.”

  Ravenna arched an eyebrow but said nothing.

  Alice continued, holding out another document. “This is the detailed report from Captain Connor regarding the ‘pirate’ operation.”

  Ravenna accepted the papers, flipping through them with sharp eyes. “Place the invoice here,” she said, motioning toward the corner of her desk. Alice complied with a swift nod before exiting the room, leaving Ravenna alone with the numbers and reports.

  She exhaled deeply, tapping her quill against her chin as she analyzed Connor’s account of the battle.

  "I’ll also have to demand reparations for the costs I will incurre to break the servitude spells placed on the rescued slaves,” she murmured to herself.

  Slavery was a grave offense under the Imperial Laws of Ancorna—one of the founding principles of the empire’s legal code. Unlike many neighboring nations where slave trade flourished, Ancorna had outlawed it entirely. The reason was simple:

  The Hero Luminous, one of the greatest legends in history, had once been a slave himself. He had risen from chains to fight alongside the Twelve Gods, ultimately aiding in the defeat of the Absolute Being. His origins shaped the empire’s stance—no soul would be bought or sold within Ancorna’s borders.

  However, while trading slaves within the empire was strictly forbidden, the ownership of slaves brought from outside was a murkier issue. Many of the empire’s vassal states and neighboring kingdoms thrived on slavery, and enforcing immediate liberation whenever they crossed into Ancorna’s borders was politically and economically impossible. Thus, the law stood firm against trade but turned a blind eye to possession.

  Ravenna smirked, leaning back in her chair. “I have quite the leverage to extort the Ronin Family, don’t I?” she murmured, a dark chuckle escaping her lips. The upcoming meeting with them would be… entertaining, to say the least.