[Reputation System v0.1]

  User: Ravenna Sorius / Joy Cha KimReputation Level: 60 (7980/8200)Curreation Points: 3,331Titles: Raven of Sun Pace, Unruly Princess{View Reputation Log} {Speation Points}

  Ravenna opened her eyes to the soft m light streaming through the window. Floating in her vision was the reputation system’s interface. She had spent most of the previous night p over dots, maps, and online resources, searg for ways to tackle the crime problem in Jo and refine her newfound iron produethods into something more versatile, something like steel.

  “Creating a steam engine might not be too far off now that we’ve successfully fed iron,” Ravenna muttered, rubbiemples as the interface dispyed her progress.

  Her experience had grown steadily over time. She’d made a few observations about the system’s experience points: first, experiencreased passively with each passing day, likely due to her position and responsibilities. Sed, it surged whenever she gained reputation points: especially in bulk, like when she announew regutions or caused a stir at the docks a few days ago. Those moments seemed to earn her more experience points, albeit not always.

  After freshening up with the help of Alid the other maids, Ravenna joined Marie for breakfast. The girl had been w diligently to improve her etiquette, and it showed—though she still had a long way to go. Over tea and freshly baked bread, Ravenna enced Marie's progress before retreating to her study to tackle the day’s challenges.

  In the quiet of her study, she pulled out a rge map of Jo from a drawer beh her desk. This map was more detailed than the one she used for the meetily; it marked the results of geological s in far more detail. Her eyes lingered on a partiote he western region of the isnd, where she’d scrawled in brackets: “Limestone aroleum deposits.”

  A sigh escaped her lips as she traced the markings with her finger. Beh the western cliffs y a substantial petroleum reserve trapped in yered roations, where the limestone was mined from. It was an incredible discovery. ohat could have made Jo a dominant eic power in her past life. But here, in this world, the teology to refiroleum did. It was a sleeping giant, one she couldn’t awaken anytime soon.

  Her gaze shifted to another se of the map, highlighting the belt of bck sand deposits encirg the isnd’s eastern waters. “The sheer volume of bck sand is astonishing,” she murmured. “Even if we mi tinuously from the seabed he eastern beach, it would take geions to exhaust.”

  This abundance was a stroke of luck, b on miraculous. Bck sand, typically found near volic regions, shouldn’t have bee on Jo, which cked voloes entirely. However, o currents carried the sand from a nearby uer volo or hydrothermal vent, depositing it in a steady, almost endless supply along the isnd’s perimeter.

  Satisfied with the assessment of her resources, Ravenna unfolded a seap, this one of the Ana Empire. Her expression darkened as she studied the ports and trade routes across the o. Almost every major port city or small town directly opposite Jo was uhe trol of her brothers, Prince William or Prince Landon. Both were key pyers in the empire’s succession battle, and both were determio see her fail.

  “The local lords won’t cooperate,” Ravenna muttered, her voice ced with frustration. “William or Landon will pressure the merts to avoid trade, even if I mao establish a business el.”

  She tapped her fingers against the desk, her mind rag through potential solutions. Revereams were scarce. Selling steel or even raw iron, while tempting, was far too dangerous.

  “William already tried to poison me once for stepping on his toes,” she said, her voice a bitter whisper. “If anyone realizes we’ve started produg high-value materials here, they’ll swoop in to snatch it all aush me aside, just like before.”

  Her grip tightened around the edge of the map. Jo’s resources held immeential, but turning them into an eic lifelihout painting a target on her back felt like an impossible task for the movement.

  Meanwhile, at the Northern Coastline of Jo,

  A group of fifty figures arrived on horseback, their silhouettes cutting a stark trast against the rugged coastlihe party, led by Hughes, sisted of knights and fishermen. After two arduous weeks of travel across uneven sandy terrain, they had finally reached their destination.

  Hughes dismounted, surveying the wi beach with a practiced eye. The salty breeze carried the distant cries of seabirds, and the sound of waves crashing against sandy shore filled the air. He turo his men, his voice carrying the authority of years of and.

  “Set up a sor still so we have fresh water,” Hughes ordered. “Fishermen, start surveying the area fns of the dungeon. Knights, begiablishing the camp. I’ll join the fishermen shortly.”

  “Yes, Captain!” The knights responded in unison, their voices sharp and disciplined.

  As the knights begais and seg the area, Hughes joihe fishermen by the shoreline. He quickly ferred with Richard. Together, they pushed a small boat into the surf, intending to survey the o fical beasts that might indicate the proximity of a dungeon.

  The boat rocked gently as they drifted along the coastline, sing the clear blue waters. The sun reflected off the surface, creating a dazzling mosaic of light. For a time, the only sounds were the rhythmic pping of waves and the occasional cry of a gull.

  Suddenly, a shadow moved beh the boat. Hughes’s instincts fred, and he shouted, “Everyo down!”

  Before anyone could react, a massive fish-like creature lunged out of the water. Its powerful jaws smmed into the side of the boat with a force that felt like a battering ram, splintering the wood and sending shockwaves through the vessel.

  Hughes reacted swiftly, drawing his sword in a single fluid motion. The bde gleamed in the sunlight as he struck, slig into the beast’s thick hide. Blood spattered across the deck as the creature thrashed, its movements violent and chaotic.

  But there was no time to rest. In the distahe water ed ominously as more shadoroached—at least ten of them, their sleek bodies cutting through the waves like arrows.

  “Back to shore! Now!” Hughes barked, his voice a mixture end and.

  Richard, his face pale but resolute, seized the oars and rowed with every ounce of strength he could muster. The boat groaned uhe strain, and the waters seemed to e alive as the magical beasts pursued them relentlessly.

  Miraculously, they reached the shore just before the wave of attackers could strike. The knights rushed forward to pull them from the damaged boat, their faces etched with .

  Hughes staggered onto the sand, breathing heavily. His sword hung loosely at his side, blood from the si still dripping from its edge. “There are magical beasts far closer to the shorelihaicipated,” he said, his voice exhausted.

  Richard, equally out of breath, managed a weak smile. “That’s better for us in the long run,” he replied, his tone surprisingly optimistic. “At least we won’t have to veoo far into open waters to deal with them ime. But we should’ve tested the waters before diving in, eh?”

  Hughes couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle at Richard’s words. “Noted. ime, we’ll be more cautious. For now, we regroup and pn our move.”

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