“Wow! Look at how huge they are!” Marie exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. She clutched her book tightly, momentarily abandoning her scholarly demeanor as she leaned closer to get a better view of the giant fish.
Hughes, observing her enthusiasm, chuckled softly. “She’s quite lively,” he remarked, turning his attention to Alice. “Who is the young lady?”
Alice smiled warmly. “Ah, I forgot to mention. Her Highness has taken her in as a disciple.”
Hughes stopped in his tracks, raising an eyebrow in surprise. “A disciple? Her Highness? That’s... unexpected. I never thought she’d—”
Before he could finish, Ravenna’s commanding voice cut through the air. “Hughes, meet me in the castle’s study. Alice, Sarah, you two as well. Richard will oversee the handling of the fish.”
The trio immediately straightened, their expressions turning serious. “Yes, Your Highness,” they replied in unison, bowing briefly before following her toward the study.
Ravenna sat in her high-backed chair, exuding an aura of authority. The study’s walls were lined with bookshelves filled with account books and maps, while the large table dominated the center, scattered with charts and documents. Hughes, Alice, and Sarah took their seats across from her, the tension in the room palpable.
Without preamble, Ravenna addressed them. “I have reason to believe we’ll be facing an attack on the island within the next few weeks.”
Her words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. Hughes was the first to break the silence. “An attack? Your Highness, where did you get this information?”
Ravenna’s sharp gaze silenced him. She didn’t answer his question directly, instead leaning forward. “We don’t know the exact scale of the attack or where it will originate, but we must prepare. What do you suggest?”
Hughes furrowed his brow, contemplating her words. “If what you’re saying is true, then the attackers must have some intelligence about our defenses. No one would dare launch an assault on Jola, the dukedom of an imperial princess and a strategic location for the Ancorn Empire, without thorough planning.”
“We were hosted by the Ronin family when we passed through their town on our way to Jola. It’s likely they gained some insight into our military strength—or lack thereof.” Ravenna nodded grimly thinking in her mind.
Hughes continued “Given our current numbers, defending the city will be a significant challenge. We only have 300 knights stationed here. Even if the opposing force is small, it could still overwhelm us.”
Stolen novel; please report.
Sarah added, “There’s also the issue of time. We’ve barely begun the renovations at the port, and if the attack is only a week away, we won’t be able to hire mercenaries from the mainland and get them here in time.”
Alice leaned forward, her expression serious. “And the weapons? The blacksmiths are preoccupied with the steam engine project. Diverting their efforts to produce arms and armor would take more time than we have.”
Ravenna’s gaze darkened, her eyes narrowing like a raven ready to strike. The room seemed to chill under her glare. Hughes shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “W-We also don’t know the size or composition of the enemy force, Your Highness,” he stammered. “Without that information, planning a defense is... challenging, to say the least.”
Alice hesitated, then spoke cautiously. “We could send a magical letter to the capital, requesting aid. However—”
“They won’t act unless we have concrete evidence or are already under attack,” Ravenna finished, her voice edged with frustration.
She knew the truth: Viscountess Jessica Ronin was behind the plot. The reputation system had revealed it to her. But without tangible evidence, she couldn’t accuse the Ronin family outright. It was a delicate situation, one that required careful maneuvering.
The room fell silent as the weight of the situation settled over them. Each of them understood the stakes. The attack, if it came, could determine the fate of Jola and their lives.
Finally, Ravenna broke the silence, her tone decisive. “We’ll prepare with the resources we have. Hughes, draft a defense plan based on our current capabilities. Alice, coordinate with the blacksmiths and see if we can expedite the production of weapons. Sarah, double our patrols and reinforce the city’s vulnerable points. We’ll make do with what we have.”
As the heavy door closed behind them, Ravenna let out a slow breath and turned her attention to the translucent blue screen hovering in her peripheral vision. It was time to consult the reputation system. With a simple thought, the interface expanded before her.
[ Reputation System v0.1 ]
User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim
Reputation Level: 60 (8024/8200)
Current Reputation Points: 2,621
Titles: Raven of the Sun Palace, Unruly Princess
{ View Reputation Log } { Spend Reputation Points }
Her gaze flicked to the familiar options. she clicked on { Spend Reputation Points }, curious if anything in the store could help her prepare for the looming threat.
[ Spend Reputation Points ]
- Access to the Internet: 100 Points per Hour
- Access to Magic Spell Library: 100 Points per Hour
- Geographical Scans: 5 Points per 1 Kilometer
- Nullify Minor Poison Damage on Self: 250 Points
- Nullify Minor Poison Damage on Others: 350 Points per Entity
- Minor Heal: 1,000 Points per Entity
- Major Heal: (Locked)
- Lie Detector: (Locked)
Ravenna scanned the list, her brow furrowing in frustration. “Not much that can help immediately,” she muttered under her breath, tapping her fingers against the armrest of her chair. Most of the options were too situational.
Her eyes lingered on the Access to the Internet option. Now It has become a go-to resource for her. With a resigned sigh, she activated it.
The faint light of the system faded as a virtual browser materialized in her mind’s eye. She began typing swiftly, searching for defensive tactics, military formations, and strategies for fortifying a vulnerable position.
As she scrolled through various articles, diagrams, and forums, a thought struck her. Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned back, replaying an earlier memory.
“Wait,” she murmured, her fingers freezing mid-air. A realization clicked into place, sparking a surge of excitement. “That might be useful.”
She quickly exited the browser and navigated to the {Reputation Log}.
[ Reputation Log ]
The log displayed an exhaustive list of events and interactions that had earned her reputation points. Each entry detailed the people involved and the reasons for her gains. She had barely explored this feature in depth, but now, it felt like a hidden goldmine.
“If I play my cards right,” Ravenna muttered, her mind already racing, “I can use this to get intel on the Ronin family.”