28. Jola’s Dungeon

User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim

Reputation Level: 60 (7980/8200)

Current Reputation Points: 3,331

Titles: Raven of Sun Palace, Unruly Princess

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Ravenna opened her eyes to the soft morning light streaming through the window. Floating in her vision was the reputation system’s interface. She had spent most of the previous night poring over documents, maps, and online resources, searching for ways to tackle the crime problem in Jola and refine her newfound iron production methods into something more versatile, something like steel.

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

Her experience had grown steadily over time. She’d made a few observations about the system’s experience points: first, experience increased passively with each passing day, likely due to her position and responsibilities. Second, it surged whenever she gained reputation points: especially in bulk, like when she announced new regulations 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 Alice and the other maids, Ravenna joined Marie for breakfast. The girl had been working diligently to improve her etiquette, and it showed—though she still had a long way to go. Over tea and freshly baked bread, Ravenna encouraged Marie's progress before retreating to her study to tackle the day’s challenges.

In the quiet of her study, she pulled out a large map of Jola from a drawer beneath her desk. This map was more detailed than the one she used for the meeting recently; it marked the results of geological scan in far more detail. Her eyes lingered on a particular note near the western region of the island, where she’d scrawled in brackets: “Limestone and Petroleum deposits.”

A sigh escaped her lips as she traced the markings with her finger. Beneath the western cliffs lay a substantial petroleum reserve trapped in layered rock formations, where the limestone was mined from. It was an incredible discovery. one that could have made Jola a dominant economic power in her past life. But here, in this world, the technology to refine petroleum didn’t exist. It was a sleeping giant, one she couldn’t awaken anytime soon.

Her gaze shifted to another section of the map, highlighting the belt of black sand deposits encircling the island’s eastern waters. “The sheer volume of black sand is astonishing,” she murmured. “Even if we mined it continuously from the seabed near the eastern beach, it would take generations to exhaust.”

This abundance was a stroke of luck, bordering on miraculous. Black sand, typically found near volcanic regions, shouldn’t have been present on Jola, which lacked volcanoes entirely. However, ocean currents carried the sand from a nearby underwater volcano or hydrothermal vent, depositing it in a steady, almost endless supply along the island’s perimeter.

Satisfied with the assessment of her resources, Ravenna unfolded a second map, this one of the Ancorna Empire. Her expression darkened as she studied the ports and trade routes across the ocean. Almost every major port city or small town directly opposite Jola was under the control of her brothers, Prince William or Prince Landon. Both were key players in the empire’s succession battle, and both were determined to see her fail.

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

She tapped her fingers against the desk, her mind racing through potential solutions. Revenue streams 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 producing high-value materials here, they’ll swoop in to snatch it all away and push me aside, just like before.”

Her grip tightened around the edge of the map. Jola’s resources held immense potential, but turning them into an economic lifeline without painting a target on her back felt like an impossible task for the movement.

Meanwhile, at the Northern Coastline of Jola,

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

Hughes dismounted, surveying the windswept 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 turned to his men, his voice carrying the authority of years of command.

“Set up a solar still so we can have fresh water,” Hughes ordered. “Fishermen, start surveying the area for signs of the dungeon. Knights, begin establishing the camp. I’ll join the fishermen shortly.”

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

As the knights began erecting tents and securing the area, Hughes joined the fishermen by the shoreline. He quickly conferred with Richard. Together, they pushed a small boat into the surf, intending to survey the ocean for magical beasts that might indicate the proximity of a dungeon.

The boat rocked gently as they drifted along the coastline, scanning 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 lapping of waves and the occasional cry of a gull.

Suddenly, a shadow moved beneath the boat. Hughes’s instincts flared, and he shouted, “Everyone get down!”

Before anyone could react, a massive fish-like creature lunged out of the water. Its powerful jaws slammed 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 blade gleamed in the sunlight as he struck, slicing 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 distance, the water churned ominously as more shadows approached—at least ten of them, their sleek bodies cutting through the waves like arrows.

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

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

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

Hughes staggered onto the sand, breathing heavily. His sword hung loosely at his side, blood from the slain beast still dripping from its edge. “There are magical beasts far closer to the shoreline than we anticipated,” 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 venture too far into open waters to deal with them next time. 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. Next time, we’ll be more cautious. For now, we regroup and plan our next move.”

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