364. Search For the Vanished Ship

[ Reputation System v4.1 ] (New)

User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim

Reputation Level: 100 — (Max)

Current Reputation Points: 992,000 RP↓

Titles Unlocked: Raven of the Sun Palace, Unruly Princess, Beast Slayer

{ View Reputation Log } { Spend Reputation Points }

Shhhh... Shhhh...

The fleet of steamships cut through the water, sailing in wide search patterns across the specific ocean region where the escort vessel had been last spotted. Ravenna stood at the bow of the flagship, her dark hair whipping in the cool ocean breeze as she stared intent at her orange system interface.

“I still have plenty of points saved up to perform multiple wide-area scans deep beneath the surface...“ she thought to herself. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she selected the spend reputation points menu.

[ 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 (Self): 250 Points

• Nullify Minor Poison Damage (Others): 350 Points per Entity

• Major Heal: 1,500 Points per Entity

• Lie Detector: 2,000 Points per Use

• Copy Skill – 2,000 Points per Use (New)

• Enter Celestial Realm – 3,000 Points per Entry (New)

“Please just be alive...” Ravenna muttered under her breath as she selected Geographical Scan, expanding the depth radius as far down into the abyss as the system permitted.

[ Reputation System v4.1 ]

[ System Notification: Geographical Scan Activated. (-1,046 RP) ]

A full, three-dimensional spherical map. Stretching kilometers down into the ocean depths and extending into the atmosphere above, instantly materialized before her eyes. Following the v4.1 update, the topographical rendering was significantly more detailed than before, yet she still couldn't spot any immediate signs of the missing hull.

“The ocean is simply too vast and deep for a single scan to cover everything…” she amused in her mind and Ravenna commanded loudly. “Sail further forward!”

The pilot at the helm nodded instantly, adjusting the course while the surrounding knights and men kept a vigilant watch over the water. Ravenna maintained her concentration, initiating a second, broader scan as they moved deeper into the designated sector.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

[ Reputation System v4.1 ]

[ System Notification: Geographical Scan Activated. (-1,500 RP) ]

“There are high tier magical beasts lurking down in these waters,” Ravenna commented, her eyes tracking several large thermal signatures on her floating map.

Richard, who was standing nearby leaning over the ship's wooden railing to monitor the surface, replied, “That is both a relief and a major concern now, Your Highness...”

“It’s a relief because it strongly indicates their disappearance was caused by an underwater dungeon spawn rather than an open mid ocean battle... but it’s a concern because they might have already been devoured by one of those creatures...”

As Richard’s commentary turned grim, Ravenna cut him off sharp and direct. “Or it simply means they are trapped inside the dungeon's levels. We haven't detected a single beast large enough to swallow a reinforced steamship whole without leaving wreckage.”

With that, her focus sharpened completely. Tracking the subtle distortion rendered on her 3D map, she pointed toward a dark patch of open sea. “Sail westward! Change course immediately, I feel a massive mana disturbance beneath us!”

For several agonizing hours, the search party pushed forward without rest, following Ravenna’s precise navigation orders. The ship's heavy boilers billowed thick, grey smoke into the sky, painting the clear horizon cloudy as they scoured the ocean floor sector by sector.

Suddenly, Ravenna’s dark eyes sparkled with fierce determination as a massive, anomalous structure flickered into clear view on her map interface.

“That’s it! There’s a massive, newly formed dungeon directly down here at the bottom of the sea!”

A Hotel Room, Dearshore City. Kim Dukedom, Kim Island, Ancorna Empire.

Dori’s thighs gripped Rafael’s hips, squeezing tight. She shifted her weight, sliding her chest across his skin with a slow, wet friction. Her eyes stayed locked on the window, watching the pale bright light of the early morning bleed through the thin hotel curtains. She didn't look at Rafael. She just kept moving, her hips rolling in a steady, demanding rhythm that forced a low groan from his throat.

The sheets were a tangled mess of damp cotton around their ankles. Dori leaned forward, pressing her breasts against his chest, her skin slick with sweat. She breathed hard, the sound filling the quiet room. She arched her back, pushing deeper onto him, feeling every inch of him fill her. She kept staring at the glass, waiting for a signal or a shadow to appear in the courtyard below.

Rafael reached up, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of her waist. He tried to pull her down for a kiss, but she remained focused on the window. Her movements became more frantic, more desperate. The friction was building into something sharp and electric. She gasped, her head tossing back, exposing the long line of her throat as she chased a climax that felt like it was slipping away.

As the first real beam of light hit the floor, Dori slowed down. She collapsed onto his chest, her heart drumming against his ribs. She stayed there for a moment, staring at the ceiling."My boyfriend should have been back by now," she muttered softly, her voice raspy. "The escort mission was supposed to conclude yesterday at the maximum."

“I am certain the Kim Knights will locate them soon... We at least know the crew was alive mid route based on the dignitaries' testimony,” Rafael tried to console her, rubbing her back gently.

Dori offered a faint smile, leaning down to press a small kiss to his cheek. “I don’t know how much we can actually trust those Archbishops' words, though. Remember what happened with the Herptian dignitaries the last time they came here?”

“Even so, we have to put our faith in Her Highness... She always finds a way to pull us through, right?” Rafael replied, caressing her bare breasts.

Dori smirked slightly, shifting her weight to climb back up over him again. “Well... there is nothing else we can do anyway. We are essentially under voluntary house arrest until the military clears the situation, since we know the ship vanished.”

“D-Dori...?” Rafael stammered, startled as his hands gripped her waist again.

“Let’s go for another round,” she whispered with a slow, playful grin. “You’re surprisingly good at this, even if it was your very first time.”