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  Imperial Capital of the Ana Empire – An Underground Bck Market, Sve Au,

  Beh the gleaming facade of the Imperial Capital of the Ana Empire y a shadowy underworld teeming with illicit activity. The underground bck market, infamous across the eastern ti, had e alive in the byrinthiunnels beh the city. Vendors shouted over each other, their voices blending into a discordant roar as they peddled forbidden wares—banned flowers, mind-altering narcotics, and dangerous magical artifacts. Dimly lit alleys buzzed with whispered iations as loan sharks preyed on desperate souls.

  The air was thick with the st of damp stone, sweat, and the puang of inse meant to ceal the pervasive odor of decay. This market was more than a hive of illegal trade—it was a movi, never settling in one pce for long. Each year, it shifted to a new location, evading authorities and ensuring its survival. This time, however, it had brazenly set up within the Imperial Capital itself, mog the empire's rule of w.

  Two hooded figures navigated the chaos with purpose. Eugehe protagonist of Light’s quest, moved fidently through the crowd, his posture betraying his familiarity with this world. Beside him rince William, equally cloaked and attempting to appear inspicuous. Their destination: an au hosted by Hericules, a notorious sve-trading ring.

  William leaned in, his voice a tense whisper. “Do you truly believe the Saintess is among the sves? The Solious Church would have found her long before it came to this.”

  Eugene’s eyes narrowed beh his hood. “She’s here,” he said firmly. “The Church will discover her too, but by then, it’ll be too te. If we don’t aow, we’ll lose her.”

  William hough the doubt lingering in his expression didn’t escape Eugene’s notice.

  Eugene sighed inwardly as his thoughts turo the truth he had carried since his return. He was a regressor, a man who had already lived this life once before. In his first life, Eugene had been a nameless soldier, one among thousands who perished during the Sed Great War—the apocalyptiflileashed by the rise of the Witch of the West. His death had been unremarkable, but his rebirth was extraordinary.

  Fifteen years before the Witch’s rise, Eugene had found himself ba his 20-year-old body, gifted—or cursed—with the ce to rewrite history. Driven by the memories of a future drenched in blood, he resolved to alter the course of events and prepare the world for the trials to e.

  In this timeline, Eugene had already achieved much. Within a year, he had risen to knighthood, being a trusted ally of Prince William. Together, they uncovered the truth behind the murder of William’s mother, ensuring Ravenna’s exile before she could asd to power as Empress. Eugene’s efforts had strengthened William’s position and bolstered the empire’s defenses, but his most critical task was still ahead: seg the Saintess.

  In Eugene’s first life, the Saintess had been sold to the Hericules sve traders aually purchased by the Herptian clergy. Uhe vile reputation of the traders, the clergy had acted out of passion, buying sves to liberate them. They took the Saio their homend on the western ti, where they nurtured her as their High Priestess.

  However, this act of salvatioo disastrous sequences. When the Solious Church learned of her fate, they decred the Great War, mobilizing the eastern ti's armies against the Herptian fa. The flict spread like wildfire, ing nations and leaving a world in ruin. Though the Saintess remained loyal to the Herptian clergy, even refusing to return to the Solious Church, her death iermath of the war left the eastern ti shattered.

  It was then, amidst the ashes of the Great War, that the Witch of the West emerged. With no unified force to oppose her, her armies swept across the tis, plunging the world into the Sed Great War. This time, Eugene was determio ge everything.

  Their mission was simple but perilous: rescue the Saintess before the Hericules traders could sell her, ensuring she never fell into the Herptian clergy's hands. By doing so, Eugene hoped to prevent the of events that had led to the Great War and secure a future where the world stood united against the Witch of the West.

  The au hall loomed ahead, its entrance guarded by heavily armed men. Eugene’s hand drifted to the hilt of his sword beh his cloak, his eyes sing for threats. The room beyond buzzed with anticipation, filled with buyers eager to stake their cim on lives reduced to odities.

  Eugene’s jaw tightened. He could not afford to fail—not here, not now. The future of the world depended on what he and William did in the few hours.

  This time, the Great War would not e to pass. This time, the Saintess would be saved. And whech of the West rose, the world would be ready.

  Day in Jo Isnd, In Northern Anian Seas, North of Ana Empire’s Capital,

  As the m sun climbed higher, Ravenna awoke to the relentless heat of the desert sun streaming through the open window of her bedroom, a se she had e to expect over the past few weeks. The room arsely furnished, with cooling curtains doing little to mitigate the scorg temperatures. “I ought to do something about the air ditioning sometime,” she muttered, g her hands to summon her maids to assist her iing ready for the day.

  After a refreshing bath, ging into her attire, and a hearty breakfast, Raveered her study aled into her work. Today, she wore a silk purple gown that was exceptionally thin, gracefully atuating her slim, elegant figure. The lightweight fabric provided a modest reprieve from the oppressive heat, allowio move freely while maintaining her regal appearance.

  Seated at her ornate desk, Ravenna activated the Reputation System to tinue her tasks from the previous night. The interface glowed softly, dispying her current status:

  [Reputation System v0.1]User: Ravenna Sorius / Joy Cha KimReputation Level: 60 (4898/8200)Curreation Points: 9,723Titles: Raven of Sun Pace, Unruly Princess{Reputation Points Log} {Speation Points}

  Ravenna had amassed additional points today: her daily 600 points, bined with her captivating attire and authoritative presence, had left a strong impression on both the maids and knights, earning her ara 100 points.

  I on furthering her pns, Ravenna tio delve into the Magic Spell Library, searg for applications of Broadleaf Arrowhead. She meticulously reviewed the avaible spells but found hat offered eic viability nifit advantages for her current needs:

  [Magic Spell Library]

  Time Manipution: A spell that allows the user to manipute time. Required Ingredients: Artificially crossbred sunflowers/bck roses, Broadleaf Arrowhead, Red Camellia, and Rebe arranged in a particur design.Space Fold: A spell that ehe user to fold space, allowing instantaneous teleportation to another point in the universe. Required Ingredients: Artificially crhost Orchids/Lotus, Red Camellia, and Broadleaf Arrowhead arranged in a circur design.All spells requiring Broadleaf Arrowhead were cssified as legendary and advanced, far beyond the current uanding and capabilities of the world’s inhabitants. The additional requirements for these spells were equally unattainable, rendering them practically impossible to execute at this time. Ravenna sighed in frustration. The teique of artificially crossbreeding flowers, as described in the inal novel Light’s quest, wasn’t introduced until halfway through the story, making it clear that this avenue was a dead end for now.

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