Chapter 24: Reya Xavier
Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Reya Xavier
The nickname "Flame Princess" was, of course, not her real name.
The "flame" was for her most prominent feature: a dazzling head of hair that burned like fire.
The "princess" was for her beauty and noble, inviolable aura, and was also the last word of her official title.
When spoken, however, the combination sounded identical to "roast chicken," which became a somewhat crude inside joke among players.
Her actual title was the Flame-haired Princess, and her real name was Reya Xavier.
President of the Harvia Royal Chamber of Commerce, Empress Belina’s closest confidante, a foreign saintess whom even the Matia Religious Country had to hold its nose and acknowledge... these were all achievements she would attain in the future.
Combined with her journey of rising to power through her own independence and strength, her indomitable personality, and her incredibly generous quest rewards, she was extremely popular among the player base.
That last point was especially important.
But shamefully, when Jon got a clear look at Reya’s face, the first thing that came to his mind wasn’t her future noble status, nor the high-value quests she had once posted, but the "art" of her found on certain... unspeakable websites.
He couldn’t help it. He was, after all, an adult man with an instinctual appreciation for beautiful things.
’A great beauty who had only ever existed in pictures has suddenly appeared right before my eyes, and in such a real, unguarded state. What’s wrong with taking an extra look or two?’
’It’s all art. Don’t be so crude!’
Jon looked his fill, but he didn’t forget what was important.
He first glanced at his own panel.
Sure enough, after he’d dealt with those two men, his "Quest" tab had refreshed with new content.
——
[An AmbushⅠ (Ordinary - Limited-Time Random Quest), Completed]
[You chose to help the ambushed party and successfully eliminated the threat from the surviving attackers.]
[Completion: C, Reward Multiplier: 1.2]
[Completion Reward: 600 universal Experience Points (500 base x 1.2 reward multiplier)]
——
Looking at this information, Jon was lost in thought.
’Completion C, only 600 experience... If I had acted from the very beginning and saved the guards as well, preventing Reya from triggering her Solar Flare Shield, the completion rating would have been higher.’
But what’s done was done. There was no point in such hindsight. What was truly important was the new choice before him.
——
[Another ChoiceⅠ (Rare - Chain Quest)]
[You have saved a mysterious noble girl, but she now seems to be unconscious. What will you do next? Hand her over to certain people for a reward, or escort her to a safe place? Or perhaps...]
[Option 1: Take her to a safe place until she can return to her family.]
[Option 2: Take her to a dangerous place and hand her over to ambitious people.]
[Option 3: Take her to a hidden place and satisfy your unspeakable desires.]
[Option 4: Abandon her.]
[Option 5: Other]
[Basic Reward: 2000 universal Experience Points, 500 reputation with the corresponding organization.]
[Additional Rewards: Based on quest completion, you will receive additional experience and a reputation reward multiplier. Depending on your choice, you may have the opportunity to obtain items and money from the corresponding faction.]
[Note: Depending on your choice, you may be attacked by different factions, and your reputation will change accordingly.]
[Note: Choosing to abandon the noble girl will be considered forfeiting the quest, and you will not receive any rewards.]
——
It had jumped directly from an Ordinary random quest to a Rare-Level chain quest with incredibly high rewards!
This was what they meant by "life is full of surprises."
And Jon, as a "Prophet" who understood the future developments of the Harvia Empire, naturally knew exactly what the veiled content in the quest information corresponded to.
’So, Reya’s story begins with this incident...’
He recalled some of the descriptions of her that he had once seen in the comment section of a Reya "art gallery."
’Reya’s father is the head of the Heta County Noble Union Chamber of Commerce, Yed Xavier, a noble Merchant who was assassinated early in the game. The specific cause of death is unknown, only that it was carried out by the restorationist organization, the Blood Eye Association, which was backed by some ambitious figures.’
’With her father assassinated and the Noble United Commerce Association in chaos, Reya stepped up. She not only stabilized the chaotic situation but also used her limited resources to launch a counterattack against the Blood Eye Association’s conspiracy, making them feel the sting.’
’Afterward, she used this achievement to advance further, entering the core circle of power in the Imperial Capital. She chose to support the third princess, Belina Benest. The Iron Rose Princess’s eventual ascension to the throne was in no small part due to Reya’s activities behind the scenes.’
’This was the story of her experiences during the "War of the Scepter," a Major Event which took place in the first year of the game.’
At this thought, Jon couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.
’As expected of a Major Event. To think it was already showing signs this early on.’
Looking back at Reya’s current ambush, the goal of the mastermind behind it was also very clear.
They must have hoped to control or ruin Viscount Yed by "threatening the father with the daughter" or simply "crushing the father with the daughter’s death," thereby seizing control of the Noble United Commerce Association, an organization with extraordinary economic and political potential.
But they clearly hadn’t expected the depth of the connection between Reya’s family and the Sun Saint Court, to the point where she had an Advanced Level Divine Technique for self-defense. The failure of their carefully orchestrated "soldier-bandit attack" had instead exposed their goal, forcing them to resort to assassination in the end.
But before they could take control of the chaotic Noble United Commerce Association, Reya would make a powerful comeback, seizing control of the situation as the former leader’s orphaned daughter and launching a counterattack.
This, most likely, was the original trajectory of this event.
And the "Reya’s powerful comeback" part was where the players got involved.
Yes, as Jon thought about it now, the random quest triggered by Reya’s ambush was probably encountered and completed by players who were active in this area at the time.
Knowing how players operated, their principles always followed pretty faces. They would definitely have chosen to help the beautiful and strong-willed Reya, lending a hand in her return to the Noble United Commerce Association and reaping massive rewards in the process.
But for Jon, if he wanted to profit from this, there was an unavoidable question.
’Just how far should I get involved in this matter?’
Jon’s gaze flickered as he looked at the sleeping beauty curled up in the charred circle, her face showing a hint of youthfulness and vulnerability.
For him, meeting Reya today was undoubtedly a critical multiple-choice question. It kicked his previous "play it by ear" mentality to the curb and threw all the options right in his face.
Should he stay out of it and play it safe? Or should he just dip his toes in and skim a few benefits?
Or should he get deeply involved, try to stir up a storm, and seek even more astonishing profits?
’Players can resurrect indefinitely, using their lives to shield Reya from all sorts of crises. But what about you?’
’You’re all alone. You most likely only have one life. One wrong step and you’ll be smashed to pieces.’
’So, how will you choose?’
Jon tightened his grip on the cloak he had been about to put on himself and strode forward.
’Is there even a need to ask?!’
’As a "Prophet" who understands the grudges and entanglements of all the major factions, if I don’t even dare to get involved in a matter whose development is crystal clear, then what’s the point of talking about getting stronger, or about going home?’
’I might as well just hole up in Nomu Village and be the "Calamity Star" for the rest of my life!’
He bent down, used the cloak to cover Reya’s captivating curves, then rolled her up like a caterpillar in a blanket. He picked her up, slung her over his shoulder, and set off.
In any case, the first step was to leave this place.
’Anyway, she’s in my hands now. What happens to her is my call!’
’First, I’ll take this "Flame Princess" to the Abandoned Mine. After I clear the Dungeon, I’ll deal with everything else!’
Onward, to the west!