Ravenna gestured towards the older man seated beside Sarah. “And this is Richard, the fisherman, our temporary logistics coordinator. He’s been overseeing resource allocation and ensuring supplies are distributed efficiently.”
Richard gave a slight bow. “An honor to meet you,” he said simply.
Finally, the High Priest stepped forward, his robes pristine and his demeanor calm. “And I, of course, am James,” he said, his voice smooth and measured. “So, Your Highness, what might be the reason for this gathering?”
Ravenna’s smile deepened as she reached for the map of Jola she had been working on earlier. She unfurled it on the table, the markings she had painstakingly added standing out in bold strokes.
“To discuss the untapped resources of the island,” Ravenna declared, her voice steady and brimming with confidence.
The room's occupants leaned in, their interest piqued as Ravenna gestured toward the large map spread across the table. Her finger hovered over the westward region from the city, where she had marked several points of interest. “These resources,” she began, “were identified during my time at the palace. I cross-referenced the locations with imperial reports.”
This, of course, was a calculated lie. The information had come from her geological scan, but revealing the truth would only raise questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.
Pointing to a marked area, she continued, “There is a layered rock formation here that caught my attention.”
Richard the fisherman, the logistics coordinator, adjusted his seating and spoke. “Yes, Your Highness. That region is known for its caves. Local legends say those formations were used as campsites by our ancestors.”
Ravenna turned to him, her gaze sharp and unwavering. “Good. I want Hughes to organize a team of prisoners from the castle dungeon, with John leading them, to extract limestone from those caves. Use Richard’s fishing boats to transport them to the site swiftly.”
The room grew quiet for a moment, the weight of her words settling on everyone present. Jola Island had a fair number of criminals languishing in the castle dungeon, their incarceration a result of the rising crime rates during the island’s recent food shortages. Using them as labor for the island’s development was a logical—if ruthless—choice.
“Limestone?” Priest James muttered, his brow furrowed in thought. “Your Highness, are you planning to build something? Is that why you’ve called for me?”
Ravenna’s lips curled into a subtle smile. “Indeed,” she replied.
The so-called layered rock formation she spoke of was rich in limestone, a key ingredient in producing cement. In this world, as in medieval Europe on Earth, limestone combined with clay was used to construct large and sturdy structures. While such methods yielded impressive results, they were painfully slow. Cement, however, would revolutionize construction times and allow for rapid development—a necessity for Ravenna’s grand plans.
“I see,” James said, nodding slowly as understanding dawned on him.
Ravenna turned her attention to Hughes, who stood dutifully by the door, his posture rigid under her commanding gaze. “Make it happen, Hughes. I want John informed immediately after this meeting.”
Hughes stiffened, swallowing hard before nodding. “I’ll ensure it’s done, Your Highness. John will receive his orders without delay.”
Priest James, ever the experienced diplomat, offered a polite smile. “So, Your Highness, do you wish for me to oversee the construction plans? I understand that you’re aiming to create something grand, worthy of your reputation. However, with the current manpower and limited resources available in the city, it might be—”
Ravenna’s icy glare cut him off mid-sentence, her commanding presence leaving no room for further protest. “Here,” she said curtly, sliding a set of detailed designs across the table toward him. “These are the plans I need your input on.” She paused, her gaze piercing. “I will provide the full details once we conclude this meeting. Next!”
Without waiting for a response, Ravenna shifted her attention to the map, her finger tracing along the city’s coastline. “I want workers assigned to construct a proper dock here,” she instructed, pointing to the dilapidated area currently serving as the city's makeshift harbor. “The current one is barely functional and an embarrassment. The design concepts are in the book I gave you earlier, Your Holiness.”
Sarah, who had been quietly taking notes, nodded with a determined expression. “Understood, Your Highness. I will organize a portion of the unemployed workforce to begin preparations immediately.”
Ravenna’s focus shifted again, this time landing on Hughes. “Hughes,” she began, her tone sharp and unyielding, “I want a new militant group formed specifically to patrol the city and reduce the rampant crime and violence. The knights are doing their best, but with only 300 of them, it’s nowhere near enough.”
She glanced at Sarah. “Provide Hughes with a list of suitable candidates from the civilian population. Have them trained under one of our experienced soldiers. This task needs to be expedited.”
Hughes nodded once more, his posture rigid. “It will be done, Your Highness.”
Throughout this flurry of directives, Alice remained silent, her sharp eyes observing every exchange. Though she said nothing, her expression suggested she harbored concerns about the rapid succession of Ravenna’s orders.
Finally, Ravenna turned her attention to Richard, her expression softening into a disarming smile that sent a chill down his spine. “Richard,” she began, her voice taking on a dangerously confident edge, “I believe I’ve uncovered the reason for the decline in fish stocks over the past few months.”
Richard’s eyes widened in surprise. Even Sarah, who had maintained her composure thus far, leaned forward with eager anticipation, while James furrowed his brow in quiet curiosity. This issue had been one of the most significant contributors to the island’s ongoing food shortage, and any insight into its resolution was critical.
Ravenna’s finger moved to the northern coastline of the island, and her devilishly beautiful smile deepened. “It’s because of the recently spawned dungeon near the northern coast,” she declared, her tone calm yet laced with authority.
The room fell silent as the weight of her revelation sank in. A dungeon—one of the most dangerous and unpredictable phenomena in the world.
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