Reputation and Affection Level

Among the items looted from the camp, the one Bai Xiaowen valued most was the military map.

Only after carefully studying the military map did Bai Xiaowen gain an intuitive understanding of the distribution of the various territories in the Northern Frontier.

Northshire, the Northern Frontier Capital, lay to the northwest and housed the military camp of Arinas, the Empire's grand general.

Opposite it, Spiked Helm City lay to the northeast, where Usok, leader of the Resistance Army, was stationed.

Elu City, where Bai Xiaowen was located, happened to lie midway between Northshire and Spiked Helm City, placing it in a rather delicate position.

As for the port city of Volterren, it lay directly south, along the Mediterranean Sea.

Bai Xiaowen did not analyze the broader picture too deeply. To him, the most important thing on this military map was that it marked each Imperial Army Camp near Elu City with black dots and noted the size of their forces.

This map had originally been intended for communication between Imperial Army forces, but in Bai Xiaowen's hands, it became a death warrant for the Imperial Army Camps near Elu City.

After resting, Bai Xiaowen set out once more.

After advancing his Battle Specialty, Bai Xiaowen's combat power had only continued to rise. Within the 48-hour mission period, he wiped out three Imperial Army outposts in total, achieving an astonishing record.

Of the Imperial Army soldiers he killed, eight were auxiliary soldiers and three were regular troops, including two Chainmail Great Hammer Warriors and one Studded Armor Archer.

Bai Xiaowen's Basic Combat Specialty finally rose to Level 5 and transformed into Advanced Combat Specialty, Level 1.

As for the loot, only two of the eight auxiliary soldiers dropped treasure chests, yielding just two Imperial Auxiliary Soldier Insignias. Among the three regular troops, the second Chainmail Great Hammer Warrior Bai Xiaowen killed did not drop so much as a hair. However, the final Studded Armor Archer he killed dropped a bronze treasure chest, which Bai Xiaowen opened on the spot.

Based on his A-Tier Battle Rating, Bai Xiaowen received three draws that were guaranteed not to come up empty. Rubbing his hands together, Bai Xiaowen selected one of the cards first.

Prompt:

"You have obtained an Imperial Strongbow Soldier Insignia."

"Damn... these dog tags have a pretty high drop rate. As long as a treasure chest appears, it always drops a dog tag." Bai Xiaowen cursed. Insignias did not improve his immediate combat power at all. Still, the more insignias he had, the higher his evaluation would be when turning in the mission, so they were not completely useless.

The second card contained a scroll.

"You have obtained a Shooting Specialty Scroll. Using this scroll grants you Advanced Machinery (Shooting) Specialty, Level 1."

Bai Xiaowen's eyes lit up. During this trial, when his basic attributes were locked, only Skill Books and Specialty Scrolls could improve his combat power. Still, it was somewhat regrettable that he did not have any ranged equipment.

However, after the third card was flipped over, Bai Xiaowen's regret turned to delight.

"You have obtained a White Birch Hard Bow and an Iron Quiver."

"For someone as squishy as me, charging in to brawl with burly men like Great Hammer Warriors is practically suicide. Hiding in a corner and shooting arrows is way safer."

Bai Xiaowen immediately used the Shooting Specialty Scroll. Streams of information flooded into his mind. Everything from basic shooting stances to the essentials of aiming was imprinted into his body and became instinctive.

It was as if someone had infused him with divine skill. In an instant, Bai Xiaowen went from a rookie who could not even draw a bow to an experienced archer. He checked his Battle Specialty and found that, after Advanced Weaponry (One-Handed Sword) Level 1, there was now Advanced Machinery (Shooting) Level 1 as well.

"Cool."

Bai Xiaowen then checked the bow's attributes.

[White Birch Hard Bow (Bind on Pickup)]

[Quality: Normal (White)]

[Equipment Slot: Both Hands]

[Equipment Requirement: Strength 4, Agility 5]

[Attribute: Attack Power 2–5]

[Durability: 18/20]

[Description: Standard equipment of Lionheart Empire strongbow soldiers.]

[Iron Quiver (Bind on Pickup)]

[Quality: Normal (White)]

[Equipment Slot: None]

[Equipment Requirement: None]

[Attribute: Attack Power 1; Iron Arrows: 20]

[Durability: None]

[Description: Automatically restores 1 iron arrow every 10 seconds.]

With the hard bow and quiver slung across his back over his cloak and the Fang Dagger hanging at his waist, Bai Xiaowen felt that his combat power had improved considerably compared to when he had first entered the Spirit Realm.

"The mission time limit is only 48 hours. It's already too late to wipe out more Imperial outposts, so I can only turn in the mission immediately." Bai Xiaowen headed toward Elu City.

Wild Mare Tavern.

Bai Xiaowen found the room shared by Ralph and Loga, the pair of best buddies, knocked on the door, and entered.

Four insignias were laid out before Ralph.

"You killed two regular Imperial Army soldiers, one Chainmail Great Hammer Warrior, and one Studded Armor Archer?" Ralph looked over two of the insignias and said in disbelief, "Brother, you wiped out at least two Imperial Army outposts! I have to say, your performance has made me see you in a new light."

By comparison, the two auxiliary soldier insignias were not particularly eye-catching.

Bai Xiaowen had wanted to add that he had actually wiped out three Imperial Army outposts. But judging by Ralph's expression, he clearly only recognized insignias, so Bai Xiaowen let it go.

Loga walked over from the side and punched Bai Xiaowen hard on the shoulder. "Good brother, you've proven yourself. Welcome to the Northern Frontier Resistance Army, for Usok!"

Bai Xiaowen received a prompt.

"Side Mission: Pledge of Allegiance completed. Completion evaluation: Excellent."

"Reputation System unlocked."

"Northern Frontier Resistance Army reputation unlocked. Current reputation level: Respect."

"Imperial Expeditionary Army reputation unlocked. Current reputation level: Hostile."

"Your Affection Level with Resistance Army warrior Champion Swordsman Ralph has increased to Acquaintance."

"Your Affection Level with Resistance Army soldier Shield Armor Warrior Loga has increased to Friend."

Bai Xiaowen checked the rules for reputation and Affection Level.

Reputation applied to factions. Starting from "Neutral," the levels above it were "Friendly," "Respect," "Reverence," and "Worship," while the levels below were "Hostile" and "Hatred."

Affection Level applied to individuals. Starting from "Ordinary," the levels above it were "Acquaintance," "Friend," "Close Friend," and "Confidant," while the levels below were likewise "Hostile" and "Hatred."

Bai Xiaowen had overfulfilled the Pledge of Allegiance mission, so he entered the Resistance Army with Respect reputation right away. If he had only wiped out one Imperial Army outpost, his reputation would probably have reached only Friendly. If he had turned in only one auxiliary soldier insignia, his evaluation would have been even lower, and his reputation might have remained at Neutral.

His relationship with the two Resistance Army members would also not have reached Acquaintance and Friend.

Furthermore, Ralph was an Elite Class Champion Swordsman, so his Affection Level increased less than that of Loga, who had an ordinary class. Bai Xiaowen thus inferred that the stronger and higher-ranking a person was, the harder it was to raise their Affection Level.

This showed just how awful Class Advancement Mission 2, "Learn Dragon Language from Selen, the chief mage of the Volterren lord's manor," was. Selen would definitely use him like a dog, making him run all sorts of missions to build their relationship, while the painfully slow rate of Affection Level increase would be enough to drive any Quasi-Awakened mad.

Bai Xiaowen also found a detailed rule: the hidden attribute Charisma affected the rate at which personal Affection Level and faction reputation increased.

"No time to stand around foolishly, my brother," Ralph's deep voice rang out again. "Lord Usok has given us an important mission. Now that you have proven yourself, you are qualified to take part in this glorious undertaking!"