Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Gaia looked at the two of them hesitantly and said,”I... I think I won’t read anymore. I haven’t even finished the literacy class yet, so it’s better if...”

”Gaia!” ×2

Old Ivan and Ken spoke in unison, startling Gaia, who looked at them in confusion.

”Ahem, Dad, I think I’m not ready for the advanced class yet. My literacy skills are still worse than Gaia’s, and I learn spelling quite slowly. There’s also the general knowledge class to consider.”

Old Ivan opened his mouth. He really wanted Ken to continue studying, but when he calculated the savings hidden in the clay pot in the corner of the wall, he just couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Not enough money was simply not enough. No matter how many beautiful dreams you have, reality will always drag you back to its cold embrace.

In the end, he averted his gaze, trembling as he lowered his head, not daring to look at his son.

”Come, take a look at this. This is the class schedule.”

Zoe walked in from outside. ”It’s a good opportunity to see how well you’ve learned in your literacy class. You recognize these words, right?”

”Basic Physics, Basic Chemistry, Mechanical Technology and Principles, Basic Mathematics.””Yes, these are the only ones available for now. Lord Hughes said he plans to offer Geography and Circuitry next, but that will probably take a long time.”

”Physics and Mathematics are compulsory subjects. Anyone joining the advanced class must take them. Mechanical Technology and Chemistry are two different paths. Of course, you can study both, but you can’t take them at the same time. You must graduate from one before starting the other because their schedules conflict.”

Ken cleared his throat and spoke hesitantly, ”Miss... Miss Zoe, I don’t plan to take the advanced class for now. I haven’t finished my literacy lessons yet. I... I...”

Zoe’s eyes widened. ”What did you say? You’re not going? Do you know how rare this opportunity is? Lord Hughes may not have the time to open more classes in the future! How can you... You...”

She raised her eyebrows aggressively. These two children were her most promising students.

She had placed high hopes on them and had spent the most time tutoring them. Hearing that they were quitting made her feel like all her effort had gone to waste.

But when she saw Old Ivan’s timid expression, Gaia’s slightly undersized dress, and Ken pretending not to care, she found herself unable to utter any words of reproach.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Zoe’s mind, and she spoke thoughtfully.

”Lord Hughes is currently recruiting workers for a new factory, but applicants must be graduates of the advanced class.”

The three were stunned.

Gaia instinctively blurted out, ”But we don’t have money for the advanced class?”

Only after speaking did she realize what she had said. Embarrassed, she lowered her head.

Poverty was like a sock with holes in it—just mentioning it was enough to make her feel ashamed.

”The recruitment is urgent. As long as you enroll in the advanced class, even if you haven’t graduated yet, you can work as an intern. The pay is only one-fifth of normal wages, one Lio per day, but tuition fees will be waived.”

One Lio a day wasn’t much, just enough for food, but if tuition was free...

The three of them beamed with joy.

With the internship wages, Gaia and Ken could manage to get by. They wouldn’t be able to save any money, but at least they had the chance to study.

If they were frugal, they could make it work. If Old Ivan joined the foraging team in the mountains a few more times, they might even have some extra money, better than during bad harvest years.

”Then... then...” Gaia turned to look at Old Ivan, who smiled and nodded at her.

”Then I want to study Chemistry! I also want to learn Mechanical Principles! I want to study Mathematics! I want to study Physics! I want to learn, I want to learn everything!”

Gaia was so excited that she became incoherent.

These past days, she had lived in constant anxiety, not daring to hope yet secretly wishing for a miracle.

Now that the miracle had come, her mind went blank for a moment before a surge of excitement welled up from the depths of her heart, making her vision blur.

”I really want to learn,” she whispered, covering her face with trembling hands.

Ken stood beside her, placing a steady hand on her shoulder, but he couldn’t hide the grin on his face.

He could study too.

”This is great, this is great, this is great!”

Old Ivan’s face wrinkled into a smile. He looked at his two children, then at Miss Zoe.

He had so many things he wanted to say, but something seemed to choke his throat.

His limited vocabulary failed him, and in the end, he could only repeat himself.

”This is really great.”

Zoe smiled as she looked at the family of three, feeling warmth in her heart.

Ever since Lord Hughes mentioned it, she had been thinking about trying to write a novel.

She didn’t know why she had this idea. Perhaps Lord Hughes only brought it up casually as an example in front of the Siren Work Group.

But ever since then, the thought had taken root in her mind.

She had really tried to write, to construct a novel, but the stories she wrote always felt... hollow.

She had struggled with this for a long time.

Now, looking at this family of three, a thought suddenly came to her.

”Perhaps deep emotions don’t need to be exaggerated. Maybe they just need to be recorded.”

She just needed to find these genuine emotions and simply document them.

But she was just a maid, destined to spend her life cleaning the manor. Where could she find such emotions?

At this moment, this family of three gave her some inspiration.

”Maybe I should observe the poor?”

”But will anyone actually read such a novel? There’s no heroic knight, no beautiful princess, no wicked noblewoman. If I write about people struggling in hardship, will anyone care?”

People only admired polished armor; no one paid attention to the dirt on their shoes.

Zoe shook her head.

If she were a famous novelist, or even just an obscure, struggling writer, she wouldn’t even consider this idea.

Such a book wouldn’t sell. The sentimental ladies wouldn’t shed tears for the suffering of the lower class.

They were used to it.

But Zoe was just a maid who liked to read novels. She was still curious about the world, unburdened by prejudice. So, she made a simple decision:

”I’ll give it a try. No one will read it anyway.”

Ken helped Gaia up, and Old Ivan thanked Zoe profusely before bidding farewell. This brought Zoe back to reality.

”Ken is taking Mechanical Principles, Gaia is taking Basic Chemistry. Thank you so much, Miss Zoe. You are truly kind-hearted.”

The three of them bowed repeatedly. Zoe was momentarily stunned before reacting.

”Wait! Don’t go!”

The three of them stopped abruptly and looked back in confusion.

”You haven’t said what you’re signing up for.”

Ken and Gaia exchanged bewildered glances, but Zoe’s eyes were fixed on someone else.

”Old Ivan, what are you planning to study in the advanced class?”