Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

”Ah, I almost forgot about her. She’s arriving so soon?”

Hughes smiled as he took the documents. Beatrice’s arrival was something he had been looking forward to for a long time.

If he could get this noble lady to promote his soap, he might actually be able to make a profit from Rhine.

After all, the soap production capacity was already somewhat excessive, but in order to obtain glycerin, he had no choice but to continue manufacturing it.

Money was something no one ever had enough of, and this was just a simple opportunity to make more.

”Prepare some soap, package it in an exquisite gift box, and add some appropriate items as a welcome gift. Also, arrange tomorrow’s schedule to meet with her.”

”Oh, and include Feniel’s bottle of perfume as well.”

After giving his instructions, Hughes started flipping through the documents in his hands.

”Hmm? This Joanne family...”

”They specialize in guarding the royal library?””Yes, young master. Didn’t you previously learn about water pressure from the Royal Library and use that knowledge to save the Siren clan? At that time, the librarian must have been this Miss Beatrice.”

”Pfft.”

Hughes had no memory of the Royal Library.

His predecessor had been a frustrated illegitimate child trying to integrate into Rhine’s upper society but never had the opportunity.

He might have visited the Royal Library once, but his predecessor had zero interest in knowledge, so he had barely any impression of it.

”They guard the royal library... Where is their fiefdom?”

”The Joanne family does not have a fief, or rather, their fief is the library itself. The members of this family typically hold noble titles but have no real power. However, because of this, the royal family trusts them greatly. Their influence in Rhine’s upper society is not insignificant.”

”A royal appendage, then. Without a fief, where does their income come from? I remember the Royal Library is free of charge.”

”Ahem, the current Minister of Finance is from the Joanne family. Their family has often produced geniuses. For example, there was Mr. Yule from decades ago.”

”Wait, then how did their family end up involved with the Candlelight Church?”

”There isn’t a particularly deep connection. It’s mainly because the members of this family pursue very different careers. Some are skilled in socializing, frequenting various salons. Some are passionate about art and even painted for the Empress’s coronation ceremony. Others work as craftsmen, explorers, or in all sorts of professions.”

Hughes nodded. Looking at it this way, it was perfectly normal for one or two of them to end up in the Church.

”Speaking of which, I’m a bit curious—can one leave the Candlelight Church after joining?”

Connor shook his head. ”That, I don’t know. But very few nobles are interested in the Church. The Candlelight Church has way too many rules and not many benefits.”

”That makes sense.”

Hughes thought about the church on the island.

At first, he had been worried that Sister Chloe would cause trouble for him, given that he was advancing industrialization and interacting with the Sirens.

But up until now, she had shown no signs of taking any action.

It seemed she truly had no interest in the outside world, which made Hughes feel much more at ease.

As long as he didn’t bring these matters into the open, they would likely leave him alone.

This kind of quiet, non-interfering approach gave Hughes a rather good impression of them.

”I just don’t know if that Investigator lady will be as easy to deal with.”

The next day, at Castel Island’s dock.

On normal days, fishing boats would be anchored here, and the dock would be piled with all kinds of catches.

But ever since the lord stopped collecting sea taxes, many fishermen had switched to working in Hughes’s factories, making the dock much quieter.

Additionally, Hughes had specifically instructed Alexei to hire some workers to clean up the dock, making it look quite orderly now.

By the time Hughes arrived, Sister Chloe was already waiting there.

She looked quite excited, which Hughes could understand, after being stationed alone on this remote island for so long, seeing a colleague must have been a pleasant surprise.

”My lord, you’re here.”

She nodded and casually clasped her hands together in front of her chest, forming a triangle, the symbol of the Candlelight Church.

”Look, that ship over there is the one transporting the Church’s prisoners.”

She raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun while pointing toward the distance with the other.

Hughes followed her gaze and saw a sailing ship approaching on the horizon.

Hmm, the ship didn’t look large, and with its design, it could only operate in coastal waters.

Its propulsion relied solely on sails, there weren’t even oars, let alone a steam engine.

Hughes evaluated it as an ordinary cargo sailing ship, with almost no ability to fend off pirates.

It might not even withstand rough waves.

Backwards, extremely backwards.

Not to mention Earth, even in this world, this was among the most outdated ships.

He had seen pirate ships from a distance before, and although they looked somewhat old, their designs were much more advanced than this.

”By the way, why did you come to receive these prisoners, my lord? I could’ve handled the handover myself. Since I promised you, I wouldn’t go back on my word.”

Hughes’ eye twitched as he recalled his previous agreement with Chloe.

This nun showed not the slightest trace of holiness, her greed was nearly unmatched.

But greed wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

At least it was easier to deal with than those fanatical religious zealots.

”The Joanne family is loyal to the royal family, and I am also loyal to the royal family. That makes the Joanne family my friend.”

Hughes spoke unhurriedly.

”Since Miss Beatrice is visiting my territory, of course, I must personally welcome her.”

”I see.”

Chloe didn’t ask further, nodding as she accepted the explanation.

Not long after, the sailing ship docked.

The sailors shouted commands as they lowered the anchor into the water and threw ropes onto the dock, securing them to the posts.

A few sailors jumped ashore and laid a long wooden plank between the ship and the dock.

The ship wasn’t large enough to require rowboats for disembarkation.

A group of weary-looking people was herded off the ship.

Although they weren’t bound, the sailors treated them rather roughly.

Hughes glanced over and actually spotted a few familiar faces.

This made him sigh, it was the first time he had seen acquaintances from his previous ”descent.”

”Don’t worry, I’ll handle the handover and have them perform a simple atonement ritual before sending them to your manor.”

Chloe leaned in and whispered to Hughes.

When it came to money, this nun was surprisingly reliable.

Soon, a large wooden crate, tightly sealed, was carried off the ship by the sailors.

Hughes estimated its size, and then his eye twitched, this must be his previous body.

Come to think of it, he had always found it strange.

Why had the Candlelight Church gone through the trouble of transporting his corpse to this small island after killing him?

Even if they had mistaken him for a cultist, wouldn’t it have been easier to simply destroy the body?

Why go through all this effort?

•••••

{There was a small mistake Beatrice is not Secret Keeper but merely an Investigator. So sorry for the inconvenience.}