Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

“No, wait a minute. How much firearm powder does this thing need per shot?”

Thinking of the expensive firearm powder being poured into the gun barrel one handful at a time, Jeremiah shuddered, as if he were stuffing gold coins inside.

“It’s not that costly, and besides, gunpowder isn’t even our main product.”

Alexei recalled how excited he had been when he first heard that they could produce their own gunpowder.

As a graduate of the Royal Army Academy, he naturally understood how important this stuff was.

The infantry manual had three entire chapters dedicated to the use of firearms.

It was no exaggeration to say that an army with firearms and one without them were two completely different forces, with entirely different combat strategies.

Of course, along with that came complaints about the alchemy workshops, not only was firearm powder expensive, but the production was too low. The front lines simply couldn’t get enough.

Because of this, armies in this world only used it as firearm powder.

Cannons were not widely equipped; after all, what was the point of going through the effort of hauling artillery to the battlefield if they ran out of gunpowder and couldn’t fire?There was also a more direct issue, firearm powder couldn’t be stored for long.

Hughes had studied this problem for a while and suspected that the raw materials used were different from those of black powder.

Castel didn’t produce much saltpeter. Small-scale production was manageable, but large-scale manufacturing would inevitably run into supply shortages.

Perhaps the pirates could help with this.

Alexei narrowed his eyes.

“It’s about time. Jeremiah, come with me.”

“Huh? Where to? Isn’t your Count still introducing other goods?”

“You people from Gem Bay have your own product list. What, are you like those nobles, interested in perfume?”

Jeremiah followed silently. With gunpowder, he could finally report back, but if there was something even more powerful... Heh.

Not far from the estate, Jeremiah stopped in front of a small hill.

Calling it a hill was a bit much, it was really just an elevated mound of earth, with several people working around it.

“How’s the preparation, Ken?”

“Gaia just checked everything. No issues, Mr. Alexei.”

“Good. Step back.”

The group moved behind a large rock nearby.

Jeremiah, puzzled, peeked out curiously.

A faint spark flickered on the other side of the hill, and then a girl came running back quickly.

“How long is the fuse?”

“About ten seconds.”

Alexei nodded and patted Jeremiah on the shoulder. “Look over there. See that small hill?”

Jeremiah glanced at it in confusion, then was abruptly pulled behind the rock by Alexei.

Boom!!!

A massive explosion and flash of fire sent Jeremiah tumbling to the ground in shock.

Alexei stood beside him, pointing toward where the hill had been.

“It’s gone.”

Jeremiah stared blankly at the towering man, then followed his finger in a daze.

The small mound of earth, which had stood there just moments ago, was now missing a huge chunk, as if a piece of cake had been scooped out.

A jagged wound remained on the ground, with countless cracks radiating outward.

Jeremiah’s sluggish mind slowly began to process what had happened, but no matter how he thought about it, he simply couldn’t understand.

“How... why...”

“It’s simple. Similar to Fire powder, just with a bigger explosion, enough to make a hill disappear.”

“But... but how? Firearm powder couldn’t possibly do this. That was a hill, a whole hill! How did it just vanish?”

“Increase the yield.”

“Yield?”

“Yes, yield. Remember that word.”

Jeremiah turned to look at the now-missing hill. He felt as if the thunderous explosion had etched that word deep into his brain, never to be forgotten.

“Jeremiah, I heard your pirate ship is nearby, isn’t it?”

The pirate captain shivered.

Alexei said nothing more, but Jeremiah already understood what he meant.

How much yield could his ship withstand?

Back at the estate—

Beatrice listened to the explosion in the distance, frowning slightly. “What was that sound? It seemed quite close.”

Hughes smiled at her. “Come out and take a look.”

The servants had already opened the doors to the banquet hall. Numerous oil lamps illuminated the garden outside.

Hughes led the guests out of the house and looked up.

The sky was like deep black velvet, dotted with sparse stars.

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the night, followed by a golden light shooting up from the ground, soaring into the sky.

Bang—

Fireworks exploded in the night sky, blooming into a giant golden flower. Its petals scattered, showering countless sparkling lights downward.

Then, another loud explosion followed, a red firework burst forth like a blazing heart, pulsing in the darkness, its glow illuminating the land below.

Fireworks, the most traditional use of gunpowder. Hughes had never forgotten them.

With a little added flame reaction, gunpowder could paint brilliant flowers in the night sky, stirring memories of his days on Earth.

During the New Year, fireworks would light up the sky continuously. Those watching would see the fire reflected in their eyes, feeling an inexplicable emotion in their hearts.

Hughes gazed at the dazzling display above, filled with complex emotions.

Steel was like cold logic. Fireworks were like burning dreams.

Both were equally romantic.

Beatrice stood in the garden, watching the fireworks bloom in the sky.

This was the first time she had ever seen fireworks.

As the shining lights illuminated the night, something inside her seemed to light up as well.

A feeling she had never known before took root in her heart, like a tiny seed sprouting. With each firework launched and burst, it grew, spreading through her entire being.

“So beautiful…” she murmured, her voice nearly drowned out by the explosions.

A little farther away, Chloe also gazed upward.

The vast, boundless night sky and the fleeting brilliance of fireworks, she loved and longed for both.

Fireworks were something she had never seen before.

For someone like her, a Moth Chasing Fire who pursued knowledge relentlessly, nothing could be more fascinating.

Now that she thought about it, the mysteries surrounding Hughes were growing deeper.

From his actions in Castel to his strange allies from the sea...

Chloe’s fingers trembled slightly.

To explore the unknown, pursue knowledge, and uncover the past, these were the eternal tenets of the Moths Chasing Fire.

For this, they did not fear corruption. Even if the world called them mad, they persisted, like moths drawn irresistibly to flame.

As if they were born to burn brilliantly.

This was the doctrine of the Moths Chasing Fire.

Chloe looked at Hughes.

In his eyes, she saw the same hunger for truth.

She had a feeling, an intuition, perhaps Hughes was one of them.