Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Gaia’s idea seemed absurd at first glance.

The Mechanical Cathedral had no connection with Rhine or Castel, so how could their prayers resonate with the Machine Soul?

But on closer thought, this was actually the most plausible option.

After all, Chloe had completely replicated the Mechanical Cathedral’s ritual, and the only variable here was that Machine Soul.

Besides, the cost of trying was not high.

Hadn’t Hughes just successfully purified the heretical steam engine?

At worst, he would simply purify it again.

The steam engine was already available. Recently, Castel had begun war preparations, and Nini had been working overtime to crazily expand the steam engine’s production capacity.

She was now so used to ”Fossil to Mud” that she could even use it in her sleep.

Gaia often visited the test site as well. She knew that the warehouse contained newly assembled Type II engines, so they could test it on the spot.”Then let’s try again. You three, please perform the ritual once more.”

Chloe and Monica nodded in unison. ”No problem.”

”W-Wait!” Gaia’s eyes widened. ”Do I have to participate too?”

”Of course. We need to control the variables. The last time you three performed the ritual together, it succeeded. The process was consistent. We’re counting on you!” Hughes patted Gaia’s shoulder.

Gaia’s face fell. She had to perform the ritual again in front of so many people?

The thought of swaying in rhythm while applying oil to the machine, all while being watched, made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

”This is way too embarrassing!”

”A small sacrifice for the sake of science.”

Soon, several sirens carried a new steam engine from the warehouse, along with a container of pollution.

So far, steam engines with Machine Souls could burn pollution steadily, though communicating with the Machine Soul remained tricky.

Hughes directed the sirens to place the steam engine on the other side of the factory.

Everyone then stepped back, leaving the space to Chloe and the others.

Monica once again danced with the machine parts, while Chloe solemnly recited the prayers, under the dim firelight, she wore her nun’s robes with a solemn expression, adding an air of sanctity to the ritual.

Only Gaia stood awkwardly, her toes digging into the ground.

She wished there weren’t so many spectators, but Hughes had firmly refused her request, justifying it with the need to control variables.

After all, they had already watched the ritual earlier.

She had once been just a fisherman’s daughter.

Performing in front of so many people made her face flush red.

Fortunately, the ritual proceeded smoothly. Soon, Chloe opened her eyes again, her orange-red hair gently rising and swaying.

”Ignite the sacred boiler, awaken the soul within the steel!”

She raised her voice sharply, chanting towards the steam engine.

Monica and Gaia stopped moving, both looking expectantly at the combustion chamber of the steam engine.

It was filled with fuel, identical to Anou’s earlier attempt.

However, this steam engine stood quietly in place, showing no signs of ignition.

After a long moment, Hughes hesitantly asked, ”Did... it fail?”

”It seems so.” Chloe sighed. ”After the last ritual, I felt a faint connection. But this time, there’s nothing. I wouldn’t mistake it.”

Monica and Gaia nodded. They felt the same way.

The sirens whispered among themselves as Hughes clicked his tongue, feeling a headache coming on.

Could it really be that the success of the ritual depended on the Machine Soul?

That would mean that a distant organization had designed a half-finished ritual that couldn’t work on its own.

One of its crucial requirements had only just been developed in Castel?

That was simply too absurd.

Even more baffling was how an unsuccessful ritual had still managed to be passed down.

The Mechanical Cathedral truly lived up to its reputation, it was likely they never imagined that their ritual could summon a heretical entity from a steam engine.

No, it was actually fortunate that their ritual had failed.

If it had successfully summoned a heretical god, a mere mortal organization would have been powerless to handle it, especially in the empire’s core capital, Rhine.

”Monica, summon another Machine Soul from the steam engine. Let’s try again.”

”Huh? Really!?”

Monica’s eyes lit up instantly. She had long wanted to summon more Machine Souls, but Hughes had always forbidden it.

After all, Castel hadn’t yet figured out how to keep the Machine Souls pleased.

These machines, which might go on strike at any moment, were potential hazards.

”Go ahead. At worst, I’ll move my office here and personally maintain these two machines. I can communicate with the Machine Souls anyway.” Hughes waved his hand.

The connection between the Machine Souls and heretical gods was too important to him, understanding it sooner rather than later was only beneficial.

”Yay!” Monica cheered and rushed towards the steam engine.

”Ignite the sacred boiler, awaken the soul within the steel!”

Flames roared to life in the combustion chamber, and a mysterious connection formed within the cold steel machine.

The glow of the fire spread through the ritual, linking to the three participants.

Chloe, Gaia, and Monica exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with excitement.

”It actually worked! The Mechanical Cathedral’s prayers, combined with the Machine Soul, can really summon a heretical god?!”

”No, not exactly a heretical god, at most, just a projection of some entity. It’s not particularly dangerous. What’s strange is that its creation requires a soul to already reside within the steel.” Chloe stepped closer to the steam engine, carefully sensing its presence.

”Is this thing safe?”

”I believe it is. It hasn’t truly descended; it merely exists here through the Machine Soul. Even listening to its whispers won’t cause pollution, that’s the biggest difference from a heretical god.”

”Heretical gods whisper too?”

”Yes, and listening for too long grants knowledge, but it also brings greater corruption. This steam engine, on the other hand... It doesn’t seem to be conveying knowledge. It’s saying something else.”

Chloe closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment before shaking her head.

”No, I can’t hear it clearly. It’s too vague.”

Monica held the container of pollution and opened the furnace door, pouring it in.

The pollution smoothly flowed into the combustion chamber, as if the scorching flames inside did not exist.

Hughes rubbed his chin, narrowing his eyes.

”Let’s leave it here and observe for a while. If it truly proves harmless and can operate stably, it might be of great use.”

Chloe looked at Hughes in surprise. ”You mean—”

”We’re too short on fuel right now. If we can’t rely on physical pollution, the steel mill will soon shut down.” Hughes spread his hands.

”Even if it is a heretical god, if it’s willing to work for Castel, then it’s not entirely unacceptable.”