Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

There ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍were countless nobles of all sizes across the continent, but there was only one royal family.

Under ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the joint pressure of several Grand Dukes of the Empire, the royal family had long since become nothing more than an empty shell. When Isabella inherited the throne, there had not even been a single usable person left within the royal household.

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ever since Empress Isabella had been assassinated, the royal bloodline had nearly been cut off. Logically speaking, there should no longer have been any legitimate heir. So where had this royal crest come from?

Could ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it have been a letter sent by The Prince? Had he stopped pretending?

Hughes ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looked at Zoe across from him with a complicated expression. Zoe gave a slight nod. “Take a look at the back. I was shocked too.”

Hughes ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍flipped the envelope over. His eyes fixed tightly on the signature.

Beatrice Perlanis Rhine Joanne.

He drew in a deep breath, carefully placed the letter on the table, and rubbed his brow.

“Let me think. This is a bit messy.”

“I’ve already confirmed with the envoy who delivered the letter. Her Majesty Beatrice is the same Miss Beatrice who escorted prisoners to Castel that day. She is now the Pope of the Church of Candlelight, the legitimate heir of the Perlanis royal family, and the new Empress of the Empire.”

Hughes fell silent.

After a while, rummaging through his rather limited knowledge of noble affairs, he hesitantly asked, “If I remember correctly, wasn’t she just a member of the Joanne Family before? She had nothing to do with the royal family.”

“Yes. When she arrived in Castel, she was indeed only a member of the Joanne Family. But the Joanne Family and the royal family had a large number of complicated agreements between them. In theory, she did possess succession rights to the throne—just rather far down the line.”

“How far down?”

“Over a hundredth.”

“And now she’s the new Empress?”

“That’s right. Quite coincidentally, all the heirs before her… well, met with accidents.”

The corner of Hughes’ eye twitched.

“And how did she become Pope? Did all the bishops ranked before her also meet with accidents?”

“I don’t know about that. My Lord, forgive me for speaking bluntly, but this entire matter reeks of something strange from beginning to end. I hope you will judge carefully.”

Hughes did not need her to tell him that. After hesitating for a moment, he tapped his fingers against the table.

“Has anyone examined this letter?”

“Yes. Granny had it appraised. There’s no Extraordinary Power attached to it. It’s just an ordinary letter. The methods of the Church of Candlelight are most familiar to Moths Chasing Fire. The reliability is quite high.”

Hughes nodded. He picked up the letter opener from the table, carefully sliced open the envelope, and took out the neatly folded parchment. He skimmed through it quickly.

The letter was not long. Hughes finished reading it soon enough. He set the paper aside, his expression indescribably strange.

Seeing Zoe’s curious and concerned look, Hughes sighed and pushed the letter toward her. “Read it yourself.”

In the name of Empress Beatrice

From Rhine City, Empress of the Holy Mill Empire under the Radiance of the Candlelight, Sovereign of Perlanis, penned by imperial hand

To the Frontier Count of Castel, My loyal shield and blade

Sir Hughes Corsica Simmons Stuart,

You shall regard this letter as both the Empress’s personal decree and the sacred edict of the Church of Candlelight.

You are hereby commanded to, with the swiftness of an eagle and the majesty of a lion king, purge the loathsome heresy that coils like poisonous vines across the four borders of My realm—those who style themselves as followers of “Moths Chasing Fire,” yet are but fetid dust shaken loose from a demon’s wings!

Upon My imperial desk lie secret reports, every word steeped in the sulfurous stench of Hell—within your domain, the heretical rabble of “Moths Chasing Fire” have dared commit blasphemies upon land illuminated by the Candlelight!

Know this well: as personally testified by Archbishop Euler, the heretics, led by the witch Lina, have laid bare their atrocities—on nights of the waning moon, she ground the shinbones of baptized infants into powder, mixed them with rye seed, and sowed them upon profaned soil, even proclaiming that ashes could make white bones dance beneath burial shrouds! Such deeds cause angels to veil their faces and the Holy Grail to weep blood!

I know your father, Duke Cohen, once served as the Empire’s spearhead. Let your family crest gleam with fierce light once more at this hour! Should you remain obstinately content in your corner and allow the shadow of Lina’s moth-wings to spread across My lands—

You shall foresee this: the Investigator monks of the Church of Candlelight will enter your fief bearing My imperial writ! They shall take your head in My name and hang it beneath the beams of the council hall, there to adorn the hearth alongside the skulls of those heretics.

Candlelight blesses the faithful.

—Beatrice Perlanis Rhine Joanne

At the very bottom of the parchment were the dual seals of the Church of Candlelight and the Perlanis royal family.

Zoe’s eyes sparkled as she read. The diction and structure were in the standard formal style of the Holy Mill royal court, filled with heavily nested clauses. The knight novels she used to read loved this tone.

Although it was exhausting to read and even more troublesome to write, it certainly looked grand and imposing.

For a time, it had even caused many noble young ladies to stop speaking normally—either adopting operatic tones or this kind of convoluted written language.

“Well? Finished reading?”

“Uh… let me look again…”

Zoe felt a little guilty. She had been savoring the phrasing and sentence structure and had not really paid attention to what the letter actually said.

“Stop reading. I’ll tell you directly.” Hughes rubbed his temple impatiently. “The Empire wants us to exterminate Moths Chasing Fire. If we don’t, they’ll come exterminate us.”

“What?” Zoe froze. After a moment, she spoke softly. “We’ve been exposed?”

“Exposed? Castel never hid it in the first place.”

Hughes let out a cold laugh.

He had never deliberately concealed the existence of Moths Chasing Fire. He had only instructed them not to display the name openly.

That had mainly been to avoid scaring people away. After all, the name Moths Chasing Fire did not carry the best reputation.

“So are we going to war with the Empire?” Zoe’s eyes lit up, her face full of eager anticipation.

Hughes glared at her. Why did it feel like everyone under him was a warmonger? Zoe was not even part of the Expeditionary Army—she was just a civilian staff member.

“My Lord, I’m a Transcendent now. Approve a few Dragon’s Breath Cannons for me and let me go to the battlefield!”

“You? On the battlefield? You’ve never even fought before. If you want a Dragon’s Breath Cannon, defeat Nini’s War Correspondent Team first.”

Nini’s War Correspondent Team was now primarily composed of mortal auxiliary forces. The Banshees only served as commanders, functioning as an elite unit.

“Enough of this nonsense. There’s something strange about this letter.”

Zoe blinked.

“You mean Her Majesty Beatrice is secretly in love with you and would never write something like this, just like Nini reported—”

“Wait, wait. Why haven’t I seen that report?”

“Oh, that was a special chapter unlocked exclusively for paid members…” Zoe suddenly covered her mouth, looking horrified.

“…We’ll deal with Nini later. I’ll settle accounts with her. That’s not what I mean.”

Hughes pointed at the letter.

“The letter says that the leader of Moths Chasing Fire is Lina!”