Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Lina ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍had first infiltrated the island, but had been exposed by Chloe and Isaac working together. She had left behind a shell and fled, then went to the Northlands, where she bewitched Earl Bazel into opening the White-Bone Sanctum, nearly unleashing a catastrophe that would have destroyed the entire continent.

Lina ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had claimed she was the Chief of the Moths Chasing Fire. That was, of course, a lie. Hughes had not believed a single word of it.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍how had this so-called Chief now gained recognition from the Empire?

Had ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Church of Candlelight endorsed Lina?

“Lord, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you called for me?”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍office door opened again, and Richard walked in holding a diary.

Just after Hughes had finished reading the letter, he had summoned Richard and told him to bring Chloe along.

“Chloe, were you the Chief of the Moths Chasing Fire?”

〖I used to be. The current Chief is Richard.〗

“Did Lina ever serve as Chief?”

〖???〗

Chloe felt baffled. Richard adjusted his monocle and frowned.

“The Lina you’re referring to… is she the same Lina who attempted to assassinate you at the Tribunal?”

“Yes, that’s her. What position did she hold within the Moths Chasing Fire?”

〖I recruited Lina myself. She was just a little girl from the slums of Rhine. I saw that she had strong learning talent and was rather fanatical about knowledge. After observing her for a while, I brought her in. Within the Moths Chasing Fire… she never really held any position. She was just a newcomer responsible for running errands.〗

Hughes nodded. “Then where are the members of the Moths Chasing Fire now?”

“Most of them are here. A portion are in Blood Harbor. The Empire once had some scattered members, but they gradually came over to join us.”

“So essentially, there are no Moths Chasing Fire members left in the Empire?”

“That’s right. Aside from a few of Isaac’s subordinates who are lying low there.”

“Good. Then are you really the Moths Chasing Fire?”

“???”

〖???〗

Chloe and Richard were both filled with question marks.

Hughes pushed the letter in his hand across the desk.

“Take a look. I just received this letter. The Empire is asking me to assist in exterminating the Moths Chasing Fire.” He tapped a few phrases on the paper.

“Look at this — ‘Four Border Realms.’ It says the Moths Chasing Fire are in the Empire’s ‘Four Border Realms.’ I suspect this letter wasn’t sent to me alone. Isabella has appointed quite a number of Frontier Counts. I’d wager they all received this letter as well.”

Chloe and Richard read the letter carefully. After a moment, Richard lifted his head, his expression odd.

“Lord… judging from the meaning of this letter… Lina has impersonated the Moths Chasing Fire within the Empire. And now the Empire — no, the Church of Candlelight — intends to eliminate that ‘Moths Chasing Fire’?”

Hughes nodded.

It truly felt strange. The two Chiefs of the Moths Chasing Fire were both standing right before him, yet the Empire was discussing with him how to eradicate the Moths Chasing Fire.

“And this letter was signed in the name of the Empress of the Empire. Although Beatrice also holds the position of Pope, that title wasn’t mentioned.” Hughes glanced at the signature at the bottom. The entire letter had been written in elegant calligraphy, likely copied by a court scribe.

But the signature itself had been personally written by Beatrice.

Hughes pictured the somewhat shy and youthful face of that girl. After not seeing her for some time, she had already become both Pope and Empress.

Though she was probably only a puppet.

“Frontier Counts are nominally vassals of the Empress and are required to obey her orders. But what’s the point of this?”

The Northlands and the Principality of Tis had already openly turned against the Empire. The Prince’s side had completed its war preparations. Hughes did not believe the other Frontier Counts were unprepared.

At a time like this, producing an order in the Empress’s name felt somewhat ridiculous.

“Could it be that the Empire is preparing to formally go to war with the Prince and is forcing us to choose a side?” Richard said uncertainly.

“What difference would that make?”

Richard fell silent. Hughes was right. Whether this letter existed or not would not change Castel’s stance. Did they truly think that with just a letter from the Empress, he would submit to the Empire?

〖Actually… there’s another possibility.〗

Hughes looked toward Chloe’s diary. “Go on.”

〖It’s simple. The Church of Candlelight may genuinely be warning us about the Moths Chasing Fire — or rather, about the Lina they believe represents the Moths Chasing Fire. Look at this sentence: ‘She even arrogantly declared that ashes could make the white bones beneath the shroud dance.’ This clearly refers to Bazel and the White-Bone Sanctum incident. That’s not right.〗

Hughes slowly nodded.

“You mean Lina is once again doing something that could endanger the entire continent. The Church of Candlelight discovered it and is using this method to warn us — and the surrounding Frontier Counts?”

〖Yes. The territory controlled by the Church of Candlelight has shrunk considerably compared to Isabella’s era. They’ve almost entirely lost the eastern side. Tis is in the Prince’s hands. The Northlands are under our control. The Southern Continent in the south belongs to the Temple of the Sleepless. Only on the western battlefield do they seem to have won.〗

〖And most Frontier Counts are positioned at the outermost edges of the Empire’s Four Border Realms, intersecting with neighboring forces. Sending this letter to the Frontier Counts is equivalent to sending it to those surrounding forces. Whether they are willing to exterminate the Moths Chasing Fire or not, at least they will know about it.〗

That explanation did make sense.

However…

“That doesn’t add up. What could Lina have done to make the entire Church of Candlelight wary of her? Even when the whole Moths Chasing Fire was still active across the continent, the Church of Candlelight didn’t react this strongly.”

〖And the Church of Candlelight seems to foresee her attempting something even greater — something beyond even their ability to resolve. I don’t like admitting it, but the Church of Candlelight is the strongest among the Four Great Churches. If they cannot resolve it, perhaps no one can.〗

Hughes thought to himself: not necessarily. When they had tried to kill the Empress, hadn’t Isabella escaped like a cicada shedding its shell, swapping into another shell?

“Perhaps we should ask Isaac. I’ve heard he’s developed some forces within the Empire. Oh, and Bazel too — he personally encountered Lina,” Richard suggested.

〖Speaking of which, how is Bazel? Will he also be coming to Castel to work overtime in the future?〗

“Bazel’s the same as always. Right now, he’s just waiting for the energy supply system in Blood Harbor to be established. As for where he’ll go afterward… he’ll probably stay in Blood Harbor.” Hughes curled his lips. “Working overtime is guaranteed. As for his future work environment… it might not be too pleasant.”

〖You mean not too cold, right? By the way, Beatrice really did become both Pope and Empress. Could Nini’s report have been true?〗

Hughes felt somewhat speechless. Why did it seem like everyone had read Nini’s report?

Zoe might as well give up on becoming a novelist — she couldn’t compare to Nini at all.

“As for Beatrice, I’ve vaguely heard some information. But the sources aren’t particularly reliable, and the authenticity remains uncertain,” Hughes said after a moment’s thought.

Some of that information had come through Isaac’s intelligence network.

The rest…

Had come through the thread connection of Worker Hughes. Beatrice was still one of its members.