Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍a round of prayer, there was nothing more for them to do. They exchanged words of caution and finally left the Connection.

This ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been the coldest gathering since the Connection had been established.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍fates of Gwen and Beatrice Joanne remained unknown, weighing heavily on the hearts of the others.

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍disconnecting, Hughes let out a sigh and chose to return as well.

Soon, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Worker Hughes’ head gradually drooped, and everything fell silent.

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍quite some time, the tranquil mist suddenly churned violently. The fog that had always enveloped Hughes abruptly cleared around him.

Like a breached dam, the mist spiraled and surged toward a single point. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to form the outline of a figure.

White hair. White eyes.

It was Little Gwen.

With no support beneath her, she floated in midair. She glanced at Hughes, then slowly descended before him, her bare toes lightly touching the ground.

With her hands clasped behind her back and a face full of curiosity, she circled Hughes several times. Then she reached out and gently touched the corner of Worker Hughes’ forehead.

Hughes’ head tilted to one side, like a lifeless doll, without the slightest reaction.

Gwen extended her hand into the large hole in Hughes’ chest, as though inspecting a stage prop, checking whether it was truly hollow.

“Impressive, impressive.”

Her face filled with admiration, she examined him carefully. Then her body gradually rose again, retreating back into the mist.

Sunlight poured down from above. Gwen’s small figure floated in the air, yet the shadow cast beneath her was that of a ferocious Colossal Monstrosity.

On one of the sharp horns atop the beast’s head, something seemed to be entangled. Looking closely, it was several threads, the other ends wrapped tightly around Hughes’ hand.

If Hughes had been present, he would certainly have understood at once why today’s Connection had taken noticeably longer to establish—there had been an additional layer of relay.

Little Gwen hovered in the air. Suddenly, her brows furrowed slightly as she looked to one side. Her figure blurred abruptly, and moments later, she had vanished.

Far away in the Northlands, within the Canary Mountain Range, the mist rose here like a sheer vertical High Wall, as if forming a natural chasm.

A young girl stood there, quietly gazing at the mist ahead, her expression blank.

Soon, the fog parted to either side, and Gwen’s figure gradually solidified.

“You’re Lina, aren’t you?”

Lina did not even look at Gwen. She stared fixedly at a certain point within the mist. “It has descended again. This time, it’s stronger than every previous occurrence.”

“The ‘It’ you’re talking about—who is that? And what do you mean by Descent?”

Lina’s eyes shifted slightly, her gaze finally falling upon Little Gwen. A trace of mockery curled at her lips. “We are both 【Named One】. How could you not know who ‘It’ is?”

Little Gwen fell silent for a moment.

“I only recently became a 【Named One】. I don’t know much.”

“Heh. Stop telling such ridiculous lies. There are many methods circulating in this world that claim one can become a 【Named One】, but they’re all false.” Lina seemed to lose interest in Gwen and looked back into the depths of the White Mist. “A 【Named One】 cannot ‘become’ one. However many there were a thousand years ago, that is how many there are now. Perhaps fewer—but never more.”

Gwen fell silent again. After a long time, she turned her head and followed Lina’s gaze into the depths of the White Mist.

“You want to go in?”

“I do. I want to more than anything. But if I go in, I’d likely just be at your mercy.” Lina’s tone suddenly shifted, tinged with anger. “You’ve been hiding well in the Temple of the Forgetters. Even I have no memory of you. The gods have fallen, and twilight approaches. I don’t blame you for wanting to preserve your life. But on the day Lord Bruno died—why didn’t you act!”

Facing the girl’s almost flame-spitting glare, Little Gwen scratched her head in confusion. “Um… I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Could you explain it to me in detail?”

Lina let out a cold snort. After one last look at the White Mist, she turned and left.

Only Little Gwen remained where she stood.

She sighed and muttered softly, “That makes it even harder to leave. I still have to watch over this body for him…”

The mist churned, and Gwen’s figure faded away. Though she did not understand what Lina was referring to, she at least knew that Lina was observing something.

—even through layers of mist, Lina’s gaze had fallen upon the shell of Worker Hughes.

Hughes slowly raised his head from the armchair and rubbed his somewhat sore neck.

“This Descent didn’t bring much gain. Aside from inexplicably gaining the ability to hear people’s prayers—the key problem is I can only listen. I can’t grant any of them!”

“Forget it, forget it. Better focus on what’s at hand… Ash! Has anyone come to visit during this time?”

“Yes. Gaia.”

“Let her in.”

The next second, the door was pushed open, and Gaia walked straight in.

“I heard you’re planning to make contact with the Mechanical Sanctum?”

Hughes blinked. Gaia had always been steady and meticulous, yet now she was visibly agitated and anxious—she had even fastened one button on her collar incorrectly.

Hughes tapped his fingers lightly on the table, narrowed his eyes, and thought for a moment before sighing. “You want to go? Is it because of Chloe?”

“Who would do it for her!” Gaia instinctively retorted. But meeting Hughes’ clear gaze, her voice weakened. “Aren’t you assigning me to take over research and development now? I think the Mechanical Sanctum’s technology has considerable merits. I’d like to exchange ideas.”

After speaking, she seemed worried that Hughes might refuse and hurriedly added, “I’m already a Transcendent now—and a member of Moths Chasing Fire. More importantly, I’ve managed Castel’s military production lines. I know exactly what technologies we need. I’m the most suitable candidate to go!”

In truth, Richard would have been the better choice. Hughes had intended to say so, but seeing the faint pleading in Gaia’s eyes, he found himself unable to speak.

In the end, he merely sighed inwardly and nodded. “The specific personnel haven’t been finalized yet. But since you want to go, there will be a place for you in this delegation.”

Gaia’s eyes immediately lit up. “Th-that’s wonderful, Lord! I won’t disappoint you! Oh, right—I also have several projects here that need approval…”

With a somewhat guilty expression, she handed over a large stack of documents, as if to prove she hadn’t been slacking. Hughes flipped through them briefly and saw they were all research projects. Without examining them closely, he signed them casually.

“Make your preparations. We’ll depart in the next few days. I’ll notify you once the rest of the team is selected.”

“Understood! Thank you, Lord!”

Gaia left cheerfully. Hughes shook his head and sighed.

Ever since Chloe’s death, she had been downcast. It had been a long time since he had seen her this happy.

He only hoped her journey to the Mechanical Sanctum would go smoothly.

He yawned and was just about to close the door when someone suddenly burst into the room. Looking closely, he saw it was Zoe, panting heavily.

“Lord! Something’s happened!”