Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

“And ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍you did remind me—if we truly begin implementing electrification in the future, safety seems to be a major issue.”

Both ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Gaia and Monica could already use electric current combined with Pollution to mass-produce monsters. If electric lights were someday installed inside houses, what if there were a leakage?

In ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this world, electricity was essentially at the same danger level as nuclear radiation on Blue Star. To make use of it would require an extremely rigorous and comprehensive set of protective measures—or a breakthrough in related technologies.

Hughes ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looked at Monica and Gaia before him and somehow felt that this technological breakthrough would arrive much faster than he imagined—and in ways far wilder than he imagined.

“In ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍any case, Castel Cathedral does not particularly need more weapons right now. The Storm Generator and the launchable magnetic Lightning Rod should be dismantled for the time being. That precious electric fish can be studied further for its specific applications in converting electricity and Pollution.”

“Of ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍course, those are matters for the future. For now, we should prepare for the visit to the Mechanical Sanctum. I’ve already sent a letter. As for the envoys this time, it’s tentatively decided to be Gaia, Kenn, and Zoe. Monica, there’s no use looking at me—you absolutely cannot go. Crying won’t help either!”

Seeing Monica pretending to cry while secretly peeking through her fingers, Hughes sighed and explained, “The Church of Candlelight and the Mechanical Sanctum have somehow gotten involved with each other. They have never shown goodwill toward us and have had multiple frictions in the Northlands. This mission can be said to be extremely dangerous.”

“The Church of Candlelight and Moths Chasing Fire have always been in a life-and-death struggle. It would be inappropriate for us to directly send Transcendents of Moths Chasing Fire. Zoe, you were never one of them to begin with. And Gaia, you are a Castel native who only joined later—the Church of Candlelight likely does not know this.”

“Besides, Monica, you are a Banshee. We do not know the Church of Candlelight’s attitude toward other races. Moreover, you and I share a Symbiotic Contract—you cannot stray too far from here.”

The shared Life-Pool under the Symbiotic Contract was a great advantage in battle, and when Castel had not expanded outward, it posed no issue.

But now that Castel’s territory had extended into the Northlands, matters had grown troublesome.

The Banshees could move freely on the island, which was entirely within the bounds of the Symbiotic Contract. They could also go to Blood Harbor, which was not too far.

However, once they traveled farther—such as to the Northlands—a healthy Banshee could last at most three or four days before becoming so weak that she lost all combat capability.

It was just like during the battle between the Northlands and the White Bone Horde. If the Banshees wanted to go to the front line, they had to go together—even Hughes himself had to go.

And they could only win, not lose. If they lost, it was not a matter of casualties—it would mean total annihilation, including their lord, Hughes.

“So stop causing trouble, all right?”

Monica nodded obediently.

“Besides, it’s not impossible to visit Rhine in the future.”

“Hmm?” Monica’s eyes lit up. “My Lord, are you going to wage war against the Church of Candlelight?”

In the past, Hughes would have denied it. Even if he conquered the Empire, he would still have to devote effort to governing and managing it. Was Rhine’s land any nobler than Castel’s? The same factories would be built regardless.

But after speaking with The Prince, his thoughts had subtly changed. The Empress had once naively believed that development alone would suffice—yet in the end, she could only linger within another’s Inhabited Shell.

The Church was like a malignant tumor upon this world. After monopolizing the Transcendence Paths, they not only fed upon Mortals but also blocked all possibilities of progress.

If there were no Transcendence, would this world be better or worse? Hughes did not know.

But since he had arrived, things could not remain as they were. Castel could remain self-sufficient—but it could also attempt to change this world.

“Whether we go to war with the Church of Candlelight depends on their choice. Gaia, I will give you part of our technology. This portion will be freely gifted by Castel to the Church.”

Just as when Hughes had first arrived at Blood Harbor and presented The Prince with that Bolt-Action Rifle.

“We are willing to share, to show goodwill, to cooperate. This gift is Castel’s sincerity.” Hughes’ expression grew solemn. “But Gaia, I must remind you—this is extremely dangerous.”

Gaia blinked, puzzled. “Dangerous?”

“Yes. As far as I know, the Mechanical Sanctum regards any technological progress as heresy. I do not know whether they have changed—but we must prepare for the worst.”

“There’s such a thing!? Then what about the Church of Candlelight?”

“The Church of Candlelight? Heh.”

Hughes let out a cold laugh. He knew all too well how they handled technological progress. Worker Hughes still had a gaping hole in his chest.

“Let alone technological advancement—the Church of the Empire could not even tolerate the Empress. She merely reformed the Civil Official System.”

Empress Isabella was the reviving sovereign of the Holy Mill Empire. Logically speaking, as the Empire prospered, the Church would also benefit.

Yet they refused. No matter what achievements a Mortal accomplished, if they defied the Church’s will, death was the only outcome. Worker Hughes had been executed without trial. When had the Empress ever been given a chance to defend herself?

Had Isabella not prepared a contingency in advance, perhaps even her name would have been forgotten by now.

“Be cautious. Be careful. Test their attitude. If we can exchange for technology, that would be best. If not…”

Hughes’ gaze flickered.

“Then we shall take it ourselves.”

Gaia and Zoe both stiffened and nodded solemnly. Even Monica remained silent.

The room fell quiet for a moment before Hughes suddenly smiled, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

“But there’s no need to worry excessively. You will not be fighting alone. Isaac and his Ashen Alliance will fully cooperate with you. Though the Banshees cannot go, I have transported a large batch of weapons. The Transcendents over there—and Granny as well—will be there. But you’d best be cautious about asking for her help.”

Hughes had not only sent a letter to the Mechanical Sanctum but had also made arrangements in advance with Isaac.

This diplomatic mission prioritized the safety of personnel. If real danger arose, they were permitted to abandon all intelligence objectives and break through together.

When the time came, those receiving them would not only be Castel’s people but also The Prince’s army.

The Prince had long since prepared. If negotiations collapsed, the front line would immediately advance.

“All right. Spend these days making preparations. Once we receive their reply, you may depart. Of course, if they directly refuse, that would make things even simpler—The Prince is already impatient.”