Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

This time, it wasn’t an empty ship that brought Galahad to Blood Harbor. A whole team of Holy Guards, engineers, various supplies, and weapons were being provided to him.

Although limited by the Prince’s side, the overall number wasn’t large, but it was still a clear declaration—Castel had opened its doors to these Northern refugees and was directly offering shelter.

Thinking of this, Josh felt a warm sensation in his heart. Though he was still in Blood Harbor, his heart had already sailed across the sea, flying toward that familiar island.

Mm, he hoped he wouldn’t be frightened by the changes when he returned to the island.

“Of course Castel will take in the Mystics, but… it’s not enough. The population is far from enough. Now, more than half the Storm Ocean is under the Earl’s control—this small number of people is just the beginning,” Josh said softly.

The refugees who came south with the Black Pearl numbered just over a hundred. It wasn’t that Nora didn’t want to send more people, but the ship simply couldn’t hold any more.

After all, the Black Pearl wasn’t purely a cargo ship. Its carrying capacity was limited, and these hundred-plus individuals weren’t cargo—they needed food and drink, and also places to sleep. This number was already the limit.

The Mystics began with these people, and later they gradually accepted many others fleeing from the North. Once chaos erupted in Blood Harbor, many impoverished and starving people who couldn’t survive also joined.

Now the Mystics had a total of over five hundred members. It didn’t sound like much, but in this port city, it was already a force to be reckoned with.

After all, these were only official members. Many members had families as well. If counted by influence, including the peripheral individuals, the number had already exceeded a thousand.

Although they still couldn’t compare to the Life Mother Church, such a sudden population increase must be a heavy burden on the territory, right?

Could Castel really bear the load?

Mira’s eyes carried a trace of doubt.

She herself was a follower of a Heretical God, and in the chaos of Blood Harbor, she had seen many things. This method of bringing in a large influx of people immediately made her think of many bad scenarios.

Mira glanced at the old woman. She recognized her as an Extraordinary of the Moths Chasing Fire cult. That cult was rather infamous. Although its believers were quite insane, she’d never heard of them using live human sacrifices.

Zoe noticed her concerns and quickly explained, “Castel is currently in a development phase. The more population, the better. Food is fully supplied—we’re not that far from here either. You might as well send someone to the island to take a look. Just a few days ago, the Prince sent Galahad over, and the returning ship arrived not long ago.”

Mira nodded slowly. She knew about this. Now that the Life Mother Church had basically taken control of the lower-class population of Blood Harbor, she even received some information earlier than the Prince.

“What kind of people are you recruiting? And for what?”

Zoe and Josh exchanged a glance. Both had a hint of joy in their eyes.

As expected, based on Mira’s earlier actions, she truly wanted to find a way out for her people.

Castel’s recruitment was good for these starving people, but not necessarily good for Mira herself.

As a Priestess of the Life Mother Church, her power was naturally stronger the more believers she had under her.

From her personal perspective, accepting Castel’s offer was actually weakening her own power.

She should be opposed to it.

But based on her behavior, she didn’t seem to be such a person.

Zoe looked at her thin face and couldn’t help but recall their confrontation that day—her fury, the grief in her eyes when she looked at Tommy—Zoe couldn’t forget it all.

That was also why Zoe had come here.

She wanted to carve out a path to survival, for the refugees of Blood Harbor… and for Mira.

Under the table, Zoe’s fists clenched tightly. Her heart beat with excitement. She hadn’t misjudged Mira—Mira truly cared about these poor believers!

And Castel wouldn’t disappoint them.

Once these people arrived on the island, they would have jobs, they wouldn’t go hungry, they could learn to read, go to school, and live like human beings again.

In the future, Castel would continue receiving refugees.

Blood Harbor was still too small compared to the whole Storm Ocean, and the Northern refugees would finally have a home.

This was merely the first contact between both sides.

Though Zoe was excited, she also knew not to rush. Mira had personally seen them off.

“Looking forward to our next meeting.”

Zoe tried her best to appear mature and reliable, steadily waving goodbye to Mira.

This High Priestess of the Life Mother Church smiled like a child.

Sunlight pierced through the unique murky fog of the lower district and cast a halo upon her.

Like a wild weed stubbornly growing.

She smiled happily, even choking slightly and breaking into a fit of coughing.

With each cough, her frail body trembled. Zoe stepped forward out of concern, then hesitated and stopped.

It took Mira a while to stop coughing. Her face looked even more withered.

She smiled and waved. “It’s fine, just an old illness. Don’t worry about me. I’ll get better. Go on back.”

Only then did the group take their leave.

After walking some distance, Zoe finally let out a smile—she had succeeded.

Everything had gone so smoothly.

She had managed to establish contact with Mira, and had reached a preliminary agreement.

Originally, she had many concerns—like whether Mira would be difficult to talk to, or whether the Life Mother Church followers would be extremely fanatical, or whether they would run into all sorts of trouble over belief.

But none of that happened.

Everything was fine.

Far, far better than she had expected.

Zoe giggled foolishly. She was truly overjoyed.

“Didn’t expect them to be so easy to talk to.”

“Well, we can provide food. Though they’re heretics, at the end of the day, all they want is to survive.

If they can eat, who would willingly trade their life for some power?” Josh said with emotion.

He truly understood.

Though he had founded the Mystics under the guise of a heretical cult to scare others, that scare tactic didn’t work on the starving who wanted to join.

These poor people didn’t know the heretical cult was fake.

They believed the Heretical Gods would take their lives.

But as long as it got them food, they didn’t care.

The Heretical Gods may take their lives—but not now.

If they had nothing to eat, they wouldn’t live to see the next day’s sun.

Many even clenched their teeth and joined just to get a bite for their families.

Every time Josh thought about this, his heart felt as if stabbed by an icy razor.

Thankfully, things were getting better.

The Prince was pushing reforms, order was returning, Castel was receiving refugees, and today’s negotiations with Mira had gone very well.

Everything was improving.

Zoe fell asleep with a smile on her face that night.

Unfortunately, her happiness didn’t last long.

The next day, an urgent message landed on multiple desks—

The Life Mother Church had launched another rebellion.

The war-torn Blood Harbor had once again sunk into the abyss.