Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

“By ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the way, Lord, although we of Moths Chasing Fire were split off from the Church of Candlelight, our inheritance is ultimately incomplete. The Silent Sanctum is different. They are a bona fide member of the Four Great Churches. Perhaps they know more hidden secrets.”

Hughes ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍slowly nodded.

There ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was no rush about this matter. The priests of the Silent Sanctum had only just awakened; waiting until they familiarized themselves with the island before paying a visit would be fine.

Hughes ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had originally felt that Castel’s strength was already sufficient, but after seeing the sacrificial ritual of the Church of the Sea God today, he realized that the churches did, in fact, possess quite a few hidden trump cards.

Take ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Church of the Sea God for example. They might not have Castel’s formidable production capacity, but if they truly sacrificed the entire city and summoned a storm at sea, Castel’s fleet might not necessarily be able to withstand it.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Silent Sanctum merely suffered disadvantages when dealing with the White Mist. If they charged toward a machine-gun position, it might—might…

  Uh, it still seemed they wouldn’t be able to break through.

But the White-Bone Sanctum used by Earl Bazel was also something belonging to the Burier. If it were used directly in Castel, it really wasn’t certain it could be blocked.

And these were only the trump cards they had exposed. It wasn’t guaranteed that they didn’t possess even more terrifying things—only that the price to use them was too great.

In short, none of these churches were pushovers. On the surface, their strength might not rival Castel’s, but who knew what strange and bizarre powers they might have. Though the cost was enormous, once used, they would be extremely difficult to resist.

“I’ll find time to speak with the Patriarch of the Silent Sanctum. As for the Mechanical Society, I’ll also try to send people to make contact. If we can exchange for technology in this area, or commission them to create shells, that would be acceptable as well.”

Hughes actually had little desire to expand outward. The core of industry was an educated industrial population. Territory and cities were more of a burden to Castel.

Take the Northlands for instance. Aside from confiscating quite a few luxury goods from the estates of several dukes, there was really not much gain. For an agricultural country, that pitiful level of productivity wasn’t even enough to cover the cost of warfare.

Instead, the Northlands had received infrastructure sent by Castel, as well as an entire railway leading to Blood Harbor. Thinking about it this way, Grand Duke Alvare and the others had actually surpassed all their predecessors in terms of territorial development.

It was just that the territory was no longer under their control.

“Oh right, Lord, you previously said that Gwen would also follow me to do research.”

Hughes’s figure paused.

Just the weapons Richard was currently developing were already strange enough. Add Gwen to that, and who knew what earth-shaking technological products they might come up with.

He had been too careless before. He hadn’t expected Richard, who looked so steady, to create things that were all so bizarre.

He wanted to develop normal industry!

“Ahem, about that. I see that you’re currently in charge of far too many projects. I also… can’t bear to see Chloe working overtime all the time. How about this—you focus specifically on Chloe’s and Nora’s two projects for now.”

“As for weapons research, I’ll talk to Gaia and let her take charge. At present, Castel doesn’t need to fight any wars. Military production capacity will be reduced somewhat. It’ll be just right for her to take on research as a part-time responsibility.”

Gaia had always acted in a steady manner. Previously, Castel had been constantly at war, so Hughes had handed the military factories to her, including the most dangerous and important explosives production lines.

Nothing had gone wrong.

Transferring her here now would definitely pull Castel’s already-derailed technology tree back onto the right path!

Richard froze for a moment, then his face lit up with joy. “That’s wonderful! I’ve always wanted to research my beloved medical arts. Saving the dying and healing the wounded is my true passion. It’s just that I never had the time because of all the work. Lord, just wait for my results!”

Hughes glanced at the testing ground. Richard’s clone was struggling to stuff the howling coyote back into its cage.

Saving the dying? Medical arts?

  Hughes had an ominous feeling.

None of his research personnel were reliable—especially those from Moths Chasing Fire. Either they were like Richard, whose results were bizarre, or like Tata, whose research process itself was bizarre.

Only Gaia was trustworthy!

As Hughes followed Richard out of the testing ground, he forgot one thing: Gaia had also joined Moths Chasing Fire, and before the Deep Sea War, she had spent her days hanging out with Chloe and Monica.

Nora still didn’t know that her liaison operation had received the lord’s personal attention. At this moment, she was being held in Gwen’s arms, continuing to lead the Buriers around the island on a tour.

The people of the Silent Sanctum were now extremely quiet, no longer as noisy as before.

When they boarded the subway earlier, they hadn’t felt much. The train was impressive, but the Buriers didn’t think that this lump of steel could defeat the Sanctum.

Airships were different.

After seeing the Celestial Behemoth, the priests of the Sanctum all became dejected.

It was very simple—this thing was something the Sanctum truly couldn’t defeat.

And Nini, with ill intent, even took them on a tour of the air harbor. Although none of the airships there were as massive as the Celestial Behemoth, their numbers were far greater.

This completely extinguished the Buriers’ remaining thoughts. They might be able to pay any price to shoot down the Celestial Behemoth, but it was impossible for them to destroy rows upon rows of small and medium airships at the air harbor.

Thus, the entire Silent Sanctum fell into silence.

“Isn’t this a bit too much of a blow?” Gwen asked worriedly.

“What kind of blow is this? I haven’t even taken them to see the factory production lines yet. If they saw that several airships could be built in a single day, wouldn’t they go insane on the spot?” Nini said indifferently, flicking her tail.

“Indeed. Facing reality directly is a good thing. What the Sanctum needs is change. Clinging to those ancient dogmas will only repeat the tragedy from a thousand years ago,” Nora said seriously.

After speaking, she suddenly looked at Gwen, her tone tinged with suspicion. “But this seems to be your first time seeing these things as well. Why didn’t you go insane?”

“What’s there to go insane about?” Gwen said with a grin. “When I was little, I loved to daydream. I even imagined a flying unicorn, little pets that could talk, and even imagined an adult version of myself coming out to help fight. Compared to those, airships aren’t that interesting. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t seen them before.”

Gwen had indeed seen airships in the Northlands. When Nini led people to rescue her on the battlefield, it was aerial bombs dropped by two reconnaissance airships that killed the enemies.

Limbs and flesh had flown through the air amid the explosions. That hellish scene was something she still remembered vividly.

Nora nodded, then suddenly frowned.

“Wait. You managed to turn heavy machine guns into this state, and even summoned the Steel Ark. The friends you imagined—didn’t they turn real?”

“How could that be? Lady Nora, why are you still like a little child? Imaginary friends, of course, can’t become real.”