Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Gaia ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍lowered her head and looked at the bullet hole that had pierced through her chest, her gaze gradually turning vacant.

Her ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hand loosened, and she fell from the rope.

Below, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the 【Investigators】 continued firing their muskets.

“Michel, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this won’t work. They’re getting higher and higher. They’re about to fly out of musket range!”

“Damn ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it, damn it!”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍young Fathers shouted in fury. His clothes were stained with blood and mud, long since stripped of their earlier composure.

“That airship is clearly just a balloon—how has it taken so many shots without bursting?!”

The surrounding 【Investigators】 glanced over but said nothing.

They were all Transcendents. They had clearly seen the sparks when bullets struck the airship’s gas envelope—at the very least, its underside was reinforced with protective plating.

Several more rounds of coordinated volley fire followed. Aside from shooting down a few of Gaia’s avatars, there were no results. Zoe had already pulled Beatrice Joanne into the cabin, and now Gaia had also climbed inside. There was no longer any need to use avatars to block bullets. They had completely lost any means of dealing with the airship.

“What do we do next, Michel?”

Michel turned his head. Before he could answer, a burst of commotion rose from outside.

The 【Investigators】 looked back and saw a group of soldiers wearing the Church of Candlelight insignia—the Church’s Mortal Auxiliary Forces had arrived.

“These useless fools—why are they only getting here now?!”

Michel’s face darkened. He had intended to reprimand them, but seeing the gazes around him, his lips twitched and he swallowed the words.

No matter how one looked at it, this incident could not be blamed on the Mortal Auxiliary Forces. Instead, it was they—the Transcendents—who would have to explain themselves to the Council of Keepers.

“Why are you all looking at me? What, are the Keepers going to eat us alive? Those people can’t even leave their building. Doesn’t the Church still rely on us to function?”

“But… isn’t this rebellion? We’ll be judged…”

Clang!

Michel casually threw the musket in his hand onto the ground, his expression turning sharp. “Rebellion? It’s only rebellion if we fail! Right now, the Church’s upper ranks have all been killed by the Mechanical Sanctum—they are the ones who failed! And we—we have suppressed the rebellion of the Mechanical Sanctum. That’s merit!”

He swept his gaze over the others. “Transcendents are the foundation of the Church. We represent the Church of Candlelight!”

The 【Investigators】 exchanged glances but remained silent.

Michel’s voice softened slightly.

“The ones who oppressed us are gone. The Council of Keepers will have to rely on us to govern the Church. This is good for all of us!”

After speaking, he cast one final glance at the airship that had nearly disappeared from sight overhead, then strode out through the collapsed wall.

“Come. We’re going to the Keepers’ Sanctum!”

The 【Investigators】 hesitated briefly before following him. The Mortal Auxiliary Forces obeyed orders as well, marching along behind them.

The Council of Keepers was the highest judicial authority of the Church. All decrees originated from there; their words determined the direction of the entire Church.

The Church of Candlelight had seven Keepers—more than any of the Four Great Churches. That was precisely why it held a transcendent status and could occupy the entire continent.

Michel led the 【Investigators】 and commanded the Mortal Auxiliary Forces as they advanced in force toward an unassuming building.

It lacked the grand spires typical of other cathedrals of the Church of Candlelight. Its overall structure was simple.

If there was anything unusual, it was that the entire building had not a single window.

The guard posts on either side were already empty. Michel stood at the entrance, drew a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

Success or failure would be decided here. He had to persuade the Council of Keepers to acknowledge their position.

“I am—” Michel had only just begun speaking loudly when he suddenly stopped.

Standing at the doorway, his entire body began to tremble slowly.

A short while earlier—before the guests in the Banquet Hall had drawn blades against one another—

Upper Rhine, the Restricted Section of the Church.

This was the library of the Church of Candlelight. Nearly all historical records across the continent were collected here, and the Restricted Section held countless records concerning the supernatural.

The knowledge within these books was often accompanied by Pollution. Reading them—or sometimes merely seeing the title—could result in Erosion.

The doctrine of the Church of Candlelight was to collect dangerous knowledge and seal it away. One could imagine how many Secret Histories were stored here.

At this moment, footsteps suddenly echoed through the previously empty Restricted Section.

Steady and forceful, without hesitation or pause, they moved directly toward the depths of the Restricted Section.

Soon, the footsteps stopped before a bookshelf.

A hand composed of steel components reached up, pressed against the spine of a book, and gently drew it out.

《The Birth of a 【Named One】》

The book was somewhat old, its pages bearing clear signs of having been frequently turned. The hand opened it, brushing across the densely packed notes scrawled in the margins.

“What a pity.”

A soft sigh sounded from above.

“Beatrice, you did not listen to me.”

The mechanical hand suddenly clenched. The book was nothing more than ordinary paper. With an ear-piercing crunch, it was crushed into a small ball.

Immediately, a crimson stream of flame burst from the palm, reducing the pages to ashes.

“I told you not to trust any existence other than humans. Unfortunately, you also misunderstood the definition of ‘human.’”

“But that’s fine. I will correct all of this.”

The hand opened, and ashes slipped through the gaps between its fingers. After a moment, footsteps sounded again, gradually fading into the distance.

The Restricted Section returned to silence.

The man walked forward, pulling back the hood and coat that concealed his face.

A body constructed of mechanical gears was revealed.

Yet unlike other Mechanical Priests, who wore red-and-black Mechanical Priest robes, he instead wore a white robe trimmed with golden wave patterns—a symbol of the sacred Candlelight.

His entire body was mechanical, yet he was a cleric of the Church of Candlelight.

A closer look would reveal that he held a long metal scepter. At its tip was the shape of a lit candle, even crafted in detail with radiating metal spikes to simulate scattered light.

It resembled a long-handled hammer studded with thorns.

But anyone with even a slight understanding of the Church of Candlelight would recognize its significance—this was the symbol of a Cardinal.

Within the Church of Candlelight, Cardinals stood near the apex of power. Above them was only the Pope, and even the Pope was chosen from among the Cardinals.

Yet the man seemed unconcerned with the appearance of the scepter. He carried it casually, letting the sacred candle at its tip scrape along the ground, trailing a string of sparks.

Passing through long corridors and church halls, pushing open a heavy wooden door, the man finally entered a slightly cramped room.

An ancient long table stood at the center. Seven hooded figures sat along its sides.

At this moment, they turned their heads in unison and looked at the man.

“Euler, what are you doing here?”