Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍more Helena spoke, the more excited she became. A faint flush even rose to her soot-blackened face. “The steel plates can be made into armor anyway—so why not build a super large set of armor? We can engrave the ritual runes onto it. It’s just a pity that with such enormous armor, the strength of an individual alone probably still wouldn’t be enough.”

Transcendents ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were strong, but not to the extent of splitting mountains and shattering boulders. For example, the deep-sea heavy armor worn by Banshees—other Transcendents would likely struggle just to put it on.

And ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to fully etch ritual runes onto it would absolutely require a considerable surface area. Armor of that scale would be difficult for a Transcendent to bear.

Of ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍course, there were more reasonable methods. For instance, add a power source—create a steam tank.

Castel’s ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Steam Engines had already undergone many improvements. In terms of weight reduction, they had performed quite well. Theoretically, using one to drive an armored vehicle was feasible. That was also the most rational plan.

But ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Hughes licked his lips and glanced back at the package Ash had been holding all along. Inside were technical materials obtained by the Delegation from the Mechanic Sanctum. That was good stuff—there hadn’t even been anything like it on Blue Star in his previous life.

Suddenly, Hughes realized that he had inadvertently assembled an entire set of prerequisite technologies. In other words, his options were not limited to tanks. There was another direction.

The Mechanic Sanctum possessed a complete method of combining the human body with machinery, and Castel just happened to specialize in steam power.

Could he… build a mecha?

Once that thought emerged, it refused to stop. His heart began pounding.

A mecha!

What transmigrator could possibly resist such temptation?

“Tata, Gaia probably won’t be back for a while yet. You should continue with your research for now. I think Helena’s line of thought has some feasibility. Just give it a try.”

Tata froze. “Th-this isn’t appropriate, is it? She’s the one in charge of research. And the funding also needs—”

“You don’t need to worry about funding!” Hughes replied firmly. “This project has special approval. Connor will contact you directly later. I think this project is extremely meaningful. For example—for example—”

Hughes’ eyes suddenly lit up.

“For example, it could help Nora stand up successfully. It could give Chloe a body she can use properly. Chloe has given so much for Castel. Even allocating more funding would be perfectly acceptable!”

“C-can we really?” Tata scratched his head. He had no objections—in fact, he was quite interested. But based on past experience, any project he found interesting usually got vetoed by the Lord…

“Absolutely. Go ahead boldly.”

“Alright!”

Tata was so excited his eyes practically shone. Had his talent finally been recognized by the Lord?

While the two were speaking, a voice suddenly came from nearby.

“Lord, I—I also want to join this project…”

Hughes turned his head—and his vision nearly went dark.

“Monica? Why are you—”

“Ahem, I just suddenly thought of a few ideas,” Monica said, somewhat embarrassed. “And this is also for Sister Chloe.”

Hughes had originally intended to refuse, but after reconsidering, mecha was something that didn’t exist on Blue Star either. He had no experience in this field. It might actually be better to let Monica contribute—she truly did have ideas.

“Alright then. Since it’s for Chloe.”

“Yes—for Chloe!”

And so, without Chloe knowing anything about it, a brand-new research project quietly came into existence—bearing her name.

The name was rather peculiar. It had been personally chosen by the Lord.

The Chloe Trojan Project.

The train sped across the tundra, the Steam Locomotive rumbling loudly as it advanced triumphantly forward. Thick black smoke poured out and slanted upward into the sky.

Grand Duke Alvare quickened his pace and returned to his seat, shaking Yami and Hunter awake. The two had been dozing with their heads resting on the small folding table between them.

“Wake up, wake up!”

“Mm? What’s wrong? Weren’t you chatting with Patriarch Ignati?” The two opened their eyes groggily and yawned.

Grand Duke Alvare’s mind was full of major development projects for the Northlands. Unfortunately, neither Hunter nor Yami was interested. One loved mechanical engineering, the other loved calculus—but neither cared much about making money.

As a result, Grand Duke Alvare often felt like he was playing a high tune to a crowd that could not appreciate it. He believed himself to be planning far into the future, yet his companions simply did not care.

Still, he had once been a Grand Duke with real authority. With a turn of his eyes, he had gone to strike up a conversation with Patriarch Ignati, who was in the same carriage.

That conversation had lasted quite a while.

Yami and Hunter were not particularly fond of chatting. The Northlands tundra was interesting at first glance, but after a while it grew monotonous. Eventually, the two had fallen asleep on the table.

“Uncle, how did the conversation with His Holiness go?” Hunter asked while rubbing his eyes.

“Quite well. He’s very approachable—no, that’s not important. Get up and pack your luggage!”

“Have we arrived?”

“No. A storm is coming. Look outside!”

The two turned their heads toward the window and were instantly startled.

Outside was a scene straight out of the apocalypse. Dense black clouds pressed downward in layers, blotting out the sunlight that had previously bathed the tundra.

Howling winds swept up stones and leaves, pelting the carriage walls with sharp rattling sounds.

“H-how did this happen?” Yami froze, clearly alarmed. “What do we do?”

“Pack the luggage and tie it down!” Grand Duke Alvare shouted, pointing toward the back.

The carriage door there stood open. They could see the Train Attendant and members of the Church Guard calming passengers and securing luggage. They would soon reach this section.

Hunter glanced outside and estimated the train’s direction of travel. His expression changed sharply. “Are we still going forward? From the look of it, are we going to pass through the storm?”

“Yes! We’re going straight through it!” A voice sounded from the side. It was a Train Attendant.

“The center of the storm is not on our railway. Based on estimates, its force is insufficient to overturn us. As long as the luggage is secured and preparations are made, we can pass through directly!”

The Train Attendant spoke with conviction, but the group still looked uneasy.

The storm appeared extremely dangerous. Passing straight through it… was that not too risky?

Even as they spoke, the wind outside grew noticeably stronger.

The group exchanged glances. In the end, they did not argue with the Train Attendant and instead split up to secure their belongings.

After all, the Train Attendants traveled with the train year-round. Their experience should be more reliable.

Just as they were packing, Yami’s ears suddenly twitched.

“Do you hear something?”

“Hear what?”

“It sounds like… run?”

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