Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 305: He Comes with Bad Intentions
"The newspapers publish details about Zoe's situation every day. We haven't received any news yet, but it should be soon."

The newspaper office is ready. Printing newspapers is not a high-tech process; in fact, newspapers were already being published in the Rhineland, though the printing quality was only so-so.

In addition to news from Zoe, Hughes also plans to add important island events to the newspaper to help the islanders understand the policies.

Considering that these wouldn't fill up the newspaper's pages, Hughes decided to write some interesting popular science facts, like short stories about Pan Jinlian, Ximen Qing, and universal gravitation.

Anyway, based on his previous life's test, people still really like watching these kinds of things.

In this world where cognitive interference is so dangerous, it is always useful for people to learn more, and it is even necessary to learn until old age. People who are stubborn and unwilling to accept new things are themselves dangerous sources of pollution.

"Oh, right, there's something else." Hughes suddenly slapped his forehead, stood up, walked around the desk, and came to Monica and Gaia's side.

Monica was still fast asleep.

Hughes patted her and shook her for a while, but Monica only murmured a few words and did not wake up.

"Do all banshees who harbour slept this soundly?"

Hughes muttered to himself, beginning to recall Nini's techniques.
A moment later, Monica suddenly opened her eyes, sat up abruptly, and looked around in confusion.

Who pulled my tail?

"Ahem, Monica, there's something I need to tell you." Hughes took a few steps back. "Why don't you come to the completion ceremony tomorrow?"

"Completion ceremony? What completion?"

"This is the huge furnace we're standing in; it's about to have its completion ceremony."

Ken, standing nearby, widened his eyes and asked in surprise, "When we came up here, we saw that the furnace was on fire. How come it's not finished yet?"

Hughes turned around somewhat awkwardly: "Well... there was a bit of an accident. We wanted to wait until it was finished before lighting the furnace, but the furnace wasn't willing."

"."

"."

Silence fell in the room.

"In short, although the furnace ignited on its own, the external work wasn't actually complete; only the furnace itself was finished. In fact, it wasn't even fully finished. The furnace cover wasn't even in place when it was ignited, and the furnace was simply fired into one piece."

"Huh? How will it be inspected in the future?" Ken asked subconsciously.

"We'll discuss this with the furnace later."

"."

Hughes shrugged: "That's the situation. If I had any ideas at all, I wouldn't be completely helpless. The lighting ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow morning. You can all come and watch if you're free, especially you."

Hughes looked at Monica: "You haven't been to the Forge since you woke up, have you? After all, it was summoned using the soul of the sea god within you. Perhaps this machine spirit will be very close to you."

Monica's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Of course not. None of the machine spirits you summoned before recognize you, whether it's A-Nao or the others, none of them pay any attention to you," Hughes thought to himself.

“Very likely.” Hughes said solemnly.

Monica happily wagged her tail.

On the other side, Ken and Jeremiah exchanged a glance. Having been away for so long, this was a good opportunity to integrate into Castells. Moreover, both of them were somewhat interested in machinery; such a massive furnace was simply an industrial marvel.

Jeremiah thought even further ahead. He had heard that this furnace was polluting, and that the newly built furnaces were also polluting. The steam engine knowledge Ken had taught him all used coal or wood as fuel.

He knew that his Black Pearl might be fitted with a steam engine in the future, so he needed to find out more about it; he couldn't very well put an outdated machine on it.
That's his favorite Black Pearl; if he's going to go on board, he wants to go on the best one!

“Miss Zoe, that’s Blood Harbor over there,” a member of the Guardians said, pointing to the sea not far away.

"Is it over there?" Zoe's face showed a hint of confusion and nervousness. She hadn't entered that strange link for the past two days and didn't know what was happening outside.

However, thinking about it, the other people in the link aren't in Bloodharbor either, so even if we reconnect, we probably won't get any more information.

She was just too anxious.

Zoe patted her face, encouraging herself.

"Everything will be fine, don't overthink it."

"Don't worry, Zoe, I'll help you if you get into trouble." Ash's voice came from the sea. Zoe was lying on the side of the ship, and a banshee with long silver hair emerged from the water. "Just call me if you encounter any difficulties. I'll always be here."

Her gaze swept over Zoe and landed on a slightly hunched figure beside her.

Zoe quickly turned around and said, "Grandma, thank you for your help."

Those were the extraordinary beings of the Fire-Chasing Moth, sent by Hughes to follow Zoe.

Her original name was Bazana, but everyone preferred to call her Grandma. Zoe hadn't had much contact with her before, only that she was a very kind person.

The old woman smiled but didn't say anything. She turned her head to look at Blood Harbor not far away, her eyes filled with a hint of nostalgia, and the sea breeze ruffled the white hair at her temples.

Suddenly, Ash frowned: "A ship is coming."

With a splash, she plunged into the sea. Zoe quickly turned around and saw a boat approaching from afar.

"Is it a ship from Blood Harbor?"

"Maybe, guys, set up the Gatling gun first."

Zoe turned around and saw that it was Erwin, the captain of the Guardians of the Faith.

Erwin joined the first batch of recruits, before the Imperial Church of Truth was even established. He later distinguished himself in the Deep Sea War and is now Alexei's deputy. His presence with the Guardians of the Church this time is undoubtedly intended to provide support.

Hughes only put Zoe in charge because she could join the link; he didn't really intend to leave everything to this little maid.

Both his mother-in-law and Erwin were experienced people, and Ash from the sea was the strongest among the banshees. Hughes had high expectations for this trip.

"Hey, Mr. Erwin, there's no need to be so nervous. Maybe they're just checking things out?"

Erwin squinted at the ships in the distance for a while, then shook his head: "No ship gets targeted just because it gets close to the port. Blood Harbor is a big port. Look how many ships are docked over there right now?"

Zoe paused, looking intently at the distant port, her expression somewhat puzzled: "It seems most of it is empty."

“I’m an islander from Castel. I’ve been to Bloodharbor a few times before, and it’s always packed with ships. Now there are only a few left?”

Erwin shook his head: "Those greedy merchants wouldn't give up business, not even pirates could stop them, but now they're nowhere to be seen."

(End of this chapter)