Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 325 "I've come to send you away from Blood Harbor!"

"How is the situation, Galahad?"

The prince paced quickly around the room with a gloomy expression, occasionally walking to the window to glance outside.

“This is not good, Your Highness. We have already started to gather the port guards. Barricades have been erected at the border between the Upper and Lower Towns, but we still have too few men. We have only recalled a small portion.”

"why?"

“Most of the port guards are in the military camp on the east side of Blood Harbor. There’s still no news from there. Some of the rest have been recalled, some are blocked outside by cultists, and some…” Galahad hesitated slightly, but under the prince’s gaze, he still stammered out his words.

"Some have betrayed us."

"Treason?" The prince looked at the chaotic streets outside and said softly, "You mean they abandoned their positions in the port guards and joined the cult?"

"Hmm, perhaps the cultists have used some kind of bewitching supernatural method again; that's what they excel at."

"Using supernatural powers to bewitch people?" The prince sneered. "We've been here for months. Don't we know what's going on here? Do we need supernatural powers to bewitch people who can't even afford to eat? Those cultists of the Mother Goddess Church can incite a rebellion with just a few slogans, but that won't work on the Port Guard."

"How many people are in the Hong Kong Guard? The Church of Mother Goddess doesn't have that many superhumans to control them. The guys in the barracks can all afford to eat. They must have been promised even greater benefits to rebel."

The prince withdrew his gaze from outside.

"Blood Harbor has ceased all new maritime trade; it's merely a vast, decaying garbage dump. The only thing of value here is—"

He pointed to Galahad, then to himself, and then lowered his finger, pointing to the ground beneath their feet.

Galahad pondered for a moment, then suddenly trembled, his face filled with shock, and said, "You mean..."

"It was the Hong Kong Guard who rebelled; the Church of Mother Goddess was just an extra. Otherwise, why do you think they would dare to cause trouble?"

The prince gave a disdainful look: "They think they can bring down Bloodharbor with these petty tricks? Galahad, prepare my horse, I'm coming with you to the western camp."

"Mr. Connor, do you have any suggestions?"

“Miss Zoe, the situation is unclear right now, so we’d better wait and see,” Connor said in a deep voice. “We’re not far from the prince’s residence, so this is the safest place in Bloodharbor. The impact here won’t be too great. With the Guardians of the Church and Grandma here, we should be able to protect ourselves.”

After saying that, he looked at Zoe, who was hesitant, and sighed inwardly.

Why did the lord assign her to lead the team? Zoe is kind-hearted and fine for auxiliary work, but she might not be able to handle situations that require decisive action.

"Mr. Erwin, what is your suggestion?"

“My suggestion is to charge straight out. The warning that Grandma sent was very timely. The cultists have only just begun to rise up. Although we are not many in number, we are well-equipped and Grandma is there to support us. Breaking out of the encirclement and getting to the dock should not be a problem.”

Erwin turned to his mother-in-law and nodded slightly: "What do you think of my judgment?"

“Some people might get hurt. Although there are many cultists outside, they can’t possibly keep us here. Even if they do their best to hunt us down, it won’t work,” the old woman said without hesitation.

Each member of their team carried a gun. The only non-combat members were Zoe and Connor. Connor was a former sailor, so his physical condition wouldn't be a hindrance. Although Zoe was just an accessory, she was petite, and in an emergency, any of the guards could easily carry her out.

Zoe hesitated.

Both sides had valid points: one was the newly promoted military officer of the Church's Guard, and the other was her old superior, Connor.
“Zoe, we’re just suggesting you be the team leader,” Connor said quietly. Although he didn’t understand, it was Young Master Hughes’s decision, and Connor had no intention of interfering. At this moment, he looked at Zoe seriously, hoping that she wouldn’t let her status influence her decision.

Zoe bit her lip, raised her head, and was about to say something when the door was suddenly banged on.

"This is Galahad and His Highness William! Please open the door! Are Zoe and Erwin in?"

Erwin gave him a wink, and the Guardsmen took down their rifles and cautiously opened the door.

Galahad was standing at the entrance; it was the first time the crowd had ever seen him in armor.

Behind him was the prince, who was also in military attire, riding a horse.

Galahad opened the door and stepped aside. The prince saw Zoe and Erwin inside and called out:

“Friends of Castel, Bloodharbor is in trouble. Staying here will be dangerous. I will take you to the docks!”

Zoe and the others were taken aback, only then noticing that there were more than ten knights behind him, all fully armored, with two muskets hanging from their waists.

What's going on? The prince has abandoned the heavily guarded upper city and is preparing to launch a preemptive strike?

With just these ten or so people? How can they possibly fight against the thousands of cult members outside?

The group was so shocked they couldn't speak.

"Opportunity knocks but once! If we don't go now, we'll never get out!" the prince said sternly. His gaze hesitated between Erwin and Zoe before settling on Zoe. "There are horses outside. If you want to leave, now's the time!"

Zoe glanced at the crowd watching her, gritted her teeth, and said, "Fine, let's go!"

Without further ado, the prince pulled on the reins, turned his horse around, and said, "Please follow behind us!"

Galahad mounted his horse and led the soldiers into battle, the prince pointing with his whip toward the doorway.

Several military horses were tethered there, already saddled, ready to be ridden.

Most of the friars were actually fishermen and didn't know how to ride horses, but both groups of friars sent out were elite. Connor's men even included many of the manor guards brought from the Duke of Cohen's estate, all of whom were skilled horsemen.

The remaining men had also received horseback riding training. The coordination between cavalry and infantry was an important tactic in the Imperial Infantry Manual, which was later adapted by Alexei into the sacred text of Imperial Truth.

They might be a little inexperienced in horseback combat, but keeping up with the troops shouldn't be a problem.

Led by the prince's procession, followed by Castell's friars, a group of twenty or thirty riders left the mansion together.

Galahad glanced back at the prince, his heart filled with admiration.

When the prince decided to rush directly to the barracks, he was still worried. With only a dozen knights, even with himself, it would be difficult to protect the prince's safety.

After all, there were too many rebelling people outside, and cultists were mixed in with them.

But now, with just a few words from the prince, Castells and his elite musketeers have won over the company, so their safety is naturally not a problem. They will even be grateful to the prince for risking his life to escort them out of port.
(End of this chapter)