Industrial Cthulhu? It's Cthulhu Industrial!!

Chapter 28 Fleet (Please read!)
The sea is blue and the sky is blue, as if the screams and wails of the world do not exist at all.

A huge fleet is sailing silently on the ocean.

Their tracks left no traces or waves on the ocean, only the pale red sails spread out on the ocean, as if some monster was embracing the wind, calling on some indescribable power to protect this huge fleet.

The kilometer-long warships, like mountains, cast a massive shadow on the ocean. However, amidst this boundless expanse, the terrifying and vastness of this windless sea was even more apparent.

Before the advent of blood sacrifices and aether sails, these waters were untouchable to humans. Though Britannia's rule was brutal, it opened up a whole new direction for humanity. They saw more characters and aspects of the world. They experienced unimaginable power, but also seized greater wealth.

With the Great Geographical Discovery of Britannia at its core, all nations of the Old World began to utilize humanity's own evolution and conquest. Any nation that questioned this system would be completely destroyed by the massive industrial production of other nations.

The gods do not care about the suffering of the lower classes; they simply enjoy it and give their gifts to the highest bidder.

And now, even though the death toll has begun to be counted in billions, Britannia's ships are still sailing on the ocean, with ethereal sails made of human flesh and skin spread out, heading calmly towards their destination in the windless sea.

"...Three months have already passed?"

Standing on the deck, a blond man wearing a neat Britannia Navy uniform with a star marking his rank of colonel looked at the boundless ocean and sighed.

"The consciousness lock is truly a magical thing, capable of freezing a person's spirit in a specific moment. I still feel as if I've just set sail. It's as if the flowers and applause are still ringing in my ears, and that legend is blooming around me, allowing me to achieve great victories and even greater conquests."

"After all, this technology is designed for ultra-long-range navigation safety, so it's only natural that it has such capabilities."

Following behind, the middle-aged man who looked extremely serious said softly:
"The consciousness lock has now been listed as one of the military technologies of the Royal Navy Fleet and has passed the dual review of the Admiralty and the Antiseptic Department. This is a great progress for the Britannian Empire, Colonel."

"I really hope this tech isn't the lowest bidder. I nearly had a nightmare after seeing that thing... Where's the crew?"

"The consciousness lock anchors are all very good. Some people who used the cheap ones are already crying."

"Drag him out and throw him into the furnace. This is a communication with an unknown god. We must maintain the dignity of Britannia."

"Yes, Colonel."

"I thought you would definitely have some objections to this action. After all, those people are considered the elite of the Redwood Army."

Looking at the man who turned and left without hesitation, the man with the rank of colonel turned around with some surprise and said with a smile:

"The Royal Marines have often disobeyed orders from our Royal Navy. I thought you would be the same... but I didn't expect you to be much more reasonable than I thought."

"No problem at all, Colonel. I witnessed the riots caused by the collapse of the mind during the Battle of the Golden Empire."

"Golden Empire, that's a tough battle."

Slowly sitting down on the sun lounger on the deck, the colonel-ranked man looked at the sun in the sky with his red eyes, his pupils constantly dilating and adjusting, as if absorbing some strength, and said softly:

"I participated, too. I was the gunnery officer aboard the Seventh Fleet's HMS Power. Even against the lowest of gods, the artillery seemed so powerless. The Blessing from Heaven Mountain even retreated, ultimately relying on Soul Steel and the Infernal Sacrifice Cannons to push back. Because of this, Soul Steel and the Infernal Cannons received massive orders. Companies like Heaven Mountain, which had poor quality, were on the brink of bankruptcy."

"That's right. We soldiers hope these tools can be used at the most critical moment. They are our lifeline. I served in the 774th Army Regiment, and the 773rd Regiment is the Angel Armed Regiment. We witnessed firsthand the complete dissolution of 1,500 soldiers after the Angels left. That's why we strongly support the Navy's independent research and development and multilateralism."

"Every god and company has different strengths and weaknesses, but humans are the most stable. Blood sacrifice rituals and products always work in any situation, so we can only choose these products."

The two officers from the navy and the army were chatting happily on the deck. They didn't even notice, nor did they bother to observe, every move of the large fleet ships.

The entire huge naval fleet with hundreds of ships was wandering on the sea, blocking out the sky.

Almost all the ships opened their outer armored areas, like a giant beast opening its mouth, spewing out dozens or hundreds of translucent, one-meter-square grids. Within each grid, a mentally broken soldier, his expression grim and wailing, screamed.

With the mind lock, soldiers can become more resistant to mental illness and long transport periods. This advanced technology, originating from the Arctic Freezing Company, has now entered the practical stage after technological innovation. Each individual's consciousness is anchored in a fixed time zone and cycled. This cycle lasts from six months to a year.

They can be awakened by canceling the spell in advance. In some cases, the spell will fail prematurely due to technical reasons or lack of funds on the part of the caster, causing the person to be temporarily filled with the side effects of everyone else's spells, and then go crazy.

However, compared with the long transportation journey and the high timeliness of Chaos Transport Company, the simple and convenient technology of consciousness lock is obviously more popular.

Therefore, the fleet system changed again, and the crew cabins that originally had a certain amount of vacancies became the current cells.

The sailors were taken out of the grid to work only when needed.

Because long periods of non-repetitive work would accelerate the release of the consciousness lock, it was only suitable for long-term transportation and storage. However, even so, it was enough to become one of the core technical stocks of the navy fleet.

As for the small boxes thrown out, they were naturally the mad army. Inside those small boxes were loaded with sacrificial formations, which could send lives into the ocean through the air and enter the sea god's sacrificial ritual, allowing it to help the fleet sail faster.

Throwing down nearly 500 people now is enough to increase the cruising speed of the entire fleet by 10%.

This way, part of the ether sails can be retracted, reducing the consumption of magical substances and moving more smoothly towards the Misty Islands.

This was a reflection of Britannia, the core of their operations. Through swift and efficient means, they could sacrifice, move, fight, or accomplish whatever they desired. As leaders overseeing the entire ship, the captain and lieutenant commander each chose a custom-made mind lock, ensuring that even complex daily tasks would not be prematurely unlocked. While this cost four or five human lives, it was worth it to them.

Chatting on the deck, enjoying fine wine and food, waiting to see which will come sooner, death or the enemy, this is the romance of the Britannia Royal Navy.

"But Colonel, I still don't understand our mission."

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, and after tasting a bottle-shaped fruit and vegetable from the Promised Land, the Army Lieutenant Colonel frowned and asked:

"We're not just carrying the Redwood Army, we're also carrying a considerable amount of supplies for colonization base construction, as well as more colonization population equipment. This configuration doesn't seem like it's for suppressing rebellious bandits; it seems more like a deliberate attempt to leave some space. Is this a misjudgment on my part, or is there something else going on? Because it's a requirement of my position, I have to ask you this."

"It's actually quite simple. We didn't intend to hide it from the Army. It's just that the other party is suspected to be the touch of a benevolent god, so the initial decision of the God Department was to exile it and then conduct tests. If an accident occurs, can you accept it on behalf of your department?"

"When I came on board, I was given full authority to handle matters overseas. You can trust me."

"That's good. The ceremony is established."

After biting off a piece of delicious beef, the navy captain sighed with satisfaction. A strange pattern flashed across his body and he connected with the army lieutenant colonel in mid-air.

This is a ceremony for both parties to jointly recognize this operation. In the official list of Britannia, it is regarded as the units that signed the contract in this operation and will advance and retreat together unconditionally, and will also bear joint responsibilities in the face of crises.

After feeling that the contract was officially established, the colonel sat back in his chair and said softly:
"We went there this time, on the one hand, to give Leon a warning, to tell him that humans are not to be trifled with, and on the other hand, to confirm the characteristics of that strange god."

"Test? How?"

"It's simple. Use humans for testing. It just so happens that our navy has some well-known secrets and little secrets. Instead of leaving them there forever, why not find an opportunity to clean up all the secrets and dirt at once, and then use them to verify the authenticity of certain things."

The navy captain shook the red wine glass in his hand, drank the ruby ​​in the glass, and said softly:

"Seventy years have passed, and that betrayal is almost universally known among the upper echelons. After all, after death, people's souls are tested and judged for loyalty. Their spirits continue to serve within the stone idols. How could such technology exist seventy years ago? Britannia is constantly improving, and so is loyalty. But to the tentacles of the gods, they are unaware of these things."

"So this gives us an excuse to make contact. We can use this to reach out to the nobles and test their opinions. We can also continue to expand and investigate those secrets and past events. Britannia hasn't seen a change of wings in twenty years, so it's natural for some to want to contact more new gods. Coupled with the increasing cost of conquering other kingdoms and the ever-increasing sacrifices required to support the goddess, we humans must always consider our own position more."

"Britannia is an empire built on the sacrifices and blood of countless people. Every one of us standing here means that thousands and thousands of people have paid with their lives and blood for us. Their sacrifices are the foundation and wealth of Britannia, so we are also responsible for their deaths."

"Investigate the gods, understand their requirements, and then transform them into nourishment for Britannia. The Queen's glory shines upon all things. I believe those who saw this scene must have died a worthy death."

"Of course."

The lieutenant colonel of the army looked at the navy colonel in front of him who was feeling a little emotional, and nodded with a sense of sympathy.

"I've seen many meaningless sacrifices. Just for money, honor, and some worthless things, a life is wasted in vain. At least in Britannia, everyone's death can create value, rather than dying in such an unclear way."

"Thus, a system of investigation and accountability for the gods is necessary. Furthermore, the Bureau of Geographical Development believes that our previous betrayal may have caused us to lose some opportunities. Behind the Misty Islands, there is likely a brand new continent. We are also a new generation of pioneering fleets, so naturally we must bring the necessary equipment for the fleet's exploration. However, the area is too far from the mainland of Britannia, so we must also have a certain understanding of the god."

"I understand. If they are enemies, we will destroy them. If they are pointlessly consuming humanity, we will request a weapon to destroy gods. If they are good gods, we can communicate with them."

"Yes. That's right. The glory of Britannia will shine upon the world, and Her Majesty the Queen is watching over us."

Looking at the endless blue hell that seemed to have no end in sight, the navy captain said softly:

"We must never betray the uniforms we wear. Behind each of us are the blood and lives of thousands of our compatriots. Make good use of the currency and knowledge Her Majesty has given us. This is our only reliance in the fight against the gods."

"Yes."

"...By the way, I have a question."

The Marine Captain turned his head and looked at the Army Lieutenant Colonel who had a look of approval on his face.

"How many times have we gone through this conversation cycle under the influence of the consciousness lock?"

"93 times. The content of the conversations was similar, but it felt like the first time."

"Really? That's a problem, and it should be recorded."

“That’s the 93rd record.”

"Yeah……"

The naval captain nodded thoughtfully, looked at the blue ocean, and said no more.

(End of this chapter)