Industrial Cthulhu? It's Cthulhu Industrial!!

Chapter 44: Center of the Storm (asking for monthly tickets!)
"...Excuse me, are the Misty Islands looked down upon?"

Looking at the two people in front of him, Leon raised his eyebrows in surprise. The surrounding environment was calm yet distorted, as if the world was folded like this when it was born.

"The price of population is rising? In Britannia, can the price of population still rise? You consume the population for your own strength. Every technological advancement means the disappearance of more than a million lives. The way people live is even measured by standardization. When will Britannia be short of population? Or is it that I haven't demonstrated my strength, so I'm looked down upon?"

"Please don't misunderstand us, that's not what we meant, Lord Leon..."

"Hmm? Well, of course, I'm a human, and I don't have any power to demonstrate. But I'm really curious, why am I not allowed to exchange some people just because I want to? Aren't you people here to deal with me?"

"That's not the case, Lord Leon."

A drop of cold sweat ran down his forehead, and the naval captain bowed humbly, expressing his absolute obedience and goodwill.

They had absolutely no intention of framing or harming Leon, much less insulting his territory. Rather, the presence of an island on the border of the Storm Territory was, to some extent, a battleground.

Even if they needed to fight, it would be those behind them. The exploratory fleet could just explore the situation here and then move on. There was no need to engage in a fight with such a monster. The funds and magic required for a fleet to come directly would be astronomical, and fighting a weak god would require the coordination of an entire fleet. And this creature before them was clearly far from weak. So, with just a brief exchange of words, they knew exactly what to say and do.

"The corporate war is about to begin. This is free information for us. It was delivered from the Oracle two months ago."

Looking at the confused man in front of him, the navy captain said softly:

"The Saint Murphy family has completely fallen, their god completely disintegrated due to self-contradiction. One of the wings of the world has been broken. Because of the huge profit gap they left, a corporate war is about to begin. Many navies are now gathering here."

"The exploration of possible nations beyond the Storm Territory is a topic discussed in the new round of meetings and is now a major element of the corporate war. We are merely the vanguard. Your trade request is certainly acceptable, but we hope you will be prepared. Behind corporate wars lies the influence of gods. We hope you can secure the Misty Islands Pass, earn a lucrative profit, and fulfill your dreams."

“Otherwise, with this unstable material supply channel, we would not be able to carry out large-scale acquisitions and transactions.”

"...Hmm, so in other words, stability is all that matters? Very good. But you're certainly right. From a civilizational and social perspective, we're still far from stable. I need more people to populate my island. So, name your price. After all, you're here for the follow-up patrol, right?"

Li Ang frowned as he looked at the naval captain who was discussing something in front of him.

"I will provide you with some supplies, as well as replacement ceramic steel and related Lianshan porcelain props for navigation. You can replace and try these things out during your voyage. I will first require a population of 3,000, and you will have the right to use some of the ceramic steel and lighthouses. In this way, in the future, even if you die, you can return to my territory to prove that my words and actions are indeed correct."

"The right to use the lighthouse?"

"Oh, that's it. You'll know it once you see it. But in this case, the deal is done. You must deliver to me three thousand of the best ritual sacrifices. Is that all right?"

Sitting on a high-back chair, Li Ang looked coldly at the two people in front of him, his expression seeming to be a smile.

This is certainly not a threat, nor is it a crushing move using power.

In fact, Leon was very aware of his status as a pioneer lord. As a pioneer lord within the scope of Britannia, Leon still had certain special rights. He did not need to pay any fees and had various administrative powers. He only paid the Queen's tax and related taxes in name.

For example, current trade, strictly speaking, is part of the Queen's Tax. However, in the Misty Islands, where the administration and military are completely independent, who is there to check production and tax revenue? Under these circumstances, people naturally make their own decisions based on their own moods and whims, enjoying various services and trade with a clear conscience. The exchange of ritual offerings clearly falls within this scope.

Li Ang was very confident about this because he had never done anything out of line.

He didn't harm anyone, nor did he use any rituals or evil methods to interfere with his civilization. Those souls and ceramics were provided by nature spirits and nature itself. At most, he was a good leader and observer, and overall he didn't cross the line.

Leon believed the two fleet commanders before him could discern the specific pros and cons of such a disciplined leader. They might be ugly and cruel, harboring all sorts of petty ideas and thoughts, but Leon believed that through his sophisticated negotiation skills and bluffing, he would surely convince the fleet members that the Misty Islands were a difficult and troublesome place to conquer.

“…We agreed.”

After a moment of exchanging glances and interesting speculation, the Admiral looked at the man in front of him and nodded silently.

"We need a trade to replenish our currently scarce food and water resources, and we also need to learn detailed data on ceramic steel and Lianshan porcelain. We need a small port to replenish these things. Can you provide all of this?"

"Of course. As long as you are sure that you will not become my enemy and think that you will not harm me, I will judge you as normal non-hostile units. Then, the light of the lighthouse will guide you faster in the ocean. Of course, you may not receive this blessing outside the foggy sea, but within the foggy sea, you can indeed enjoy the blessing and assistance of this world's top wonders."

Looking at the naval captain in front of him who had a strange look on his face and opened his mouth not knowing what to say, Leon snapped his fingers happily.

Just like that, as if it had never existed, the sunken space returned to its original appearance.

What was even more shocking was that within the instant they had promised, the soul-corroding force on the ocean vanished without a trace. As the fleet commander, he was naturally connected to the souls of the entire fleet. And all the ships were reporting this news.

"My Lord, the soul damage has disappeared. We can no longer feel the damage caused by the fog!" "The fog... the fog has dissipated! No, it's our vision that can penetrate the fog! What is going on? Has our cognition been polluted?"

"The ship has become transparent. The ship's soul says it is being accelerated by some supernatural force, and we have no way to resist this acceleration. Why is this happening? Captain, what is wrong with us? What kind of cooperation do you have with that gentleman? We are now traveling at a very strange speed, which is theoretically impossible. We did not use any blood sacrifices at all."

But the captain soon stopped responding to those calls.

Because he saw it.

The fog on the ocean is gradually spreading around.

No, to be precise, his soul will no longer see the soul-burning fog on this foggy sea.

But sometimes, being able to see something doesn't always mean it's a good thing. Because he also clearly saw the lighthouse that he once thought was a monster's eyeball.

It was a towering structure, like a pure white rib, standing tall on the edge of the island. Its entire structure was a pure white, similar to the Lianshan porcelain we had just seen. In the sunlight, it shone with a pure light that seemed to purify the soul.

Above the towering lighthouse, a hazy glow, a warm, pale yellow light, guided the fleet as it cut through the ocean waves. Like a teacher guiding children in ballroom dancing, the gentle light spread in all directions, blocking out all the fog and all the terror, allowing the fleet to crash into white waves and advance at high speed towards the archipelago.

But that's just appearance.

The moment he saw the lighthouse, the naval captain realized that what Leon said was correct.

No matter when, no matter where, no matter what happens, even if it means death, even if the soul is broken, the naval captain knows that he can definitely bring the ship here. A part of his heart has been dug out and forever solidified on this lighthouse.

The narrow, dim light was the monster's tentacles, and the towering white tower its skeleton. His sight had been deprived of the great lighthouse's body, and everything he saw was inextricably linked to this magnificent creation. The captain had fully realized this, and he could no longer rely on instruments and knowledge to determine his direction, as he had before. He knew instinctively where the lighthouse stood.

"How's that? The ability to find your way in the middle of the ocean. Sooner or later, this place will become the world's transit point, the center."

Li Ang returned to the fleet at some point.

This time, he didn't even trigger the warning of the Angel Matrix. He sat on a high-backed chair, wearing white gloves and gorgeous aristocratic clothes, as if he were a friendly unit. He looked at the lighthouse that was transferring the fleet on the horizon and made a sound of approval.

"You should know that the most terrifying thing about ocean voyages is encountering doldrums and storms. Both can easily tear your ship apart, turning your power into a source of blood sacrifices, and completely depleting your supplies. But even more terrifying is that you have no way of determining direction. There are places that the gods cannot reach. Just like the Misty Islands before, there is no way to determine direction through divination."

"Exploration always comes at a price, but now with my lighthouse, your direction has been anchored. You will always have a perfect coordinate point, and no matter how you sail, your voyage will have a final destination. This is the most beautiful thing for ocean voyages. I believe you can understand the value of this lighthouse. Although it will occupy a part of your mind and soul, believe me, as a captain, you should know the true value of the treasure I give you. It will always be here, and you will always know the coordinates."

"Now we are friends, trading. I've given you what you need and demonstrated my sincerity. So, according to the agreement, it's time for you to hand over the three thousand humans, the flesh and blood sacrifices, right?"

"..."

Yes.

The captain was eager to say so.

But he stared straight at the shining lighthouse, and a drop of light yellow tear flowed from his eyes.

That was a lighthouse, a harbor for the soul, and the place one would eventually reach. Just by looking at the lighthouse shining in his heart, the captain could sense its location. It was right in front of him, so close, and so beautiful.

"This will be the center of the storm. You know it well, and so do I."

Li Ang patted the captain's shoulder naturally, just like a friendly unit, and said softly:
"So why don't we exchange our resources now to better enable both parties to move forward together? You, the Royal Navy and the Royal Army, must have your own needs, but all I need is safety and promise. A small blood sacrifice is worthless to you, but you should understand the importance of my friendship and lighthouse, right?"

"...I fully understand, Lord Leon."

The captain looked at the lighthouse and wiped the tears from his eyes. He sighed and nodded.

"We will provide you with three thousand of the finest sacrifices for the flesh and blood ritual. They have all had their reproductive systems and other related systems castrated under the certification of the God of Fertility. They are the most outstanding beings as blood sacrifices and workers. However, their ages and death dates have been set. We only have the right to use the goods for three years. Half a year has already passed, so please be aware of this."

"It doesn't matter. I just want them alive. I don't think you'll need them all by the time you return, so you can look into new trade opportunities. So, I wish us a pleasant trade."

Leon smiled and extended his hand to the naval captain, like a noble who had made a deal.

(End of this chapter)