Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord-Chapter 108:

Hughes sized up Chloe before finally nodding. "Sister Chloe, you are indeed very perceptive. I won’t hide it anymore. Miss Beatrice is indeed a troublemaker. If you can help guide her, I would be immensely grateful."

"Guiding an [Investigator]? That’s no easy task. An Extraordinary being’s instincts make them especially sensitive to danger and lies."

"Even to you?"

Chloe narrowed her eyes.

"Naturally, it’s different, just leave it to me. Consider this a gesture of goodwill from the Moths Chasing Fire."

"This is a mutually beneficial arrangement. You are currently in the Candlelight Church."

Indeed, if they could pin Beatrice down in the manor, the actions of the Moths Chasing Fire would be much more convenient.

Their eyes met, both understanding the other’s intentions.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

Hughes extended his hand. "Pleasure working with you."

Chloe was momentarily stunned before reaching out to shake his hand. "Pleasure working with you."

Then she turned and walked out the door.

Watching Chloe leave the room, Hughes nodded slightly.

The handshake was deliberate; he wanted to use his detection ability to confirm whether she was human.

The substitute that had looked like a paper doll last night had left a deep impression on him.

"Definitely flesh and blood."

With this cooperation established, future interactions might go more smoothly, and there would be a basic level of trust.

Feeling a thought stir, Hughes activated his Mind Link:

[All units, take note. Chloe has reached a temporary agreement with me. She has gone to find Beatrice. Keep an eye on their movements.]

[Can she be trusted?]

[Do not trust her. Stay vigilant.]

[Understood!]

Upstairs, Beatrice was already growing frustrated. Her spiritual intuition clearly told her that the target was nearby, yet no matter how she searched, she couldn’t find anything.

Determined, she picked up her dagger, intending to pry open the table, perhaps there was a hidden compartment in the wooden panels.

"Lady Beatrice."

Beatrice was startled. Looking up, she saw Chloe standing at the doorway.

Chloe held a candle holder in her hand. After cautiously glancing at the hallway outside, she slipped into the room and gently closed the door behind her.

"It’s me, Lady Beatrice. I heard you were up here, so I came ahead. Did you discover something? I am Sister Chloe. I’ve read your file. Lady Investigator, do you need my assistance?"

As she spoke, she surveyed the surroundings warily, as if she had stepped into the lair of a cult.

Beatrice felt a bit awkward. She had barely met this colleague before. Just as she was about to say something, Chloe let out a low exclamation.

"This! This is the Silent Sanctum’s sacred emblem!"

Following the nun’s finger, Beatrice finally noticed the iron canister on the table.

"Hmm? This is..."

"It looks like some kind of ointment from the Silent Sanctum? They frequently use this stuff." Chloe gritted her teeth and said, "These people have infiltrated here... Good thing you discovered it in time. As expected of an Investigator!"

"Huh? Oh, right, yes. I sensed an Extraordinary presence here earlier. To think it turned out to be the Silent Sanctum."

"It seems they’ve already made contact with the local lord. Do you think the Count has fallen under their influence?"

"Impossible! How could Mr. Hughes be deceived by those savages!"

Chloe’s expression twitched. She took a few steps back toward the door. "Then let’s leave first. I saw the maids looking for you just now, I told them you were in the garden."

"Oh, alright. Let’s head to the banquet hall first."

Beatrice followed her.

On the way, Chloe carefully maintained a distance from Beatrice.

As a [Naiad], she had a talent for concealment, but [Investigators] excelled at detection. Although Beatrice seemed like a novice, it was best to avoid physical contact just in case.

(Naiad meaning Nymph)

The two made their way to the banquet hall, where Hughes was waiting at the entrance.

Chloe exchanged a glance with him before stepping back and quietly sighing in relief.

"At least some cooperation was achieved. I should be able to leave alive, right? No matter how insane this lord is, he wouldn’t attack me after this."

"And with this foundational trust, further discussions can proceed."

Hughes, however, had no time for such thoughts. He was extremely busy.

The patrolling Sirens had made a new discovery, forcing him to simultaneously exchange complex pleasantries with Beatrice while frantically responding in the Mind Link.

[What’s going on? Are you sure?]

[Absolutely sure, Lord. That ship is identical to the pirate ship you described.]

[Any movements?]

[None, it’s just anchored there.]

[What about nearby? Any other pirates?]

[Only this one ship has been spotted.]

The Sirens primarily patrolled the manor and the island. There were few stationed in the surrounding waters, so by the time they noticed the pirate ship, it had likely been there for quite some time.

What are these pirates planning? Why have they suddenly stopped near Castel?

And of all times, why now? The Sirens were mostly concentrated on the island, could they be plotting something?

[Any rowboats coming ashore?]

[None spotted.]

Hughes maintained a calm expression, but his mind was in turmoil. He quickly issued a command through the Mind Link:

[Increase surveillance along the coastline immediately, especially around that pirate ship. Report any abnormalities at once.]

[Understood.]

Hughes refocused, keeping his usual elegant smile as he spoke to Beatrice. "Miss Beatrice, you seem a bit tired. Would you like to take a break? The manor’s garden is quite relaxing."

"Will you accompany me?"

"I’m sorry, but I have some preparations to attend to. You may rest for now. There will be performances later."

Beatrice nodded reluctantly and descended the stairs.

Hughes turned his gaze to Chloe.

"Everything went smoothly," she whispered.

"Then we can continue our discussion. But hold on, it seems we have more guests arriving."

"More guests?"

"Yes. Visitors from Gem Bay... Those pirates. For some reason, they seem interested in my banquet."

"The Church of the Sea God?"

"The Church of the Sea God? What’s that?"

The name seemed vaguely familiar, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall it clearly.

"What do you mean? Are you joking? You don’t know about the Church of the Sea God?"

"I don’t."

Chloe stared at Hughes intensely, making him feel slightly uneasy.

"Is there a problem with that?"

"Yes, a big problem. I don’t know which of us is crazy. The creatures of the sea... they all belong to the Church of the Sea God. Aren’t your subordinates from the sea?"