Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord - Chapter 80: The Awakening of the Steel Giant

Arthur, a young man in his twenties, suddenly finds himself inside the world of the novel “The Rise of the Sovereign Sword,” a famous story he had been reading in his previous life. He doesn’t understand how he ended up in this world, but he soon discovers that he has been installed as the ruler of a poor and small barony due to a serious misunderstanding—everyone believed he was the illegitimate son of the Duke, a man notorious for his terrible reputation and corrupt deeds.Afraid of having his true identity as an impostor exposed, Arthur finds himself in a difficult predicament.As he tries to find a solution to his dilemma, he faces daily problems stemming from this world’s extreme backwardness in terms of economy, technology, and governance. However, instead of surrendering, he decides to use the knowledge from the world he came from to change this regressive situation.Arthur attempts to spread civilization and progress in his society, fighting against outdated traditions and establishing new concepts that will improve and advance people’s lives.

“I, Evelyn Felice will abdicate as the Empress.”

“You’re giving up your fortune without my permission, and you’re happy at will.”

But a year later, like a coincidence, Fabian appeared again.

“Our relationship is done…Please stop.”

“I seemed to be the one who would do that. Everything…I decide.”

The relationship, which was thought to have been neatly arranged, began to get entangled again. Fabian’s indifferent eyes were burning hot toward Evelyn.

He is the fearsome heir of an empire, wielding power throughout his life, indifferent and cold by nature, yet devoted to her wholeheartedly.“Summer Sutton, the only woman I will ever marry in this lifetime!” At the engagement party arranged by his family with another woman, he arrives with her and blatantly kicks the white lotus out of the picture.Everyone knows that Summer Sutton is the one Adrian Walyon holds dear to his heart; whatever she desires, there is nothing he cannot provide.At her mere longing for him, he flies thousands of kilometers overnight to be by her side.At her mention of missing the taste of home, he orders food to be prepared and immediately air-shipped to her.When she expresses her wish to reach for the stars, he reserves an aerial restaurant 108 floors high, making the starlight accessible.“What else do you want?” he asks earnestly, gazing at her.She tiptoes up, wrapping him in her arms, “Adrian Walyon, all I want is you!”

The Apocalypse descended as the world turned into a game. And while everyone panicked, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something wrong with my eyes.[Logging into the Game Master’s Account!]And my ‘oh-so-average’ destiny, changed into ‘is this a cheat life?’ Kind of destiny.[Would you like to Create a Skill? GM Points will be consumed!]While others struggled to kill a single goblin, I was searching for stronger monsters. While they were happy with getting even a random weak skill, I was customizing what kind of skills I needed.Even my Talents and Gifts can be customised. The only limit was my imagination.Heck, even the hidden quests that people would trigger randomly were present in front of me even before the scenario began.It wasn’t fair by any means. But isn’t that how life is already?[Would you like to make changes to the quests in the next scenario? GM Points will be consumed!]Is this how an apocalypse is supposed to be? I don’t know. I just tried following the script in front of everyone while trying out my cheat in hindsight. Don't get me wrong with the ‘pig eating tiger’ kind of thing. I just don’t like attention. I would rather stay with two trusted friends than with 10 fake ones.[Would you like to Initiate a Custom quest for the Players? GM Points will be consumed!]And for the players who were bullying the ‘weak’ me. One may even wonder how they ended up losing half of their stats and skills in a randomly triggered impossible type of quest.Fate can be truly scary, you know?One must always be careful of it.