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

The Sirens looked at each other.

“We? Install a steam engine?”

“I definitely can’t. Just looking at those parts makes me dizzy.”

“Dizzy? You’re not experiencing knowledge pollution, are you?”

“How is that possible? Sirens can’t be polluted now. She’s just plain dumb.”

Feeling the distant chatter of the Sirens through the Mind Link, Hughes couldn’t help but smile.

He wasn’t joking, he really intended to have these Sirens learn about steam engine principles.

Sirens had an inherent advantage in research: with the Symbiotic Contract, they didn’t have to fear pollution. Even if an accident occurred, the contract would keep them alive.

Moreover, seeing their curious expressions from afar, they were clearly interested in this.

So, while Hughes explained to the apprentices, he simultaneously shared the content with the nearby Sirens through the Mind Link.

After a while, he found it cumbersome, so he simply created a group chat within the Mind Link.

『Online Class Group One』

He added all the Sirens, allowing them to listen in if they were interested.

At that moment, all the Sirens looked up, watching their lord explain the steam engine.

In the underground factory, Nini, who was continuously casting Fossil to Mud, showed a look of interest. She licked her lips as she examined the freshly cast component in her hands.

In the oil paper workshop, several Sirens were visibly excited.

While listening to Hughes’ explanation, they discussed the principles of the steam engine, their six hands swiftly printing patterns on the oil paper.

Monica did not join the discussions of the surrounding Sirens.

She listened to Hughes’ explanation of the steam engine’s principles, then suddenly raised a hand to cast an ice spike spell.

Watching the cold air swirling around the ice spike, she looked back at the steam engine, lost in thought.

That evening, the apprentices stared wide-eyed at the massive steam engine before them.

This... this steel behemoth, did they assemble it with their own hands?

Old Ivan turned to look at the now-empty table. It had once been covered with bizarre components so complex he could barely describe them in words.

But now, they had all come together to form this colossal steam engine.

Every part fits seamlessly. The way each piece combined with another amazed him. And together, they formed this towering machine.

It was the most complex, the most precise, and the most massive metal creation he had ever seen. He had never thought such words could all describe a single thing.

The apprentices exchanged glances and, almost in unison, took a step back. For some reason, a subconscious fear crept into their hearts.

The Type I machine Hughes had introduced in the morning had been stripped down to the bare essentials, its sole purpose was teaching.

But this Type II machine was meant for real production. Compared to the Type I, it was like night and day.

Forget complexity, just in terms of size alone, this steam engine completely dwarfed its predecessor.

If Hughes hadn’t personally led the assembly, they would never have finished it in a single day.

Looking at the towering machine before him, Hughes wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a bit exhausted.

He had worked the entire day, not only assembling the components but also explaining them to the apprentices.

If not for his excitement and anticipation, he would have collapsed from fatigue.

“Finally, it’s assembled, and all the parts fit perfectly. Now, as long as the test run goes smoothly, it can be put to use.”

“Do you all understand now? The function of every component?” Hughes looked around.

The apprentices nodded one after another.

Hughes had made them repeat each explanation, and at the end, each apprentice had to summarize the steam engine’s general principles.

Only after confirming everything did they complete the assembly.

It took a lot of time, but it was necessary, any deviation in understanding or practice could lead to a pollution event.

『Do any of you have questions? Or did anyone miss anything and need clarification?』 Hughes asked again through the Mind Link.

『No.』

『No.』

『Completely understood.』

The Sirens had been paying close attention today.

Hughes nodded in satisfaction. While the steam engine had many components, its structure wasn’t overly complicated.

A careful study was enough to grasp it, not to mention that he had explained it multiple times.

After confirming everything, Hughes walked to the Type II machine, directing the apprentices to apply lubricating oil, add water and coal, and then light it with a torch.

“Coal below, water above. I wasn’t lying, it really is just boiling water,” Hughes said to the apprentices around him.

A few chuckles sounded from the group before fading into silence. They watched the burning coal in deep thought.

Not far away, the eavesdropping Sirens huddled together, no longer messing around, focusing intently on the Type II machine’s slow activation.

In the cave beneath the manor, the Sirens who had been working stopped what they were doing, sensing the information being transmitted through the Mind Link.

Castel’s evening was filled only with the whispers of the wind and the chirping of insects.

The coal glowed red, flames licking the rough metal cylinder.

The water boiled.

The cold metal seemed to come alive.

The piston moved slowly within the cylinder, pushing the crankshaft rod, and the massive metal flywheel began to spin.

It was as if a slumbering beast was slowly opening its eyes.

Clang! Clang!

Like the heavy thudding of a heartbeat.

A puff of white steam escaped the exhaust port, only to be followed by another, then another, each faster than the last.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The piston moved frantically, the rod spun until it blurred, and the massive flywheel, so heavy it took several men to lift, spun as effortlessly as a porcelain dish.

The once silent and cold steel behemoth let out a roaring cry. The scorching boiler radiated unbearable heat, white steam bursting out in rhythm.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

A deafening sound, like a hymn sung by thousands of parts in unison.

Many apprentices, shocked, stumbled backward, some even falling to the ground.

They pointed trembling fingers at the blazing machine but couldn’t utter a word. Their gazes turned to Hughes.

Night had fallen, but the fiery combustion chamber illuminated Hughes’ face, half bathed in firelight, the other half shrouded in darkness.

The Sirens also looked at their lord. Everyone turned toward Hughes.

Such an enormous machine, such violent power, was this truly something mortals could control?

Their lord... was he really capable of commanding such unimaginable forces?

Monica wasn’t looking at Hughes. She stared fixedly at the steam engine, murmuring to herself.

“Still missing something… missing something… what is it?”

Watching the Type II machine spewing steam before him, Hughes smiled. The beauty of industry had its own charm, its rhythm, its strength, all so mesmerizing.

But in the next instant, his smile froze.

『Full alert! Contamination is descending!』