Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 133 Storm Heavy Industry
Two major events have occurred in Castres in recent days.

One is that Isaac, a servant in the manor, decided to resign from his position in the manor, took away many of the manor's guards, and established a chamber of commerce independent of Castel - the Ash Alliance.

Hughes personally handled the formalities for him and gave him his blessings.

Second, Josh was interviewed by Hughes. After he came out, he publicly apologized to the partners he had won over before, stating that he did not own the goods and ships, and showed a letter of employment. He and the Ashes Alliance founded by Isaac jointly hired Jeremiah's ship.

The islanders discussed these two things for a long time. As for Isaac's matter, the islanders unanimously believed that it was the lord's instruction. After all, everyone knew how popular those soaps were, and it was reasonable for the lord to set up a caravan to sell them outside.

As for Josh.
Many people thought that he was finished, and with the warning from the lord, there was definitely no place for him in Castel.

But as time went on, these people gradually changed their minds.

After Josh apologized, the men he recruited did not leave him after some discussion. On the contrary, more people came to find him.

These people were not fools. When Josh first said he had a ship and cargo, people did not take him seriously. They were willing to work with Josh more because he had actually succeeded in selling soap in the empire.

Now, although Josh has publicly apologized and admitted that his previous statement was wrong, the employment letter in his hand is real, and people now know that he can really get the goods and borrow the ship.

So many people who love adventure came to try to find a way out.

Another merchant group is Isaac's Ashes Alliance - this name doesn't really sound like a merchant group.

Although people also wanted to join, Isaac spread the word that he did not plan to recruit people here. He planned to open up the market in the empire first and try his luck there.

Now people were disappointed and finally turned to Josh.

So Josh was surprised to find that although he was summoned for a talk and made a public apology, more and more people supported him.

"So why did you come to me?" Ken sighed. "There are so many people willing to go on adventures with you."

The two were now sitting at Ken's house. Josh had brought some fried fish, as he hadn't spent all the money he earned from selling soap.

Glancing at his friend across from him, Josh grinned.

"Hey, Ken, you're such a stickler."

He pointed at Ken, holding a grilled fish in his hand. "You should have seen the announcement. The Lord is providing additional subsidies for students in the advanced class to go to sea, and he even specifically marked those who are enrolled in the mechanical course."

Ken nodded. There was indeed such an announcement. He saw it, but he didn't quite understand why.

What does going to sea have to do with ships and machinery?
Moreover, a trip with the ship often lasts for ten days to half a month. Although Ken has basically completed the mechanical knowledge of the advanced class, he still wants to stay in the test site. A new group of people have recently arrived there and they know a lot of things. He has learned a lot.

"It's simple. The Lord needs a group of ship engineers."

"The engineer on the ship?" Ken frowned. He studied mechanical engineering. Are there any mechanical structures on the ship?

Josh said with some complacency:
"You know about the Ash Alliance, right? The Lord told me this time that he's actually planning to set up two chambers of commerce. The Ash Alliance is just a small-scale operation, and it's not officially Castel's official chamber of commerce. The Lord hasn't even released the real one yet."

This news is quite shocking. Is the lord planning to organize his own chamber of commerce?
"Um. Is it really okay for you to say it out loud?"

"I'm not saying anything nonsense. I'm just telling you. The Lord didn't tell me not to say it. And I have a guess." Josh said this, leaning over mysteriously and whispering in Ken's ear, "I think he just wants me to tell you this news!"

Ken blinked, a confused expression on his face.

"Why would you tell me?"

"He said he had specifically asked about our relationship before, and only told us after he knew we were childhood friends. And do you know the name of that chamber of commerce? Guess?"

"Uh, the Castel Chamber of Commerce?"

"No, it's called Storm Heavy Industries."

"Storm Heavy Industry? Why does this sound even less like a chamber of commerce?"

"The Lord said this would be a, uh, what's the word? An enterprise?"

"In short, Storm Heavy Industries is a collection of factories on our island, and the Chamber of Commerce is just a part of it. Now you understand, the Lord intends to bring together all of Castel's industries and establish a Chamber of Commerce to sell goods to the outside world!"

"It sounds really impressive, but what does it have to do with me?"

Ken scratched his head. He was just an ordinary engineer. He had even heard the word engineer from the lord not long ago. It was really difficult for him to connect these things together.

"Lord, you never do useless things, right? When you first learned the principles of mechanics, there were no machines on the island. I heard that a large number of machines have been built now, right?"

"So, Lord, why did you suddenly start summoning the ship's mechanical engineers?"

Josh raised an eyebrow at Ken.

Ken wasn't stupid, he was even smarter than most people, his grades were the best in the advanced class, he just didn't think too much about it.

After Josh's explanation, he also thought of many things. Because of his status as an advanced class student, Ken even knew more. For example, the lord was designing a new type of steam engine, and that steam engine needed to control its volume.

Why does a steam engine need to control its volume?

Ken hadn't paid much attention to this question before, but now he had some vague guesses.

Could it be that it is meant to be placed on the boat?
How to use steam engines on ships? He didn't know this either, but as a mechanical engineer, he subconsciously started thinking about it.

What if a steam engine were used to drive the oars to row the boat? No, maybe a huge wheel should be used to move the water?

It might be a little cumbersome, but it doesn't feel impossible.

If it were the Lord, he would surely be able to design it, right?
Hughes's profound knowledge successfully impressed every student. Even the newcomers, such as Sister Chloe, praised him highly and were even more enthusiastic than the old students.

Ken understood this situation very well. The more he learned, the more he discovered how terrifying Lord Zeus's knowledge was. Those newcomers knew more than him, so they also knew more about the lord's profound knowledge.

Thinking this way, the lord might really be able to install a steam engine on the ship.

(End of this chapter)