Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 138 Atonement, Sinner

A simple, spacious wooden house, with bedding neatly arranged on the ground a little further away, a few chairs and a table placed on the other side, and the holy emblem of the Candlelight Society hanging in the center of the room.

Kyle sat blankly in the chair, reciting prayers with numb eyes, his body as strong as a bear a little weak.

Beside him was a group of equally numb workers, wearing uniform linen clothes, reciting the scriptures in unison around the table.

They originally worked in a factory in the Rhine, but were inexplicably captured by the Candlelight Society's Crusaders and sent all the way here.

Although they had food and drink on the way and were not tortured or interrogated, they all looked listless and haggard.

They didn't know what they had done wrong. It was said that it was because of Hughes, their former co-worker, who would tell some nonsense stories every day and everyone just listened to them for fun.

The priests of the Candlelight Society said that Hughes was a cultist, which really surprised them.

They neither preach nor ask for money. They just tell stories in their free time every day to make everyone happy. Is this also a cult?

Some people are very indignant about this. The factory owners have forced workers to death and driven them crazy, but now legal citizens are being killed for telling a few stories. How can this be justified?
These people never appeared again.

The remaining workers became much more obedient from then on. They followed the requirements of the Candlelight Society and just recited prayers day after day, atonement for sins they were unaware of.

The chanting continued for a while and then stopped. Having atoned for today's sins, the workers looked around and gradually dispersed after seeing that no one gave them orders.

They didn't make loud noises, but occasionally a few people gathered together and talked in low voices.

A thin man came up to Kyle and said, "Big guy, what day is it today?"

Kyle's eyes slowly turned away, and when he didn't see the Holy Codex or Holy Symbol, he became angry. "I don't know anymore. Thirty? Fifty? I can't remember."

The man sighed softly and said nothing more.

Kyle hesitated for a moment, then spoke to comfort her: "Hodge, don't worry, Lina will be fine."

The workers around gradually gathered around, their expressions somewhat complicated.

Lina is Hodge's sister. They both lost their loved ones in a disaster more than ten years ago and fled to the Rhine together, living together in the lower town.

The two of them were lucky. Although Hodge was thin, he had healthy limbs and a quick mind, and he successfully gained a foothold in the Rhine.

The brother and sister soon discovered that the factory was a good place to work because it paid more. Although they didn't work there for long, the poor died faster these days.

After discussing, the two decided to let Hodge work in the factory.

It was not easy to enter the factory. Hodge had to stuff a pocket of coins into the supervisor's pocket before he was able to get in and got a job as a boiler operator.

The two men borrowed this bag of money from a local gangster.

Although the gang was brutal, they were also trustworthy. The interest rate was not low, but the two men could barely afford it.

Huoqi and Lina calculated that if they worked in the factory for a year, they could pay off their debts, and if they worked for another two years, they could save a small amount of money, and they might be able to move out of the slums.

Then Lina wouldn't have to make a living by washing clothes. Maybe she could find a job in a shop in downtown - those shops on the streets wouldn't accept people from the slums.

Then Hodge could learn a skill and make a living without having to toil in the factory.

Both of them are young, healthy and smart, and it is not impossible for them to settle down and build a career in the Rhine.

Unfortunately, not long after Hodge entered the factory, he was taken away by the Candlelight Society's inquisitor.

What would happen if Lina Lina lost her source of income? Huo Qi didn't dare to think about it. With the money she earned from washing clothes, she couldn't even pay the interest. Those gangs were not so easy to talk to.

Moreover, the slums are full of their spies, so Lina can't escape even if she wants to.

Hodge sat blankly in the chair, staring at the Candlelight Society's sacred text with a blank look in his eyes.

He is a sinner, we are all sinners, everyone is guilty.

It’s just that some people need to atone their sins, while others don’t.

The workers placed their hands on Hotch's shoulders, and silence fell in the room.

Suddenly there was some noisy noise outside the house. People were startled, then quickly stood up and stood in a row against the wall.

Soon, the door was opened and a clear female voice was heard.

"Here, they're all here. Do you want to take them directly there?"

Go? Where to? The workers looked towards the door nervously.

A young girl in a nun's uniform walked in, looked around the room, and turned around: "Everyone is here."

"Then come out, we'll go straight there, the testing ground is not far from here."

A male voice came from outside, and his words caused the workers to become agitated.

What does proving ground mean?
This word gave them a very bad feeling, and it sounded a little dangerous.

"Sister, it seems that we haven't yet atoned for our sins," a worker said, trying to force a smile.

"What if you redeem yourself? Saints embrace sin. Hmm, that should be the case. I don't remember the doctrine very clearly." The nun coughed lightly and said, "In short, there are plenty of opportunities to redeem your sins, but not many opportunities to make money. Come on."

"Earn, make money?"

"Yes, now you have a chance to make money."

Chloe frowned as she looked at the workers' increasingly frightened faces. "What are you thinking? Of course we're going to the newly opened factory to make money. Damn it, why are you so scared? What has become of the Candlelight Club now?"

She muttered the last two sentences quietly, but Hughes behind her still heard them.

At this moment, he was looking at the haggard workers in the room, feeling quite emotional.

The last time he said goodbye to these people, he promised to come back soon, but it turned out to be a farewell forever.

Oh, not necessarily. Worker Hughes can indeed come back, as long as they don’t mind the big hole in his chest.

Seeing these familiar faces, he felt very complicated. Not long ago, he and these workers scolded the supervisor and the factory owner, but now he had to send them to the factory.

Suddenly, I realized that I was in control of the fate of many people, and the only thing that could limit me was my conscience.

"Workers, this is Castel Island. I am the lord of this place, the Border Earl. I have already negotiated with Sister Chloe of the Candlelight Order. Your atonement is temporarily suspended. There are some factories that require your services for operation and maintenance. I will provide you with compensation, food, and lodging. Follow me."

Before the workers could move, Huo Qi suddenly stood up and said in a trembling voice, "My Lord, may I have an advance on my wages?"

(End of this chapter)