Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 16 My Lord
The banshees looked at each other, exchanged glances, and a few of them gathered in a group, discussing something in a low voice.

Occasionally, a few eyes would fall on Xius, and then quickly look away.

Zeus sighed softly. It was obvious that these banshees had truly taken his words to heart and no longer regarded him as a god.

He had no regrets, just a little disappointed.

These banshees might be of great help to his territory. He already has a lot of troubles. Moreover, they are genuine supernatural creatures. He has seen with his own eyes how these banshees fight.

What's more, they worship themselves as gods. Gods.
Ash stood not far from Xiusi. Xiusi's words just now made her lower her head and think for a long time. Now she frowned and opened her mouth to say something, but the complex emotions surging in her chest made her not know how to start.

She wasn't that good with words.

At this time, a petite figure swam over. She smiled at Ash and then came in front of Zeus.

"Hello, my name is Monica." She looked at Xius.

Xius looked at the little girl in surprise.

She seemed to be the youngest among this group of banshees, and there was still a hint of childishness on her young face.

Her scales were emerald green, her hair was emerald green, and her emerald eyes were like coral in the shallow sea.

"You said you were a lord. I don't know much about the humans on land. I wonder if this is your territory, and if you would take us in?"

Hughes' eyes lit up.

"Of course, according to the decree of enthronement, half of the Ocean of Storms is my legal territory. Her Majesty didn't specify the upper half or the lower half."

The enthronement letter was deliberately written vaguely. If he could really turn the Storm Ocean into the empire's territory, the empress would confer the title of prince on him overnight.

Ash thought about it seriously and said, "Then we are half your subjects from birth."

Half a citizen? That's an interesting statement.

Xius raised his eyebrows and couldn't help laughing: "Yes."

"You wouldn't refuse the loyalty of your subjects, would you? You yourself acknowledged us as 'half subjects'."

"Of course, but how can you be half loyal?"

"We will all be loyal to you from now on—you didn't say whether it's the first half or the second half." Monica smiled slyly. "We weren't your subjects before."

Hughes took a breath. Cold water.

This little girl is so good at fooling people. It’s a shame that she doesn’t go to church to preach.

The banshees also laughed, and after Monica's nonsense, the atmosphere finally became lively.

Ash beside him also looked over with sharp eyes.

Zeus was a bit confused. How could these banshees have chosen him so? Why did they trust him so much? They had previously believed that he was the god who saved them, and now they wanted to pledge allegiance to him.

Zeus just noticed that after Monica jokingly said "We will all be loyal from now on", the eyes of many banshees lit up.

He was a little confused. After he said that he was not a god and refused the witches' worship, they trusted him even more.

What Zeus didn't know was that the words that expressed his feelings to him were actually shocking to the world.

As a modern man, he has witnessed the greatness of human beings in a world without gods, so naturally he does not think that the so-called gods are such great beings.

When he said that he was not a god, he felt a bit proud in his heart, the pride of being a mortal.

This subconscious expression did not escape the keen senses of these banshees. They could feel that Zeus really disdained to become a god.

What kind of being could be disdainful of God?
The human in front of him was as weak as a swimming fish, but he had no fear at all. The symbiotic contract could be reached directly. He was clearly pushed to the throne of God, but he abandoned it without hesitation, as if there were seashells everywhere.

He also possessed extensive knowledge, and he easily broke the curse that had plagued his people for thousands of years.

He is still a lord, and the Banshee has no home.

The banshees exchanged glances with each other, and an inexplicable atmosphere gradually began to spread.

Ash also sensed the change in atmosphere. She hesitated for a moment, then her gaze gradually hardened. Then she stood up and spoke loudly to the surroundings:
"My people! It's time to make a decision. Let us connect together again!"

After saying this, she gently closed her eyes. Her long silver hair swayed gently in the sea, and the banshees also closed their eyes.

What are they doing? Hughes looked around curiously.

The banshees all looked serious. Even the youngest, Monica, crossed her fingers over her chest and quietly closed her eyes.

At this moment, all the banshees closed their eyes, but Zeus felt something was wrong. He vaguely sensed something strange through the symbiotic contract.

It was as if these banshees had become a whole.

Is this another Banshee ability? I'll have to ask about it when I get a chance.

All this did not puzzle him for too long. Almost in a moment, all the banshees opened their eyes at the same time.

Ash let out a long breath, her expression relaxed a bit. She slowly swam in front of Hughes and spoke solemnly:
"The Banshee clan is willing to follow you and become your subjects."

Zeus felt something and looked around. The banshees around him were of different heights and appearances, but there was the same light flashing in their eyes.

"So, this is the common idea among all of you?"

Zeus had a vague guess. Considering that the Banshee's innate ability was a symbiotic contract, the fact that they had just closed their eyes together might be some kind of mental communication among the entire tribe.

I have to say, it was very efficient. Considering the previous dispute at the entrance of Mingyuan, they all abided by the final decision.

Ash bent down again, but this time she didn't kneel, her long silver hair floating in the water.

“We would like to follow in your footsteps.”

"This is not from prophecy, tradition, or anything else, but our will."

She paused, as if listening to the words coming from her mind.

“We may not understand all of your ideas yet, but we can feel your will.”

Zeus turned around and looked around. The banshees were looking at him. Suddenly, he had a vague understanding that the banshees did not communicate only through language. His struggle, his thinking, and his final unswerving will gradually infected the banshees around him. Even though they could not understand, they could still feel his determination.

They chose to believe him.

This is both a gratitude to him and a decision they made after considering the fate of their tribe.

The Banshees are truly a magical race. The invisible power in their hearts gathers together like a silent chorus. This inexplicable atmosphere makes Zeus feel his blood boiling.

Ash took a step forward.

"Your will is our destiny."

"My Lord, my Overlord."

The banshees all lowered their heads.

Zeus stood at the bottom of the sea. There was no light in the deep sea, but the colorful scales of the Banshee were like gems shining in the sun, or like the stained glass on the dome of a church, casting a sacred and dazzling light.

What a beauty.

At this moment, these lights surrounded him, making the cold deep sea a little warmer.

Zeus seemed to be able to hear countless heartbeats, gradually merging into one, just like the gazes falling on him.

That is the power of trust.

"I see." He straightened up.

"My name is Hughes Corsica Simons Stuart, the Border Earl of Castel Island in the Saint-Miles Empire. By virtue of the Holy Covenant and Her Majesty's Letter of Canonization, I am the legal lord of this land. I accept your allegiance."

"My people."

"Welcome to my territory."

He looked at the pairs of shining eyes around him and whispered:
"Welcome home."

(End of this chapter)