Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 779 People Who Changed Their Fate
Hughes did not rush to continue contacting these underground inhabitants. Instead, he assigned a doctor to treat them and then let them rest.

Although I am very curious about the Untouchables, now is not a good time. They have just lost their homes and many people are injured.

Industrial development has never been achieved overnight by a few geniuses or a small group of geniuses, but rather by the construction of the entire system and the efforts of countless industrial workers.

After arranging for a doctor and kicking Monica out of the hospital, Hughes finally had time to deal with the mountain of official business.

Blood Harbor and Castells' overall policy is gradually shifting, and many decrees can only be signed by him.

Especially recently, Isabella personally led troops to the front lines.

It's true that Isabella was leading the Duchy of Tis in a proper battle, but Castel was the first to reach the Rhine. It just goes to show that the underground waterway was indeed the fastest way.

After calming the untouchable person down, Hughes left the ward.

Only then did he show signs of fatigue.

He was under considerable pressure. Both Pope Jules' godlike abilities and the defeat of the banshees caused Castel to be filled with unease.

This was Castells' first defeat on the main battlefield since the Deep Sea War.

Previously, whether fighting against the "Mother" or battling the North, Castel had almost always had a smooth run on the front lines.

The Hong Kong Guard and the Missionaries' Army encountered trouble in their battle against the "Mother."

Once rear support arrived, they immediately began suppressing the enemy with firepower.

Gwen's resistance is under siege?

The arrival of the expeditionary force immediately reversed the course of the battle.

Castel has no problem reaching, no problem defeating.

Moreover, even in the North, a railroad could be built to get there, leading many to have blind expectations of Castells, believing that he was omnipotent.

Therefore, this defeat on the main battlefield has shaken the resolve of many people.

Confidence that hasn't been tested by failure is always fragile.

To be honest, Hughes was quite surprised as well.

The fully armed Banshee squad was practically the most elite army Castel could muster.

Even with Ash leading the team, they still couldn't defeat the Pope of the Candlelight Church.

Hughes was a human from Earth who had received a complete modern education, so he naturally knew that what determined the victory in a war was the entire system and organization.

The Banshee squad, on the other hand, is closer to special operations.

But he still harbored some hope—the most elite squad carrying out a decapitation strike was tactically impractical, but it always made people fantasize.

It seems we have to go back to the old ways; relying on superhumans to sway the battle is unwise.

Therefore, Hughes did not choose to keep the news secret; instead, he made the detailed information about the battle public.

He wasn't the only one who held this view; many members of the Faith Guard, and even commanders, believed that banshees were the decisive force on the battlefield.

Consider this a lesson learned. If this kind of thinking is allowed to spread, it will cause problems sooner or later. It's better to suffer some setbacks as soon as possible and correct our thinking.

Jules's ability is indeed a bit of a headache.

Hughes had just left the hospital and reached his office door when he was startled by a group of people in the corridor. "Isaac, Josh, Tata, Erwin, Ken, Gaia, Zoe, Alexei, what are you doing here?"

Almost all of Castel's top officials were gathered here, and even Chloe was carried into the corridor by Nini.

Hughes was somewhat surprised to see Alexei and Patriarch Ignatius, who both had plenty of business to attend to in the North, and they also came this time.

"Lord Lord."

Alexei bowed his head in greeting. Having returned from the North, he had become much more composed, and standing here now, no one would mistake him for a young man.

He is now a provincial governor with real power and influence.

But upon seeing Hughes, he instinctively smiled, his deep aura dissipating, as if he were once again Castel's chief clerk.

Beside him stood Josh, dressed in a long black robe with flame-shaped patterns. Sensing Hughes's gaze, he removed his hood, revealing his youthful face.

He is now the high priest of the Secret Order, a behemoth that has infiltrated the lower levels of Bloodharbor and is expanding its influence outwards. As a semi-official force of Castel, it is extending Hughes's influence to the people at the very bottom of society.

Who would have thought that they were once just a group of refugees huddled together for warmth, and that Josh even became the chief priest by cooking rice porridge?

Hughes seemed to realize something, and looking at the young man in front of him, he couldn't help but think of the past.

At that time, he came to his office and boldly asked to buy a ship of goods on credit. He wanted to become a businessman before he even got the ship sorted out.

Hughes did give him a ship full of soap, but he didn't expect him to actually run a trade route; he was just spending a fortune to buy him a horse's bones.

Little did Josh know that he truly lacked a talent for business. He traded soap for money, used the money for food, and then used the food to save many lives in the chaos of war.

When Castells first returned, Josh was even worried that he wouldn't be able to pay back the ship full of soap.

It feels like just yesterday that he looked so worried.

The young man before them possessed a calm and upright demeanor, truly displaying the bearing of a sect leader. Only in his eyes could one occasionally glimpse the shadow of his former self.

Hughes looked around at his companions.

Zoe, her own maid, once only wished to be able to take a break and read a novel for a while.

Gaia, formerly a fisherwoman, wrote herself a thank-you letter after learning that she could have her tuition waived and work part-time to attend school.

Hodge, his former coworker, was as thin as a stick back then, but now he's a war priest leading troops into battle.

Unbeknownst to many, the fates of so many people have been altered in Castel. Hughes arrived on this island with his old butler, and now, his companions have filled an entire corridor, making it difficult to even stand.

"Hughes." A voice called from behind. Hughes turned around, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Isabella, you're back?"

Isabella stood in the corridor in military uniform, the iron soles of her military boots making a crisp sound on the concrete floor. Her fiery red hair was casually tied up, making her look less elegant and more sharp.

His trouser legs were still stained with mud, and behind him followed Galahad; the two had just returned from the battlefield.

Upon hearing the news from Castel, she rushed back without even changing her clothes.

"I heard something happened here, so I came back first. What are you spacing out for?"

Hughes looked up and met those crimson eyes.

"It's nothing, it's just a bit unbelievable that Her Majesty the Queen is fighting alongside me."

(End of this chapter)