Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 96 The golden cicada escapes from its shell
"They were discovered by a patrol."

"Tonight, you activated Level III alert. We will patrol the uninhabited area ashore. That's when they were discovered."

"Our people saw a huge flame. They chose a location on the south side of the volcano, and the mountain blocked the view from the north. I guess they didn't expect anyone in the sea to come ashore to patrol."

"The patrol team didn't make a sound after discovering them, but instead directly called for help through the telepathic link. By the time they realized what was happening, they were completely surrounded by us."

"You didn't let any of them go?"

"Yes, the patrol is watching them, all here."

"Did you see what they were doing?"

"Our people didn't dare get too close, so we couldn't hear them talking, but they seemed to be surrounding someone, and we couldn't tell what they were saying."

It was probably the worker Zeus. When he arrived and talked to this group of fire moths, the banshees had already approached and even surrounded them. It was really a surprise.

"How are they now?"

"We've been at a standoff for a long time, and they haven't panicked. They're very orderly."

"Take me there."

Zeus soon saw the group of Fire Moths, just like the ones he had seen in the body of the worker Zeus not long ago. They were wearing loose red hooded robes, standing quietly in place, looking at the banshees around them.

"Did you call out to them?"

"Yes, but they didn't surrender, nor did they reveal their names. They just stood there with us."

Confrontation?

Xius felt that something was wrong.

When he was still in that body, Chloe was obviously anxious to get him back. Hughes thought she was going to run away, so why wasn't she anxious now?

Zeus separated the banshees, stepped forward, and looked carefully at these red-robed believers.

Suddenly, his eyes focused and stopped at the corners of those red robes.

Those corners of clothes were intact, but Xiu Si clearly remembered seeing the corners of these people's clothes slowly burning before.

"Ash, the sea serpent."

Ash nodded in understanding, raised his hand and summoned a sea snake, which twisted its body and crawled towards the men in red.

The red-robed cultists retreated slightly, as if they were on guard against the sea snake, but the sea snake did not stop and crawled all the way towards the red-robed cultists in front.

The red-robed cultist took a few steps back and stopped moving - there was a tree behind him, and he was stuck in front of the tree.

The other men in red didn't react much, just looked at their companions quietly.

Xiusi's bad feeling grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, the sea snake crawled in front of him. Ash looked at Hughes with a questioning look, and he nodded with a gloomy expression.

The sea snake bit it.

A hole was bitten in the red-robed cultist's leg, but he remained silent. Without the support of his legs, he fell down.

After he fell down, he did not hit the ground like a person, but more like a piece of clothing, or a paper man, floating into a large ball.

Now the banshees also looked unhappy.

Zeus waved his hand, and the banshees rushed forward, stabbing the red-robed believers with their long-handled axes, but it was like piercing empty paper figures.

These paper figures have almost only the most basic reactions - they face the approaching person and slowly retreat when you get close to them.

"My Lord, these seem to be woven from some kind of silk thread." Ash came closer, grabbed a red-clad body, and gently tore it apart. Some of the silk threads scattered in the air. Zeus reached out and touched it.

It felt soft and slightly elastic, reminding him of a cocoon.

"It seems that the name Fire Moth is not only the name of the cult, but also a reflection of their extraordinary abilities."

"Lord, we've checked. There are only these empty shells here. I don't know when those cultists moved away."

"Has the body been found?"

"No, he must have been taken away."

Hughes sneered.

These people from the Fire Moth Cult probably thought they had successfully concealed their true identity. Indeed, if Zeus didn't have that body, he would probably have been fooled and would have lost track of them.

But now he knew that the leader of this group was Chloe, so there was no need to tell him where their lair was.

You can escape, but can your church stand up and run away?

"We withdraw."

Although the banshees were somewhat unwilling, they still followed orders and left one after another, heading south.

"My Lord, these cultists."

Looking at the expressions of the surrounding banshees, Hughes pondered for a moment before speaking loudly, "This group of cultists haven't truly fled. They haven't left Castel. I have some special channels to get information about them. Don't worry."

The Banshees are a force under his command, but they are not soldiers. Every time Zeus mobilizes them, it is to defend their homeland. Since it is to defend their homeland, he cannot just give orders, he needs to tell the Banshees why they are fighting.

"Know why you are fighting." It seems to be an insignificant matter, and fighting can be done as long as orders are obeyed, but in the long run, troops and organizations without beliefs will eventually degenerate and perish.

Therefore, Zeus slowed down his tone and comforted the banshees whose actions had failed.

"This group of people are the Fire Moths. I have some understanding of them. Although what they are doing is very risky, they haven't yet stood against us. We will have some contact with them in the future. If you encounter any related situations with them, please report them to me immediately."

"You're saying there's even a possibility that we might join forces in the future?"

"It's just a possibility, and it depends on the other party's attitude. If you encounter them, don't take the initiative to attack for the time being, and remain restrained."

The banshees looked at each other and nodded.

Zeus took a deep look at the woods and left with the banshees.

Soon, the forest became quiet, and for some reason, the sound of insects remained silent.

A few moths crawled out from the gaps in the leaves, spread their wings and flew into the air.

"Although it's unlikely, please keep an eye on the area around the island and report anything unusual to me—especially if something leaves here."

"You think so."

"It all depends on the decision of these fire-chasing moths. If nothing unexpected happens, they will contact me."

Ash narrowed her eyes. She really didn't like these cunning cultists. They were like moray eels, easily slipping out of her hands if she wasn't careful.

Now it seems that there may still be a chance for contact?

She won't fail again next time.

In the manor, Hughes took a bath and changed his clothes.

"Connor, send an invitation to Chloe from the Candlelight Club to attend the dinner welcoming Miss Beatrice tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)