Industrial Cthulhu? It's Cthulhu Industrial!!

Chapter 61 A Murder Case

One person killed another.

Even though the sacrificial offerings were almost inhuman in Li Ang's mind, the flesh and blood at the bottom of the seabed were still human at heart. From birth to death, they probably didn't have any normal human understanding, but no matter what, it was something done by humans.

After witnessing the deaths of his people, Leon quickly summoned the naval captain and Charlemagne. Because the deaths occurred during a large-scale construction project, and were not accidental but murdered, it was essential to identify the parties involved in both organizations to establish a definitive connection. Following the rules of humanity etched in his memory, Leon quickly constructed a courtroom-like structure under the strange gazes of many.

"Ahem, thank you all very much for coming here. I am Li Ang, and I am also the person who directly reported this case."

Standing on the high platform constructed of pure white ceramic steel plates, Li Ang cleared his throat and looked at the people involved who had gathered around him, saying loudly:

“I witnessed a murder on the docks, a blood-red tentacle killing my people. And you once claimed that there was nothing wrong with the blood offerings you sold and the casting rituals you performed. I think the issues between these cases might help us to understand each other more deeply. What do you think?”

"I have no opinion."

"No objections, sir."

"Now, let me tell you what I've seen."

Looking at the Silver Gate members who had gathered there, and the Britannia fleet members who stood clearly on the other side, Li Ang tapped the ceramic hammer in his hand, producing a crisp, resonant sound on the ceramic plate that echoed through the already quiet hall.

"The incident occurred at 6:45 a.m., outside of the Silver Gate's working hours. Because they have short sleep periods, the Silver Gate members have ample free time before work. The victim arrived at the dock at that time and initiated a conversation with the flesh and blood in the ocean. For some unknown reason, the flesh and blood chose to murder him. That's all I've discovered. If needed, I can show the video recording."

“No need, Lord Leon, I know what’s going on.”

Looking at the bustling crowd around him, the naval captain sighed and extended his hand to request permission to speak.

"This is a peculiar phenomenon caused by the building code; the behavior of an abnormal individual can cause death to anyone who gets too close. But this doesn't happen in Britannia; it was due to my negligence. If you don't believe me, you can drag the killer over and ask him."

"...?"

Surprisingly swift and decisive.

Li Ang stared blankly at the helpless-looking naval captain for a moment, but quickly snapped his fingers.

With a flickering and folding of light, a creature, its body a bloody mess yet vaguely humanoid, appeared on the white arena. The moment this grotesque creature landed, before anyone could even speak to it, a powerful mental shock and a scream reverberated through everyone's minds.

Everyone... deserves to die!!!

A voice, indistinguishable between male and female, screamed and shouted in everyone's minds.

"You harmed my family, threw me into an abyss, hoping to irrigate your land with our blood and flesh!" "Every nerve in my body grows with my flesh, spreading outwards. I can feel my brothers and sisters everywhere in the ocean, each of us struggling in endless pain and howling, but we have no right to live!"

'We're trying to survive! But even that was your doing! So you all deserve to die! Everyone deserves to die! Whether it's that disgusting man who claims to understand us and wants us to be independent, or you monsters who designed us! You all deserve to die! Every day, every second, every minute we live, we desperately wish for you bastards to die completely!'

'I curse you! I curse every single one of you!'

"...Hmm, that certainly seems to be the case. Anyway, that's what the killer said. So, does anyone have anything to summarize?"

"Then let me summarize, Lord Leon."

Seeing Li Ang's somewhat incomprehensible expression, the still weary naval captain sighed, stood up, and said:

“Every life and flesh is a cornerstone of Britannia’s glory, and every hatred and curse can nourish Britannia. We will all die painfully and ignorantly sooner or later, but before that, let us use our planned deaths to become the pillars of Britannia.”

"It's not just about blood sacrifices. When all the blood sacrifices are dead, the Redcoats will be sacrificed. When all the Redcoats are dead, the mid-ranking officers will be sacrificed, and finally, me, the nobles, and even Her Majesty the Queen herself. Each of us will sacrifice our lives for Britannia. This insignificant curse is meaningless noise to us and to the whole event. They are just a group of mutated individuals who have developed the illusion that they are different."

"I believe he should be sentenced to death, Lord Leon. The mutated individuals cannot survive. Nor should they. As for the oversight caused by our lack of attention, we will compensate for it."

"And what about you, Charlemagne? What do you think?"

"...I disagree with what the naval captain said, but I believe that since it killed our people, it should die."

Charlemagne glanced at Leon, then at the people around him, and spoke clearly and firmly. After that series of curses, the blood-stained monster could only scream and shout; it fell silent.

It was a bit hasty, but there were no problems with the process.

After confirming that there was no further feedback from the two calm individuals, Li Ang brought down the hammer.

"Therefore, both sides agree that the murderer should receive the punishment he deserves. So I hereby declare that a life for a life. Even a mad, cursed being has no right to kill members of the Silver Gate at will. They have neither the qualification nor the right."

The ceramic hammer fell, and a system notification sounded.

System notification: You have completed a historical milestone in the Silver Gate culture!

'System notification: The verdict in the first murder case at the Silver Gate, witnessed by the Britannian Fleet, will profoundly impact the cultural structure within the Silver Gate. For the first time, they have become aware of individuals with whom they can neither understand nor coexist, and their pursuit of self-preservation has intensified. They will exert a stronger subjective drive when constructing wonders and defensive structures.'

(End of this chapter)