Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Chapter 10: Fishmen

Strictly speaking, this was very similar to radio communication.

In an open and unobstructed environment, radio communication could cover an extremely long range.

Shortwave radio stations on Earth could even utilize atmospheric reflection to establish connections across half the planet.

But underwater...

Hughes looked at the pitch-black seawater around him.

Underwater radio communication was extremely difficult.

Only very long wavelengths with extremely low frequencies could be used, and there were many other limitations.

For example, submarines used very low frequency (VLF) communication, which required surfacing to a reception depth and could not travel too fast during transmission.

Moreover, submarines' transmitters and antennas were enormous, significantly reducing crew space.

Yet neither he nor the Bloated Monster had such equipment, and they could communicate effortlessly while diving.

Hughes turned to look at the Bloated Monster.

If this kind of mental communication was akin to radio waves from his past life, then the Symbiotic Contract should be similar to tuning into a specific frequency where only the two of them existed, enabling one-on-one communication.

But what if a machine could locate this frequency and intercept or transmit signals?

Hughes took a sharp breath.

The principle behind such a machine was not overly complex, and in just a short moment, he had already thought of numerous potential applications.

This trip had truly been worthwhile, Hughes thought to himself.

The Bloated Monster continued leading him deeper into the ocean.

The further they went, the less light there was, especially since it was nighttime.

The water was not as clear as it was near the surface, and visibility was decreasing.

Seeing a few meters ahead was already quite fortunate.

At this moment, the senses granted by the Symbiotic Contract began to take effect.

This mystical perception replaced vision, allowing him to perceive his surroundings with absolute clarity.

"...Could this be some kind of biological sonar or radar?"

Dolphins relied on echolocation, emitting two overlapping sound beams—one high and one low—for highly accurate positioning.

That was exactly how Hughes felt now.

He could perceive his entire surroundings as if he were at the center of a sphere.

He could even detect objects behind minor obstacles, such as a patch of seaweed in front of him, through which he could clearly "see" a lobster hidden behind it.

Excited, Hughes spun around in the water.

This sensation was too miraculous, an experience he had never imagined before.

Closing his eyes made the entire world even clearer and brighter.

Hughes had used similar technology before, car-mounted radar could rapidly scan the environment and generate a 3D map—but it had never provided such an intuitive, seamless experience.

The Bloated Monster and the Symbiotic Contract had brought him far too many surprises.

These sensory abilities, whether viewed from a physical or magical perspective, had immense application potential.

Even on the technologically advanced Earth, they would have triggered a worldwide revolution. And now...

It was time for this world to experience the shock of Castel Island!

Hughes couldn't help but curl his lips into a grin.

Following the Strange Fish, he swam for a long time until it gradually slowed down.

Hughes also sensed something was off.

The scent of blood.

He had never known what blood smelled like in the ocean before, but now he understood—it was as if a splash of paint had been poured onto the ground, a stark and unmistakable presence.

In the distance, many sharks swam about, yet for some reason, they did not dare to approach.

"What's going on?"

Hughes asked the Bloated Monster through their mental link.

"Something is wrong. The Fishmen seem to be fighting."

"Fishmen?"

Hughes was startled.

Several images flashed through his mind, but soon, he saw the Fishmen for himself.

They were humanoid creatures with fish heads, wielding various weapons as they swam toward him from afar.

Despite being called Fishmen, they bore no human characteristics at all.

They looked more like large fish that had grown limbs.

Their heads were disproportionately large, filled with rows of sharp teeth, while their hands and feet appeared thin and frail.

In the water, they swam by undulating their bodies, with their webbed limbs merely serving to maintain balance and adjust direction.

The Bloated Monster pulled Hughes into a nearby coral cluster to hide.

These Fishmen did not seem to have keen senses, as they paid no attention to them and continued swimming in the same direction.

"They appear to be fighting my kin."

Hughes raised an eyebrow.

So these two races were enemies?

Recalling how the Bloated Monster had previously mentioned that its kind was "trapped in the shallow sea," he wondered if it had something to do with the Fishmen.

Hughes voiced his speculation through the Mind Link.

The Bloated Monster nodded. "Your guess is correct. My kin have long been enslaved by the Fishmen."

Hughes glanced at the Bloated Monster's massive body, then at the Fishmen swimming in the distance.

Purely in terms of size, several Fishmen combined still wouldn't match this creature.

"The Fishmen outnumber my kin by a great margin. Most of our strength is spent resisting water pressure. To gain the opportunity for a Symbiotic Contract, we have no choice but to endure enslavement."

It paused before continuing:

"I don’t know what the Fishmen have done, but my kin are fighting them now. Originally, I planned to sneak in, reveal the truth about water pressure, and persuade my kin to seek a new home in the deep sea."

Hughes could sense the monster's inner conflict.

It didn’t want to drag him into danger, but it was also deeply concerned for its people.

"Let’s go check on your kin. We’ll be careful."

After a brief hesitation, Hughes decided to follow. If he ignored this situation, the Bloated Monsters, despite their extraordinary abilities, might be wiped out.

They were already weaker than the Fishmen, which was why they had been enslaved.

Moreover, this place wasn’t far from Castel Island.

Leaving such a threat unchecked could be risky in the future.

If the Bloated Monsters perished, he would have to deal with the Fishmen himself.

Strangely, as the lord of Castel Island, he had known nothing about these underwater Fishmen.

Regardless of being Duke Cohen’s illegitimate son or a vassal of Her Majesty the Empress, this was unusual.

No matter how much he tried to recall, he had no relevant information in his memory.

Did the Empire also know nothing about these Fishmen, despite their proximity?

Had the Fishmen simply remained hidden for generations, avoiding all contact with the outside world? Or was there another reason?

Hughes narrowed his eyes.

"Master, Ash will protect you with his life," the Bloated Monster said gratefully.

"Ash? Is that your name?"

"Yes. It means... Oh, my kin!"

Ash’s voice grew urgent as it pointed forward.

Hughes looked up and immediately frowned.

The water ahead was murky with blood and scattered limbs, attracting schools of sharks that circled at a distance.

Numerous twisted, bloated creatures, Ash’s kin, the so-called Cursed Ones, were locked in battle with the Fishmen.

This was their war.