Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Chapter 16: My Lord

The Sirens looked at each other, exchanging glances. Some huddled together, whispering among themselves.

Occasionally, a few gazes fell on Hughes before quickly shifting away.

Hughes let out a light sigh. It was clear that these Sirens had truly taken his words to heart and no longer regarded him as a god.

He did not regret it, but he did feel a little disappointed.

These Sirens might be able to bring great help to his territory. After all, his troubles were not few, and besides, they were genuine extraordinary beings. He had personally witnessed these Sirens in battle.

Not to mention, they had once worshiped him as a god—a god!

Ash stood not far from Hughes. His words had made her bow her head in deep thought for a long time.

Now, she furrowed her brows, opened her mouth as if to speak, but the complex emotions surging in her chest left her at a loss for words.

She was not particularly skilled at speaking.

At that moment, a petite figure swam over from the side. She smiled at Ash before coming to stand in front of Hughes.

"Hello, my name is Monica," she said, looking at Hughes.

Hughes was a little surprised as he looked at this young girl.

She seemed to be the youngest among the Sirens, her youthful face still carrying a hint of innocence.

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

"You said you are a lord. I don't understand much about humans on land, but is this your territory? And can you take us in?"

Hughes's eyes lit up.

"Of course. According to my enforcement decree, half of the Storm Ocean is my legitimate territory. Her Majesty the Empress never specified whether it was the upper half or the lower half."

That decree was deliberately written vaguely.

If he could truly turn the entire Storm Ocean into imperial territory, the Empress would likely grant him a prince’s title overnight.

Ash seriously considered this and said, "Then we were born as half of your subjects."

Half-subjects?

What an interesting way of putting it.

Hughes raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but laugh. "Yes."

"You wouldn’t refuse the allegiance of your subjects, would you? We are, after all, your self-proclaimed ‘half-subjects.’"

"Of course, but how does one pledge allegiance halfway?"

"From now on, we will all be loyal to you—you never specified whether it was the first half or the latter half," Monica said with a sly smile. "Before, we weren’t subjects at all."

Hughes took a sharp breath—of cold water.

This little girl was so good at twisting words; what a shame she wasn’t preaching in the Church.

The Sirens also laughed.

Thanks to Monica’s playful twisting of words, the atmosphere finally lightened up.

Even Ash, beside him, was looking at him with bright, attentive eyes.

Hughes felt a headache coming on.

Why were these Sirens so determined to follow him? Why did they trust him so much?

First, they believed he was their savior god; now, they wanted to pledge allegiance to him.

Hughes had just noticed that when Monica jokingly said, "From now on, we will all be loyal," many Sirens' eyes had lit up.

He did not quite understand why, after he had explicitly denied being a god and rejected their worship, they trusted him even more.

What Hughes did not know was that while his words had simply expressed his own beliefs, they were shocking and revolutionary in this world.

As a modern person who had witnessed humanity’s greatness in a world without gods, he naturally did not consider so-called deities to be particularly lofty beings.

When he declared that he was not a god, he spoke with a sense of pride—the pride of being human.

This subconscious expression had not escaped the Sirens’ keen senses. They could feel that Hughes genuinely disdained the idea of being a god.

What kind of existence would feel disdain for divinity?

Before them stood a human, physically frail like a drifting fish, yet utterly unafraid.

He could establish a Symbiotic Contract with ease, was pushed onto a divine pedestal yet discarded it without hesitation, as if it were a mere seashell among many.

He possessed vast knowledge, casually breaking a curse that had plagued their people for centuries.

And he was a lord. The Sirens had no home.

The Sirens exchanged glances as an inexplicable atmosphere slowly spread among them.

Ash also sensed the shift in mood. She hesitated for a moment, then her eyes grew firm.

Raising herself slightly, she spoke loudly to those around her:

"My kin! It is time to make our choice. Let us reconnect once more!"

With that, she gently closed her eyes.

Her silver-white hair floated gently in the sea, and one by one, the Sirens followed suit, closing their eyes.

What are they doing?

Hughes curiously looked around.

The Sirens' expressions were solemn.

Even the youngest, Monica, clasped her fingers over her chest and quietly shut her eyes.

In that instant, every Siren closed their eyes, yet Hughes felt something was off.

Through the Symbiotic Contract, he vaguely sensed something unusual.

It was as if the Sirens had become a single entity.

Was this another ability of the Sirens?

He would have to ask about it when he got the chance.

His curiosity did not last long.

Almost in an instant, all the Sirens opened their eyes simultaneously.

Ash let out a slow breath, her expression relaxing slightly. She swam forward to face Hughes, speaking solemnly:

"The Siren tribe is willing to follow you and become your subjects."

Hughes felt something in his heart. Looking around, he saw that although the Sirens varied in height and appearance, their eyes all shone with the same light.

"So, this is the unanimous decision of all of you?"

Hughes vaguely guessed that, considering the Sirens' innate ability for Symbiotic Contracts, their synchronized closing of eyes might have been some form of collective telepathic communication.

It was undeniably efficient.

Remembering their argument at the Abyssal Trench's entrance, he recalled that they always honored their final collective decision.

Ash bent forward again, but this time, she did not kneel. Her silver-white hair floated gently in the seawater.

"We are willing to follow in your footsteps."

"This is not because of prophecy, tradition, or anything else—it is our own will."

She paused, as if listening to the voices in her heart.

"We may not yet understand all of your ideals, but we can feel your determination."

Hughes turned to look at them.

The Sirens met his gaze, and in that moment, he suddenly understood—Sirens communicated not just with words.

His struggles, his thoughts, and his final unwavering resolve had gradually influenced the Sirens around him.

Even if they did not fully understand, they could still feel that determination.

They chose to believe in him.

This was both gratitude and a decision made after deep reflection on their people's fate.

Sirens were truly a fascinating race.

Their invisible spiritual connection formed an unspoken chorus, and this mysterious atmosphere made Hughes's blood surge with excitement.

Ash stepped forward.

"Your will is our destiny."

"My lord, my liege."

The Sirens bowed their heads in unison.

Hughes stood at the seabed. In the deep ocean where no light reached, the Sirens’ colorful scales shimmered like jewels under sunlight, like the stained glass of a grand cathedral, casting sacred and brilliant hues.

How beautiful.

At this moment, these lights surrounded him, adding warmth to the cold sea.

Hughes felt as if he could hear countless heartbeats, gradually merging into one, just like the gazes upon him.

It was the power of trust.

"I understand," he straightened his back.

"I am Hughes Corsica Simmons Stuart, Frontier Count of Castel Island in the Holy Mier Empire. By sacred covenant and the Empress's decree, I am the rightful lord of this land. I accept your allegiance."

"My people."

"Welcome to my domain."

Looking into the bright eyes around him, he softly said:

"Welcome home."