Chapter Thirty-Eight: The South Bank Theater

“Are there too many uncontrollable factors?” Lily pondered silently. But what exactly are these uncontrollable factors? Why is it that the cafeteria can use them in the morning...

She had no clue for the moment, so she flicked her finger absentmindedly and the coin vanished from her hand. Camille, walking beside her, had watched the coin dance between Lily’s fingers, flipping and spinning, only to suddenly disappear. Camille was greatly impressed.

Of all her fate coins, Lily felt she understood this one the least. From activation conditions to usage restrictions, she couldn't figure any of it out. It sounded simple—magnifying or diminishing the probability of an event—but the underlying logic was exceedingly complex.

For example, if someone wanted to increase their chances of finding a diamond on the street, then someone else must have lost a diamond. Why would such a thing happen? Perhaps the clasp on a lady’s diamond ring loosened, or maybe she accidentally knocked her ring, causing the stone to fall off. Yet, for such incidents to happen instantly, additional arrangements would be needed.

In short, there were countless variables involved, and it was nearly impossible for a single person to accomplish such a feat alone.

On their way, Lily and her companions also observed the areas that had suddenly worsened after the last chime. Now, they found them to be roughly at the same level as the opposite bank of the Thames. Dunn concluded that this was likely the maximum effect of the time erosion.

This time, Lily led the group around Waterloo Station, heading straight for the Southbank Theatre. After all, Waterloo Bridge was nearby, and there was no longer any need to enter the station.

————————————

“It’s so sad...” Once again seated atop the Big Ben tower, Liu Shiqin murmured dreamily to herself.

Though she had managed to find food and water, she still hadn’t found a map, which left her feeling utterly defeated.

In the world now shrouded by Mist 2.4, humanity had completely lost access to electronic communication. All mobile phones had become nothing more than bricks, so Liu Shiqin hadn’t brought her phone at all. Even if she had, one wouldn’t be able to locate oneself, another would need offline maps, and, well, there would need to be power.

Sighing, Liu Shiqin stood up and once again tried to use her ability. Her figure quickly faded from the tower’s rooftop, disappearing, as she entered a space saturated with vibrant, intense colors.

Floating within this space, Liu Shiqin once more attempted to sense the enigmatic will of the City of Magic, hoping to make contact and pay another visit. If she failed again, she would have to seriously consider how to survive in this city of Dunlun.

She sensed the presence of that will again—emotionless, neither joyful nor sorrowful—making her feel as if she were facing someone with a frozen expression. She sent a request to visit and instinctively floated forward.

As long as that will agreed, she would be able to pass through a door and enter another equally vivid, colorful space.

But after circling twice, she still received no response from the will, prompting her to slowly draw a question mark in the space where colors overlapped.

“How... how could I be ignored?” Liu Shiqin floated in a daze.

Finally, she could no longer maintain her ability to stay in that space, and her figure slowly outlined itself again—outside the top of Big Ben.

Fortunately, she had been prepared. As soon as she fully materialized, she leaned forward, grabbing onto a protrusion on the tower’s rooftop, avoiding a fall.

“Hoo...” She exhaled slowly, feeling a bit dejected, a bit puzzled, and began to seriously consider how to find those from St. Lance Orphanage.

“First... I need a map,” Liu Shiqin muttered, her head aching.

————————————

Southbank Theatre, night had fallen.

“Lily, I think we’d best rest here at the Southbank Theatre tonight and cross Waterloo Bridge tomorrow when daylight comes,” Dunn proposed, standing at the entrance.

“I agree, that’s the safest plan. Aiden, what do you think?” Lily turned to Aiden.

“I... have no objections,” Aiden nodded.

Lily looked at the others and received unanimous consent. She began organizing the group to carefully inspect the surroundings for any suspicious traces.

After confirming the area was safe, Lily ascended the steps of the Southbank Theatre.

Also known as the Southbank Arts Centre, the building’s style was distinctly New Century, constructed from neatly cut stone blocks stacked together, giving it a modern artistic flair. Because Dunlun City’s hip-hop collectives liked to gather nearby, the ground floor public spaces of the Arts Centre were filled with spray-painted murals.

The glass doors at the theatre’s entrance were either shattered or missing, so the group entered without hindrance, switching on their flashlights.

Ander had barely taken a few steps when he heard a strange cry beneath his feet. He quickly lifted his leg and shone his torch, glimpsing a creature that looked part cat, part bear, darting out the door.

“A raccoon?” Ander asked, bewildered.

“It seemed so... but isn’t it a nocturnal animal?” Lily glanced over, uncertain.

“Are there raccoons in Dunlun?” Sondro asked, curious.

“At least the city zoo has them, so it’s possible one escaped from there,” Dunn pressed forward, Camille at his side, her presence providing him with much reassurance.

“I wonder if the plumbing still works here,” Ander mused, glancing around at the dilapidated surroundings and reminiscing about the orphanage’s water dispenser.

“Interesting question. I suppose we could try a bathroom,” Dunn said, intrigued.

“Wait, gentlemen, we have more urgent issues to address!” Lily put on a fierce expression, glaring at them.

Ander immediately bowed his head in apology, so quickly that Dunn was dumbfounded—how could he be so practiced? Almost as soon as Lily spoke, Ander was ready to admit fault.

Lily then looked at Dunn.

“No, I am a gentleman of principle. I won’t submit to brute force,” Dunn declared.

Lily smiled at once, her smile sending chills down Dunn’s spine.

A few minutes later, Dunn trudged upstairs, dust-covered, to search for a place where the orphanage group could sleep safely. Lily clapped her hands to signal to Camille, indicating she needed her help for something extra.

He hadn’t expected Lily would ask Camille to act.

Dunn felt a bit aggrieved.