Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Can of Chocolate (2)

Lily led Camille into the main hall of the South Bank Theater, where she dismantled several foam seat cushions from the audience rows, providing a more comfortable place for them to sleep that night.

After nearly two hours of busy preparation, everyone finally settled down. They ate their rations, decided on the order of the night watch, and then fell into a deep sleep together. The night passed without incident. Though mice occasionally scurried by, none dared approach the group.

At dawn, Lily was already awake. After a quick wash with fresh water, she made her way alone to the balcony on the second floor of the South Bank Theater. With a nimble sprint and leap, she used the balcony railing to grasp the edge of the rooftop with one hand.

Pausing for a second, Lily engaged her waist and arms, pushing off the wall with her feet to propel herself onto the theater's rooftop.

She gazed into the distance, temporarily breaking free from the twenty-four-meter restriction of her sight, allowing her to see scenes fifty meters away. It was just enough for her to catch a glimpse of Waterloo Bridge, the ancient structure built of gray-white marble spanning the entire Thames.

Unlike modern bridges, Waterloo Bridge used a supporting arch structure, with a total of nine arches. As one of the vital bridges connecting the northern and western districts of Dunlun, and having been repaired once after the Second World War, its solidity was remarkable. Lily could not find any traces of time erosion on it.

She recalled a spring outing organized by the orphanage, when the kindly lady the children called “Mother Sugar Tea” had introduced Lily and the other orphans to Waterloo Bridge, mentioning its rather comical nickname—the Ladies’ Bridge.

It was said that its first construction was almost entirely completed by women, hence its alternative name.

Of course, Lily’s purpose atop the roof was not merely to observe the bridge; she also scrutinized the surroundings to ensure the orphanage group could safely cross.

After confirming the situation, Lily did not immediately return to the second floor. Instead, she sat at the edge of the third-floor rooftop, letting her feet swing freely in the air, savoring the rare tranquility.

At the orphanage, she had many responsibilities: caring for the younger children, frequently patrolling the grounds to ensure that, even if disputes arose, there was an impartial mediator to help sort right from wrong.

Since John’s disappearance, she hadn’t had a moment’s rest. Whether discussing the details of the rescue team or dealing with the arrival of Liu Shiqin, her days were filled.

Taking a deep breath, Lily enjoyed the brisk morning breeze. She regretted not being able to see the sunrise; the fog allowed only a limited amount of sunlight to filter through, so she and the others could merely distinguish between day and night.

***

In a distant corner of a rooftop in Magic City—

Ariel had somehow found a blanket and wrapped herself tightly, feeling a bit better, less cold, but hunger gnawed at her relentlessly. It had been a day and a night since she’d eaten anything, and her body was becoming weak.

Yet the unfamiliar surroundings, with streets filled with Summerland script, prevented her from seeking food. Most importantly, unlike Dunlun, this place was teeming with people—so many living their everyday lives.

As dawn broke, early vendors began hawking breakfast and fresh vegetables. The aroma of steamed buns and fried dough wafted to Ariel’s nose, making her mouth water uncontrollably.

She had cried herself hoarse, terrified and desperately missing everyone at the orphanage—especially Ander.

“Ander... where are you?” she whispered, so softly only she could hear.

In the end, she could not withstand the combined torment of hunger and cold, gradually losing consciousness.

In her fading awareness, she seemed to see a door again—a bronze, ancient door appearing beneath her feet.

***

Lily returned to the second floor of the South Bank Theater. After helping everyone pack up, the rescue team set out once more, heading for Waterloo Bridge.

Standing before the bridge, Lily signaled for the group to wait. She leapt lightly onto the railing, focusing on the foggy expanse across the bridge. From the theater, she could only see the middle section and the entrance nearest them, but now she needed to observe the far side to ensure it was safe.

She had already informed everyone that she could briefly see details up to fifty meters away.

After a few seconds, Lily jumped down from the railing and signaled the group to proceed.

Sandro instinctively moved to the front, leading the way onto Waterloo Bridge, while Dunn and Lily brought up the rear.

***

Inside the hall of Embankment Station, Liu Shiqin stood, gazing at the scattered wrappers of compressed biscuits on the floor. She felt a surge of hope; the bright, new wrappers stood out in the environment, and some were identical to those Lily had given her.

She had reason to believe someone from Lily’s orphanage had been here in the past few days.

Yet she still hadn’t found a map, leaving her with a strong sense of defeat.

The roars and commotion of supernatural creatures further north kept her from searching that way, so she moved east and south along the streets, arriving at Embankment Station. Now, she felt she had made the right choice.

Suddenly, she caught sight of a can of chocolate.

Chocolate... chocolate!

Liu Shiqin adored chocolate—loved it deeply, passionately. Having gone hungry for hours, she lunged at the can.

She didn’t pause to consider why the chocolate remained untouched.

If Dunn were beside her, he would have quietly waited for her to grab the chocolate, then simply smiled.

Minutes later, Liu Shiqin wandered across the railway bridge from Embankment to Waterloo Station, crossing the Thames, feeling utterly dejected and cursing whoever had left that can of chocolate—now nothing but powder—there.

***

“Achoo...” Dunn, walking beside Lily, sneezed for no apparent reason.

Lily glanced at him in surprise, her eyes questioning.

“I don’t know, my nose just suddenly tickled...” Dunn rubbed his nose and explained.