The towering roofs of Himfast's characteristic buildings block the storm wind, and the sound of horse hooves can be faintly heard in the heavy rain.
In the Champs Elysées neighborhood, the white buildings were dim under the heavy rain.
The carriage stopped in front of a restaurant that was still open. Lu Li handed the poncho to Qiao Qiao, along with 300 shillings: "Go buy meals for tonight and tomorrow morning, and buy some food that is easy to carry."
Needless to say, Qiao Qiao knows what to do.
"I brought money, all my wealth." Qiaoqiao took the poncho, ignored the shillings, patted his pocket and said, "What do you want to eat?"
"meat."
"learn."
Qiao Qiao put on her poncho and pushed open the carriage door. The cold and moist air hit her face. She rubbed her arms and jumped out of the carriage, splashing a pool of water.
"After purchasing, come to us at No. 66."
Lu Li's calm voice came from behind.
The restaurant is at No. 12, just over two hundred meters away.
Qiaoqiao waved her hand without looking back, and pushed open the door of the restaurant with the bright electric light in the window. Behind her, the carriage slowly drove away from the door of the restaurant.
The carriage stopped in front of No. 66 in the Champs Elysées district.
The lights on the first floor were turned off, and there was only the dim light from the electric lights in the bedroom on the second floor.
Lu Li reached for the poncho, thought of something, retracted his hand, picked up the suitcase and backpack, and got out of the carriage. The painful rainstorm that hit his body was separated by an invisible presence above Lu Li's head, sliding down from both sides, as if there was a handful above his head.
Invisible umbrellas provide shelter from wind and rain.
Lu Li walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. Soon, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs was heard from inside the house.
"Who is it?" Aunt Mary asked in a gentle voice.
"Anna and Lu Li." Lu Li answered.
The footsteps behind the door became more urgent, and the door was quickly opened.
Aunt Mary behind the door was wearing a milky white silk nightgown with a look of surprise on her face. She stood up on tiptoes and hugged Lu Li gently. She asked in surprise: "Oh my God, why did you come here?"
"Passing by here."
"Come in quickly." Aunt Mary looked outside and quickly moved out of the way.
After closing the door, Aunt Mary entered the living room, turned on the light, and soft light poured out.
"Where is Anna?" Mary asked, looking around.
Under the dim light of the electric light, Anna's illusory soul appeared and whispered: "Aunt Mary."
Aunt Mary's eyes became gentle. She noticed something in Anna's eyes and said softly: "You have grown up too..."
She turned back to Lu Li and said, "You came directly from Belfast? Have you had dinner?"
"Qiaoqiao went to buy it."
Aunt Mary nodded, remembered something and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Shadow Town."
"Shadow Town..." Aunt Mary frowned. "Is it the town next to Shadow Swamp? Isn't it missing..."
"So we're going."
Aunt Mary nodded thoughtfully: "Be safe, is there anything I can do to help you?"
"No."
"You have to drink something to warm yourself up." Aunt Mary smiled, gently pulled Anna to sit on the sofa, and then walked into the kitchen to prepare coffee.
Lu Li sat down next to Anna, the sofa sank, and Anna leaned lightly on his shoulder.
Anna had the illusion that she had a body, otherwise where would the beating in her chest come from, and she controlled herself not to snicker.
Lu Li looked around the room. Aunt Mary's house had changed a lot compared to the last time he came there. Those personal belongings were gone, and the house was as clean as if he had just moved into it.
"Do you want to leave here?" Lu Li asked.
Aunt Mary returned to the living room with two cups of coffee, and handed one to Lu Li.
"I plan to go to the Lennon Islands." Aunt Mary looked at Anna, who was leaning against Lu Li, and smiled knowingly.
"My exorcist friend told me that the refuge will only be for nobles, exorcists and their families. I am not qualified to enter. However, there are very few weird things in the Lennon Islands and it is very safe there."
"She told you the Lennon Islands were safe?"
"Well, she said that many people are considering moving there after the storm passes." Aunt Mary sighed. "If the surroundings weren't getting worse day by day, who would be willing to leave their home."
It takes at least one to two weeks to get to the Lennon Islands from Rodster Port. Even if the current large cruise ships are relatively comfortable, life on board for nearly half a month will be very difficult.
It seems that the news about the safety of the Lennon Islands was probably spread by the three major organizations.
Do they think other places are no longer suitable for human survival?
It's a pity that the phone line was disconnected due to the storm, otherwise Lu Li could have called Tesla to inquire.
"What about you? Do you want to stay on the Allen Peninsula?" Aunt Mary suddenly asked, her tone full of hope: "We can take a boat to settle there together."
Lu Li thought quietly.
As the world slowly reveals the truth, the refuge on the top of the cliff seems to be no longer safe. Now, an archipelago far away from the whirlpool suddenly appears, which is very tempting to Lu Li.
But Lu Li needed to find out if this was true or not first.
After thinking about it, he answered Aunt Mary: "I will confirm the news when I come back. If it is true... we can go to the Lennon Islands. If we don't come back, you can make your own decision."
Aunt Mary frowned: "Is Shadow Town so dangerous..."
"Be prepared for the worst."
The atmosphere became a little tense, but then Aunt Mary asked Lu Li and Anna some questions like an elder, and the atmosphere relaxed again.
At a certain moment, when Aunt Mary was asking about Annie's situation, Lu Li suddenly said: "Qiao Qiao hasn't come back yet."
"That friend of yours?" Aunt Mary looked out the window. No pedestrians could be seen under the dim street lights. "Where did he buy food?"
"She went to No. 12 down the block."
"Huntley's delicious fried steak?" Aunt Mary asked, and after receiving confirmation, she murmured: "Little Huntley's usually cooks it in half an hour, but now it's been... forty-five minutes."
"Is there anything weird happening in Himfast recently?" Lu Li asked as he stood up, Anna almost fell on the sofa next to him.
"Weird...there are indeed some rumors." Aunt Mary remembered something. "Recently, there is a ghost who died in vain in the dark alleys. She will beg people passing by to save him, but whether it is to escape or help, she will drag people in
Alley."
"It's the resentful spirit." Anna looked at Lu Li.
Lu Li walked towards the suitcase placed in the entrance hall, put it on the dining table and unbuttoned it.
Three neatly arranged flintlock muskets lay quietly in the box.
Lu Li took them out one by one, put them into his holster, and hung them on his waist and thighs.
"You and I will go find her." Aunt Mary was going to get the women's coat on the hanger.
"You stay."
Bang.
The suitcase closed, revealing a pair of calm black eyes.