Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 512 - 8 Welcome to Giant Lake
Li Yan didn’t come up with the idea on a whim. It had formed in his mind after he revived the soul of the Black Rider Ghost.
With Magic Motion Technology embodied within him, he had an advantage in transforming machinery.
Be it the bizarre Daqian Fruits or the hidden dragons and crouching tigers among the wandering folk, many were known for their strange mechanical creations or otherworldly technical skills. Taking the initiative to build a new mechanical body for the Black Rider Ghost offered far greater chances than blindly searching for the corpses of powerful beings, akin to a blind cat killing a rat by chance.
This might be a new beginning for the Black Rider Ghost...
"About that Tri-Orb Device you were just discussing, I also think there’s something off about it. Earth Endurance warned me not to stare at it for too long. But nothing out of the ordinary happened when Chang and I went to repair it."
Li Yan’s thoughts stirred, "Maybe you don’t meet the criteria."
"What criteria?"
"As if I’d know."
After a pause, Li Yan continued, "Looking at it now, asking Chang Yu for some advice on Magic Motion Technology shouldn’t be difficult. However, I’m quite interested in that Enfield Company."
"It is indeed interesting. You’ll know once you’re in San Francisco. The steam civilization of this fruit does have its tricks."
"Well then," Li Yan said, "Liang Hui has already gotten me the permit to enter the city. Let’s split up. You go pan for gold, and I’ll check out the Black Rose Theatre."
Cha Xiaodao’s eyes flickered as she suddenly recalled the enormous poster on the steam airship during the day - the theater actress named Dorothy Janis. So, pretending to be nonchalant, she said, "How about this, I’ll figure out the gold. Leave Giant Lake at the Black Rose Theatre to me too. I still have some memories of the streets and connections in the city. It’ll be more convenient for me to handle. Once you’re in the city, head to the stock exchange first."
Without changing his expression, Li Yan replied, "But it’s nearly dark, and the stock exchange is long closed. What can I investigate if you send me there now?"
"Oh, some die of drought and some in floods."
Cha Xiaodao rolled her eyes.
Li Yan placed his hand on Cha Xiaodao’s shoulder and said seriously, "I’m going to investigate the secrets of Giant Lake. What kind of person do you take me for?"
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"Giant Lake and Jane" is one of the many fairy tales created by the Black Brothers a century ago, and it’s the most popular one among them, telling the story of "Princess Jane, a princess with an adventurous spirit, who braves the mysterious Giant Lake alone and ultimately defeats the giants with various steam-powered weapons."
Tonight, the Black Rose Theatre’s organizers had invited the girls from Dorothy’s Theater Troupe to perform this rather unoriginal story.
The role of the Steam Princess: Jane, was undoubtedly to be played by San Francisco’s darling, one of the greatest theater actresses of the turn of the century, Dorothy Janis.
This troupe had a long-standing reputation and had held three world tours, currently on their fourth. They were expected to stay in San Francisco for a week, performing the story in five acts.
A hundred years had passed, and the story of Giant Lake and the princess had become all too familiar, yet Dorothy’s performance was uniquely her own, captivating countless followers.
It wasn’t just Dorothy’s stunning beauty that set her apart, but her unique and flawless theater performances, time after time.
Even the harshest critics were astounded by her "Princess Pea," and royalty, accustomed to opulence, were enchanted. "Waltz of the Celts" inspired the masses. Countless people wept for her performances, and her portrayal in "Giant Lake" even led a British princess to resolutely abandon her tedious lessons in ladylike manners and enroll in the Royal University’s engineering school to become a steam engineer.
The most beautiful aloof beauty of the century’s end, that’s how people referred to Dorothy.
At 9:50 PM, gentlemen and ladies in suits entered the theatre in pairs or groups, chatting boisterously. Li Yan, wearing a suit picked out and well-fitted by Zhen Lian, with a tie knotted perfectly, handed his performance ticket to the ticket collector at the door with a beaming smile.
The gloved ticket collector held the ticket high, as if trying to find traces of forgery in the elaborate embossed lettering, until the people behind him became impatient and urged him on. Only then did he return the ticket to Li Yan.
"Apologies for the wait, sir."
The ticket collector bowed slightly, regaining his composure.
"No problem."
Li Yan, seemingly indifferent, stepped forward into the theatre.
A buzz of conversation rose from the sea of red seats. If Cha Xiaodao or Chang Yu were present, they would easily recognize the tall, corpulent figure in the front row as their boss, the former director of Enfield, owner of Cupid Tower, St. Yves.
"Honestly, the last time I heard the story of Giant Lake was on my grandmother’s bed," laughed St. Yves, who wouldn’t be caught dead watching such a play if not for Mayor Michael’s earnest invitation, especially a plebeian show like "Giant Lake."
The ordinary citizens eagerly awaited a noble, passionate princess who cherished freedom and equality to fill their restless and empty daydreams—a princess that His Excellency St. Yves certainly does not need!
"Dorothy is one of a kind,"
The elderly mayor’s face glowed with warmth.
"Last year in Paris, I had the privilege of seeing Miss Dorothy’s performance in ’The Red Maiden.’ You can’t imagine her soul-stirring beauty, as if the Ranger Red Maiden from the fairy tales was standing right before my eyes, come to life. I felt as though I’d shed decades, it was not just theater, it was a dreamy world."
"No matter how good the performance, the story remains the same, and I really can’t muster any enthusiasm for it."
"You’re hopelessly out of date, Your Excellency. Everyone knows that with Dorothy’s plays, the same script never repeats itself twice. Even a minor character that’s briefly mentioned can become a protagonist."
"Old wine in a new bottle? Fine, fine, I’ll wait and see,"
said St. Yves languidly.
At that moment, a young woman wearing a gypsy hat, showing off her long legs, approached them.
"Good evening, Mayor, good evening, Your Excellency St. Yves. These are your cards."
The girl handed over cards with a brief identity description to both men.
One was for a blacksmith, belonging to Mayor Michael. The other was for a noble knight, belonging to St. Yves.
"This is unique to Dorothy’s Theater Troupe, to help you immerse yourself better. Put them on quickly; you might just become the protagonist of this play." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
The mayor said, without hesitation, pinning the nameplate on his chest.
St. Yves pursed his lips but did the same.
The girl flitted through the crowd like a butterfly among flowers and soon arrived in front of Li Yan.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Liang Hui?"
she asked.
"Yes."
Since purchasing tickets for the Black Rose Theatre required real names, and the ticket was bought under Liang Hui’s name, Li Yan was not surprised.
"This is your card. Please take care of it."
Li Yan took it and saw "Chinese apprentice at a clock shop" written on it.
He smiled, pocketing the card.
Suddenly, some unfriendly whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Why are Chinese people also watching a play?"
"I bet he doesn’t understand English."
"Could it be that I—"
"What’s his card identity, the evil Fu Manchu?"
"Shh, the play is starting."
Amidst the snickers, the curtain pulled back to reveal a disabled person on stage, only an upper body with both arms and legs amputated. He wore a green jacket, his messy brown hair visible, and under the lamplight, his skin was pale and sickly.
In the ensuing silence, the shocking figure of the disabled person spoke, his voice carrying an alluring magnetism.
"In a distant antique land, I once saw a beautiful princess wielding a break-action shotgun. She had traveled through countless countries in search of the legendary lake where giants dwelled..."
Li Yan suddenly widened his eyes. The moment the strange disabled person began to speak, "Resistance Vanguard" reacted instinctively. He was overcome by an indescribable sensation as various distorted clocks swam before his eyes and the space rippled like waves. He tried to fight it subconsciously, but in a flash, he graciously accepted it.
