The dusk in London's East End always carried the acrid taste of industrial exhaust. The chimneys of Kangdi Biomedical Factory belched grey-black plumes, while the shrieks of steam locomotives intertwined with the roar of textile machinery, weaving an impenetrable web of sound.
Inside the workshop, female workers were boxing up freshly filled medicine vials, their sweat dripping onto the greasy floor. Suddenly, a tremendous boom shook the entire factory—
BOOM!
A fiery orange mushroom cloud erupted from the boiler section. Shards of glass hailed down, and flames raced along the pipes, instantly devouring half the workshop.
"Fire! Run!"
Screams pierced the air as workers scattered like startled birds. Some were pinned under collapsed beams, others choked in the thick smoke, blood staining the grey ashes.
In the laboratory at St. Thomas's Medical School, Lyra was using forceps to handle a tissue sample. The blast from outside made her hand jerk, dropping the specimen onto the tray. She immediately stood, grabbed the emergency medical kit, and ran out. "Professor, there's been an explosion in the East End! I'm going to help!"
Without waiting for a response, she was out the door. Rain had begun to fall, dampening her white coat but doing nothing to quench the distant flames.
Arriving at the factory, she found a scene of devastation. Several workers lay trapped and dying under collapsed brick walls. Ignoring the choking smoke, Lyra knelt to check a victim's pulse. "I need clean cloth! Apply pressure to his wound!"
Her voice was unnervingly calm for a medical student, her fingers swiftly bandaging the injured. A nearby nurse, momentarily stunned, hurriedly passed the gauze. Looking up, Lyra saw a young boy trapped in a mangled machine, his cries faint—without hesitation, she crawled over, used a wrench to pry open a gap in the metal, and pulled the child free.
A black carriage rolled through the puddles, stopping at the factory gates. William Camis pushed the door open, the hem of his black coat sweeping over the ash-covered ground. His face, illuminated by the firelight, looked exceptionally severe, his eyes scanning the chaotic scene like ice picks. "Kalis."
"Sir." Kalis emerged from the shadows, notebook in hand. "Initial assessment points to an explosive device. Located in the boiler room, hidden within the coal pile."
"Seal the perimeter," William's voice held no warmth. "All survivors remain for questioning. Non-essential personnel are to leave immediately."
Several黑衣保镖 moved forward, attempting to disperse the medical personnel. Just as Lyra handed the child to a nurse, a guard blocked her path. "Miss, you need to leave."
"Get out of my way." Lyra's gaze was sharp. "There are still injured people inside. I'm not leaving."
The guard reached for her. Lyra shoved him aside and turned back into the thick smoke.
William observed this, his brow furrowing slightly. He strode in her direction, arriving just as Lyra dragged an injured worker from the wreckage. Her white coat was smeared with grime and blood, her hair dishevelled, yet her eyes held a determined fire.
"Stop." William's voice cut through the air behind her.
Lyra turned, meeting his gaze. The firelight danced in his eyes, his features sharp and imposing. But Lyra didn't back down. "Sir, if you have any conscience, let us save lives. These workers aren't your pawns; they're living human beings."
William stared at her for a few seconds. "Let them continue," he said abruptly.
The guards froze, Kalis looking equally surprised. William offered no explanation, his eyes following Lyra as she resumed treating the wounded. Her movements were skilled and decisive, every detail radiating professionalism—this was not the medical student he had imagined.
"Sir, we found a lead." Kalis approached, speaking quietly. "The explosive wrapping paper was imported from Holland. It bears the insignia of the House of Ignatius."
William's eyes turned instantly icy. "Ignatius... He dares to make a move."
"Shall I arrange a response?" Kalis asked.
"Not yet." William's gaze returned to Lyra, who was now performing CPR on a victim, her chest rising and falling with the effort. "First, ascertain his objective."
Just then, Lyra stood, wiping sweat from her brow. Seeing William still watching her, she walked over. "Sir, these injured need to reach a hospital quickly. Your lockdown is costing them precious time."
William looked into her eyes. They held no fear, only pure concern. He suddenly recalled his words from the previous night—"Lyra Hainault, we will meet soon." So this was Lyra Hainault.
"Kalis." William turned to his aide. "Contact the nearby hospitals. Send for ambulances."
Kalis nodded. "Yes, sir."
Lyra seemed taken aback but said nothing, turning back to her work. William remained, watching her figure disappear again into the smoke. Ash settled on his shoulders, but he did not brush it away.
The rain fell harder, dousing most of the flames. Exhausted, Lyra sat on a stone step near the ruins, struggling to catch her breath. Her white coat was filthy beyond recognition, her hands covered in cuts.
"Miss, some water." A nurse offered a canteen.
Lyra took it and drank. She looked up and saw William standing not far away, speaking with Kalis. His figure seemed peculiarly isolated in the rain, as if set apart from the surrounding chaos.
Suddenly, William started walking towards her. Lyra instinctively tightened her grip on the canteen.
"Lyra Hainault?" William asked.
"Yes," Lyra replied.
"You are brave," William's voice was slightly softer. "St. Thomas's is fortunate to have a student like you."
Lyra was stunned by his words. As she began to form a response, Kalis hurried over. "Sir, the police have arrived."
William nodded, turning to leave. Reaching the carriage, he glanced back at Lyra—she was bent over, wiping a cut on her hand, the rain soaking her hair.
"Remember her," William said to Kalis. "Before we meet again, I want to know everything about her."
Kalis responded, "Understood."
The carriage pulled away, disappearing into the curtain of rain. Lyra watched it go, a strange feeling settling in her chest. She didn't know who that man was, but his gaze, his commands, had left a deep impression.
The ashes cooled slowly in the rain, the air still tinged with the smell of gunpowder. Lyra stood, brushing the dust from her clothes—she knew, from today onward, her life might become very different.
And in the carriage, William tapped his fingers lightly against his knee. He recalled Lyra rescuing people from the rubble, remembered the resolve in her eyes. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. "Lyra Hainault... our story has only just begun."
(End of Chapter)
Next Chapter Preview: Lyra returns to the medical school and realizes she is being followed; William begins investigating Ignatius's background while having Lyra watched. Their destinies are set to intertwine once more in the London night.
Key Scenes:
Meeting in the Ashes: Lyra rescues victims in the explosion wreckage, locking eyes with William for the first time, showcasing her courage and professionalism, and his unexpected acquiescence.
Confrontation in the Firelight: Lyra directly challenges William's order, countering with an appeal to conscience, shattering his preconceptions of medical students and planting the seeds for future emotional development.
Foreshadowing:
Ignatius's first overt move marks the official beginning of William's conflict with the dark society.
William's growing interest in Lyra预示s further intersections between them.
Does the Kangdi factory explosion hide a deeper conspiracy? (Paving the way for subsequent plotlines)