Chapter 15: Magic Show
Mia chose a skirt for Yaoer but still didn't buy anything for herself and instead picked out two pieces of clothing for Xu Mo.
Even though Mia paid secretly, Xu Mo noticed. He and Yaoer each got two new items of clothing, totaling one hundred forty-five Federation coins. This was a significant expense for Mia. Xu Mo could sense that she felt a bit of heartache while paying, but she didn't hesitate and refrained from buying anything for herself.
After buying the clothes, they continued on their way.
In the carriage, Elsa looked at Mia's joyous expression throughout the trip with disdain.
"Elsa, is that the City State Grand Theater? Have you ever been there?" Mia pointed to a building in the distance.
"Yes, I have." Elsa replied grumpily, lacking her earlier enthusiasm. She was angry because Mia did not buy anything for herself on this trip to Xiangshe Street but spent quite a bit on her servants.
But this was Mia's personal business, and Elsa felt it wasn't her place to say anything, even though she couldn't understand Mia's behavior.
"I heard that a ticket costs tens of Federation coins. If there's a chance, I definitely want to see it." Mia said with some longing. Elsa heard her words and felt even more annoyed, responding, "You just spent the equivalent of several tickets."
"It's not the same." Mia said with a smile. Though it pained her a bit, she was still happy.
Xu Mo thought that if Mia were born in his previous life, she would be the type to give foolishly in a relationship, easy to take advantage of.
In fact, he shared Elsa's disapproval of Mia's behavior. But in this brutal Underworld, this kind of "kindness" was extremely precious.
"Miss Mia, what's that place?" Xu Mo looked into the distance at a massive circular building, requiring one to climb tall steps. Even from afar, its majestic outline was visible.
"That is the center of the main district, the Arena," Mia responded. "However, I don't like it there."
"I don't like it either, but it's the most popular place in the main district." Elsa said, also looking in that direction.
"The Arena." Xu Mo murmured, wondering if it was similar to sports arenas from his previous life.
The carriage passed by a square and entered another street, which was narrower but bustling with vehicles and pedestrians.
"There are so many people there." Mia looked at a spot by the roadside ahead, congested with a crowd making it almost impossible for the carriage to pass easily.
"Cooper, slow down." Elsa told the coachman and stood up to look into the crowd.
"Mia, look quickly. It's a magic show!" Elsa said with some excitement.
"Really?" Mia stood up, holding Yaoer. At her age, she was curious about the wonders of magic.
"Xu Mo, it's really a magic show. You should take a look too." Mia said to Xu Mo.
Xu Mo wasn't particularly interested. He knew magic was just an illusion; those mysterious performances often felt insulting to one's intelligence once the secrets were revealed.
But he still stood up to look. In the center of the crowd, there was a small performance area extending from the roadside. A magician was performing, spitting fire to the cheers of the audience.
"Brother, how does he spit fire?" Yaoer asked excitedly.
Xu Mo saw that, before spitting fire, the magician took a sip of liquid and sprayed it into the air. It should be a liquid similar to alcohol. As for the flame... Xu Mo sensed it carefully and noticed something peculiar.
"Energy!"
He keenly felt a weak energy, similar to what he sensed during his cultivation of Breathing Technique. Although weak, it was enough to generate a flame. Combined with the alcohol-like liquid, it created the fire-spitting illusion.
"How is it done?" Mia asked, intrigued.
As the carriage moved to the perimeter of the crowd, the magician's assistant brought out a large box and placed it on the ground. A woman lay inside and the box was locked tight.
Xu Mo scrutinized the magician, who wore a mask and performed silently with only body movements. Even his assistants wore masks.
After a while, the box was reopened, and it was empty. The crowd burst into applause.
The magician pointed upward, and the audience looked up to see the woman from the box waving at them.
"Amazing." Elsa exclaimed. Mia and Yaoer clapped happily.
Xu Mo saw through the magician's disguise. The same mask, costume, and similar body type, but a different face behind the mask.
It wasn't the same person!
He knew such magic often involved hidden mechanisms or passages, but this one used a double, making it an incomplete trick. Even so, the box must have had hidden mechanisms to drop the woman. However, Xu Mo's eyes couldn't penetrate the hidden passage.
Facing the crowd, one of the magician's assistants spoke, "The magician wishes to invite a few children to experience the magic firsthand. Are there any children who would like to feel the wonder of magic?"
Many parents in the crowd brought their children, and some were eager to participate.
"Mom, I want to go." A little girl said.
"I want to go too." More children began to speak, and several were soon brought onto the stage.