"There's still some time, Miya, shall we go for a stroll down Sweet-Scent Street? There are many beautiful dresses there," Ài'ěršā said. "Many are designed by people from the world above."
"Mm, I'll go with you," Miya nodded.
The carriage entered the main city area, and Xǔ Mò could see steel castles standing in various places in the distance. He hadn't expected such luxurious architecture in the underground world, and he once again scoffed at the original owner's knowledge of this place.
Arriving at Sweet-Scent Street, the shops on both sides of the road were dazzling. Many shops had unique decorations, which opened Xǔ Mò's eyes. This was a completely different style from his original world.
The group got off the carriage. Ài'ěršā pulled Miya into the shops to pick out pretty dresses.
When they were browsing, Miya would take Mòr with her into the shops, while Xǔ Mò waited outside.
After visiting quite a few shops, Ài'ěršā bought several items, but Miya still held Mòr's hand, her other hand empty.
"Miya, so many beautiful dresses suit you, it's a shame not to buy any," Ài'ěršā said as she and Miya walked in front of Xǔ Mò.
"It's too expensive here, and I have quite a few clothes at home," Miya said dismissively.
"Huh?" At this moment, Miya stopped, looking at a children's clothing store next to them. Inside, it was very dreamy.
"So beautiful." Miya's eyes lit up a little, and she pulled Mòr inside. "Let's try some on."
Ài'ěršā froze. Before, she had asked Miya to try on clothes herself, but Miya never did. Now, she was taking Mòr to try them on.
She stomped her foot in anger and didn't go in, just stood outside watching.
Xǔ Mò felt like laughing when he saw this. He didn't mind Ài'ěršā's little thoughts, as long as she had no ill intentions.
As for class consciousness, who didn't have it? Not everyone was as 'silly' as Miya.
"Xǔ Mò, come quickly and see, is this one pretty?" Miya had already changed Mòr into a new dress and called out to Xǔ Mò outside.
"It's beautiful." Xǔ Mò smiled when he saw Mòr happily spinning around.
"Brother, can I wear it?" Mòr asked Xǔ Mò.
"Mm, as long as Mòr likes it," Xǔ Mò nodded. Ài'ěršā glanced at Xǔ Mò, then at Miya, and sighed inwardly.
The cheapest dress on Sweet-Scent Street cost at least dozens of Federal Currency. Buying just two items would be equivalent to a month's wages for an ordinary servant. Miya was stingy with herself but picked out a dress for the servant's younger sister. Ài'ěršā could only sigh at how foolish Miya was!
ps: What do you think the underground world is like?
Chapter Fifteen: A Magic Show
After picking out a dress for Mòr, Miya still didn't buy anything for herself. Instead, she chose two outfits for Xǔ Mò.
Although Miya paid secretly, she couldn't hide it from Xǔ Mò. He got two outfits each for himself and Mòr, totaling one hundred and forty-five Federal Currency. Even for Miya, it was a considerable expense. Xǔ Mò could feel that Miya was a bit pained when she paid, but she didn't hesitate. She herself was reluctant to buy anything.
After buying the clothes, the group continued on their way.
On the carriage, Ài'ěršā looked displeased as she watched Miya happily chatting all the way.
"Ài'ěršā, is that the City-State Grand Theater? Have you ever been there?" Miya pointed to a building in the distance.
"I have," Ài'ěršā replied irritably. Without her previous enthusiasm, she was very angry. Miya hadn't bought anything for herself on their trip to Sweet-Scent Street, but had spent a lot on the servant.
But this was Miya's private matter, and she couldn't say much. It was just that her mindset couldn't comprehend Miya's actions.
"I heard a ticket costs dozens of Federal Currency. I must go see it if I get the chance," Miya said with longing. When Ài'ěršā heard this, she became even more depressed. "You've already spent the cost of several tickets just now," she said unhappily.
"That's different," Miya said with a smile. Although she felt a bit of pain, she was still happy.
Xǔ Mò thought to himself, if Miya were in his previous life and in a romantic relationship, she would be the type to foolishly give her all, easily getting taken advantage of.
In fact, like Ài'ěršā, he didn't agree with Miya's actions. However, in this barbaric underground world, such 'kindness' was extremely precious.
"Miss Miya, what is that place?" Xǔ Mò looked in a certain direction in the distance. There stood a huge, circular building that required climbing many steps. Even from afar, its magnificent outline could be seen.
"That's the very center of the main city area, the Arena," Miya replied. "However, I don't like it there."
"I don't like it either, but it's the most popular place in the main city," Ài'ěršā said, also looking towards it.
"Arena," Xǔ Mò murmured. Was it similar to the stadiums of his previous life?
The carriage passed through a square and entered another street. This street was a bit narrower, but vehicles and pedestrians were flowing continuously.
"There are so many people there." Miya looked at a spot by the side of the street ahead. A crowd had gathered, almost blocking the road. It would be inconvenient for the carriage to pass.
"Cooper, slow down," Ài'ěršā said to the coachman. She herself stood up and looked into the crowd.
"Miya, look quickly! It's a magician performing!" Ài'ěršā exclaimed with some surprise.
"Really?" Miya stood up, holding Mòr. At her age, she was curious about magical illusions.
"Xǔ Mò, it's really a magic show, you should watch too," Miya said, looking down at Xǔ Mò.
Xǔ Mò wasn't very interested. He knew that magic was just sleight of hand. When the mystery of a seemingly profound magic trick was revealed, you would feel insulted.
However, Xǔ Mò still stood up and looked into the crowd. In the center of the crowd was a small performance area extending from the shopfronts. A magician was currently spitting fire, eliciting cheers.
"Brother, how can he breathe fire?" Mòr exclaimed excitedly.
Xǔ Mò saw that before breathing fire, the performer took a sip of water and then sprayed it into the air. It was likely a liquid similar to alcohol. As for the flame... Xǔ Mò sensed it carefully, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
"Energy!"
He keenly sensed a faint trace of energy, which he often felt when practicing his breathing technique. The energy was weak, but it was enough to produce a flame. Combined with a liquid similar to alcohol, it created the effect of spitting fire.
"How did he do that?" Miya asked, also a little curious.
The carriage reached the outer edge of the crowd. The magician's assistant brought out a large box and placed it on the ground. A woman lay inside, and then the box was locked.
Xǔ Mò observed the magician. He wore a mask and remained silent, performing only with physical gestures. Even his assistants wore masks.
After a moment, when the box was opened again, it was empty. The surrounding crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause.
The magician pointed upwards with a finger. The crowd looked up and saw the woman from before waving at them.
"That's amazing!" Ài'ěršā marveled. Miya and Mòr also clapped happily.
Xǔ Mò saw through the disguise under the mask. The same mask, the same costume, even similar body shapes, but the faces under the masks were not the same.
Not one person!
He knew that such tricks involved hidden mechanisms and secret passages for transfer, but this performer had used a double directly. It was an incomplete trick, but even so, there must have been a hidden mechanism under the box allowing the woman inside to disappear. However, Xǔ Mò's eyes couldn't penetrate the secret passage.
A magician's assistant faced the crowd and said, "The magician would like to invite a few children to personally experience the magic show. Are there any children willing to feel the magic?"
There were many parents with children in the crowd. Some were eager.
"Mom, I want to go!" a little girl said.
"I want to go too!" Others followed suit, and soon several children were brought up to the steps.
"Is there anyone else? We can divide into groups." The magician's assistant continued. He glanced at the crowd and saw Mòr in Miya's arms. He smiled and bowed, "Beautiful lady, would this little princess be willing to experience it?"
"Ah..." Miya was stunned and hesitated. Mòr also seemed interested in going, but Xǔ Mò's expression was extremely serious at this moment.
"No," Xǔ Mò said directly. He felt a chill at this moment. The smile under the mask seemed ferocious, and there were blades hidden on his person. Combined with the fact that a double was used in the previous trick, it was clear that if one fell into a hidden passage, they couldn't come out from above. Otherwise, there would be no need to use a double.
Therefore, the passage would lead to another place, meaning that if someone went in, they might not come back!
Miya heard Xǔ Mò's stern words and was stunned. She then shook her head and refused, "No, thank you."
The other party put his hand on his chest and bowed. His gaze swept over Xǔ Mò. The eyes under the mask were very cold. Then, he ignored them and carried the participating children into the box.
Xǔ Mò stared at them. His gaze changed. He released his mental power to its maximum, looking extremely serious. These people might be a criminal gang, using magic shows to lure people into a trap.
"Xǔ Mò, what's wrong?" Miya asked Xǔ Mò.
"Miss Miya, I noticed earlier that the woman who entered the box and the woman who appeared above had different nail lengths," Xǔ Mò said. "That was a double."
Miya was surprised. "Where is she then?"
"There should be a hidden passage under the box and the floor. She fell down," Xǔ Mò continued.
"Then what's their intention in letting children participate?" Miya asked, confused.
Xǔ Mò turned to Miya and said, "I've heard stories before about kidnapping children during magic shows. These people are all wearing masks, and no one knows who they are."
"Ah..." Miya exclaimed, her face showing anxiety. "What should we do?"
Their conversation was drowned out by the surrounding noise, and no one else heard them.
"What nonsense are you talking about? This is the main city area of the underground world, with law enforcement teams patrolling everywhere. The security is excellent. Do you think this is the Black Market?" Ài'ěršā reprimanded him, clearly thinking Xǔ Mò had gone to the Black Market too often to be making such wild speculations.
Xǔ Mò glanced at Ài'ěršā with a blank expression. Seeing his gaze, Ài'ěršā got angry. Looking at the stage, she said, "The performance is about to start, you wait and see clearly."
Xǔ Mò also stared at the magician, ignoring Ài'ěršā. He had experienced many surreal situations before, let alone in this underground world.
The box prepared for the magic show was large. Several children excitedly climbed into it. They were all smiling brightly as they entered, seemingly anticipating what would happen.
Xǔ Mò looked at their smiling faces, unaware of what they were about to face. And for now, there was nothing he could do. Ài'ěršā wouldn't believe him, and neither would strangers.
The moment the box closed, Xǔ Mò's heart skipped a beat.
The magician began his exaggerated performance. Just then, the bottom of the box opened, and a trapdoor appeared in the ground. Xǔ Mò heard the muffled cries of children, but they were gone in an instant.
"There are people below! The mechanism was activated from underground!" Xǔ Mò stared at the magician. When the box was opened, it was empty. Everyone had disappeared.
The crowd looked up, and there was no one there either.
"Next, we will appear with the children. Please witness the miracle together," the magician's assistant said. He opened the box and prepared to enter with the magician. The surrounding crowd cheered enthusiastically, and even Ài'ěršā seemed excited, perhaps anticipating the upcoming miracle.
Xǔ Mò's expression changed. They were about to escape.
"There's no time!"
Xǔ Mò saw the box had been opened and shouted, "A bunch of liars! The woman who entered the box and the one above have different nail lengths. They aren't the same person!"
Xǔ Mò's voice was loud, and many people around looked at him. Even Miya and Ài'ěršā were looking at Xǔ Mò in front of them. What was he going to do?
"You're mistaken," the magician's assistant glanced at Xǔ Mò, then ignored him and continued towards the box. The people around were also unfazed.
"I suspect there's a mechanism under the box. Be careful, they might be kidnapping children," Xǔ Mò continued. The people around immediately started whispering. The children's parents couldn't sit still and rushed forward. Someone said, "We're not participating anymore. Give me back my child."
The crowd began to stir. The magicians and their companions, their faces grim under their masks, found it difficult to leave now that they had been exposed.
"There's no need to listen to this child's nonsense. They will naturally appear above after the magic show ends," the magician's assistant said, trying to control his emotions.
"No, I want to see my child right now!"
"That's right, magician, make them appear."
Concerned about their children's safety, how could they not be anxious? Even if Xǔ Mò was talking nonsense, they needed to see the outcome.
"Everyone, please step back first," the magician's assistant stepped forward to push people away.
"What are you doing?"
"Could he be telling the truth? Magician, hand over the children quickly."
There were also voices from below chanting, "That's right, hand them over quickly!" The crowd became chaotic and was developing in an uncontrollable direction.
Seeing the crowd surging forward, the magician waved his hand. With a 'boom,' a wave of heat washed over them, and flames forced everyone back. One person even had his hair singed, and he frantically extinguished it with his hands.
"Catch them!" someone shouted loudly. The children's parents madly charged forward.
"Be careful!" Xǔ Mò shouted. The magician's assistant who had spoken earlier suddenly produced a dagger and stabbed one person directly in the abdomen. A scream rang out, and everyone instantly retreated in fear.
"They're killing people! Quickly notify the law enforcement team!" Chaos erupted.
Miya and Ài'ěršā were also terrified. Miya hugged Mòr's head and sat in the carriage. People were running around in panic, scaring the horse into restlessly fidgeting.
Xǔ Mò stared at the scene, releasing his mental power, his gaze fixed ahead. When the magician was being apprehended, he spat out flames, forcing people back, but the children's parents still charged forward.
The magician sprinkled more liquid, and flames erupted. But this time, the flames inexplicably turned towards him, and the fire intensified.
A terrifying wave of fire engulfed him. He screamed in agony as he rolled on the ground. His companions glanced at him and fled backward without trying to save him. The fire grew larger and larger, consuming the magician's body, making him writhe in pain.
"Quickly smash the floor!" Xǔ Mò shouted again after controlling the flames. The children's parents had lifted the box and, hearing Xǔ Mò's reminder, smashed it against the ground. Indeed, it was hollow underneath, and a hole was quickly broken.
Xǔ Mò's senses immediately invaded. The people below seemed to have just realized that something had happened above and began to escape through the passage.
Some parents of the children jumped directly into the passage, shouting their children's names.
Seeing this, Xǔ Mò felt a little relieved. But at this moment, the magician's assistant with the dagger suddenly dashed towards him, weaving through the panicked crowd.
"Xǔ Mò!" Miya shouted in alarm. Xǔ Mò stared at the approaching figure. As the dagger was thrust at him, he dodged sideways, kicked out from the carriage, forcing the attacker back. At the same time, the coachman, Cooper, launched a kick, hitting the attacker directly in the head and knocking him to the ground. However, he didn't move away, instead shielding Ài'ěršā.
The attacker got up, turned, and fled.
Ài'ěršā and Miya were still in shock, their hearts pounding.
"Miss Ài'ěršā, the law enforcement team should arrive soon and control the situation, right?" Xǔ Mò asked Ài'ěršā.
"Huh?" Ài'ěršā was stunned. She looked at Xǔ Mò with a complicated expression. She had just accused him of talking nonsense, but it turned out he was right about the human traffickers. If not for Xǔ Mò, they would have succeeded.
"Mm, there are many patrols in this area of the main city, and the security is relatively good. They should arrive soon after hearing about the situation," Ài'ěršā nodded. "I can't believe people would commit crimes so brazenly. It's despicable."
"Then they shouldn't be able to escape. Let's leave," Xǔ Mò said. He could only do so much; it wasn't convenient for him to act directly.
The crowd had dispersed, and the carriage could pass. The coachman, Cooper, urged the horse forward.
"Xǔ Mò, you are too daring."
As the carriage left the scene, Miya said, feeling a lingering fear. Fortunately, nothing had happened. But if it were her, she would have done the same.
Besides the fright, there was also surprise. Xǔ Mò was truly brave.
Ài'ěršā also looked at Xǔ Mò, her gaze complex.
"I misunderstood you just now," Ài'ěršā said to Xǔ Mò. However, it was just a few simple words, not an apology. For her, apologizing to a servant was still difficult, hard to overcome psychologically, even though she also admired Xǔ Mò's courage.
Xǔ Mò turned his head and asked, "Miss Ài'ěršā, are you speaking to me?"
"Mm," Ài'ěršā nodded, but shifted her gaze elsewhere.
"It's fine," Xǔ Mò said indifferently, not expecting Ài'ěršā to set aside her noble pride.
No one spoke on the carriage. A brief silence ensued. They turned a corner and moved forward. The surroundings gradually opened up. Ahead stood a magnificent building. Ài'ěršā looked towards it and said softly, "We're here."
The carriage drove into the church area.
The pure white building symbolized immaculate purity. White doves perched on it, and clear music drifted from within, creating a sense of tranquility. Besides them, many other carriages had also arrived.
"Ài'ěršā," a figure called out from another carriage.
"Susie," Ài'ěršā saw the person and waved. She then introduced to Miya, "That's Susie. She shared about Wind Valley with her friends at a concert."
"Mm," Miya replied, looking at Susie and nodding with a smile.
Susie saw her too but shifted her gaze away after a glance, not interacting.
The group parked their vehicle in front of the church. Xǔ Mò seemed to recall something and said to Miya, "Miss Miya, you all go in first. I'll go back and take a look."
"Where are you going?" Miya asked, becoming nervous upon hearing Xǔ Mò's words.