Kinoshita Yoko clearly had some objections to the Magician's handling of things. "It would be better to have your own people handle these stage effects. Dragging outsiders into this is a bit excessive."
Don't Private Detectives do anything as long as they're paid?
The Magician had originally wanted to say that.
But after seeing Kinoshita Yoko's expression, he changed his story. "Sorry, sorry. I was just extremely uneasy, so I wanted to test the effect—you see, there are so many audience members here. What if Mr. Jiang Xia is reserved and timid, afraid of the stage, and doesn't dare step forward at the crucial moment? Wouldn't I be dead then? Is my life really worth less than him being laughed at by the audience once? Besides, those laughs weren't mockery. They were praise for his courage."
Jiang Xia nodded. "That's true. Inspector Yassa's dignity and mine aren't important. As long as no one gets hurt, that's what matters."
Inspector Yassa: "..." Who said it wasn't important? It was very important!!
The Magician chuckled. "I wasn't lying earlier, either. The second half of the show really will be even more thrilling and exciting than the first. If I make the Help Gesture then, make sure you..."
Before he could finish, the lounge door was suddenly shoved open with force, and a... burly, middle-aged man with shoulder-length hair barged in.
He snapped, "Fuyujo, what nonsense were you making up just now?! You added the Blood Bag to the Steel Spike Bed yourself, didn't you?! This is completely different from the performance script I wrote!"
"Of course it's different from your script, because it's my own script." The Magician looked at him with a graceful smile.
"Your stuff is too bland. Among so many magic performances, nobody would remember it at all. But