No, but the investigation must start somewhere.

He really didn’t want to know what a rag-tag bunch of crazies with too much money thought about him. However he did have to start somewhere and it might give him a rough idea who was looking into him. “Yeah, let’s do it.” He said and they re-adjusted to both be able to look at the screen more easily.

Neonlights has entered the channel

Neonlights: Howdy~

“Really? Howdy?” John asked. “Shaddup I am the one writing so I get to pick the lines.” Rave stuck out her tongue but kissed him on the cheek afterwards. That did lift his mood considerably. “Are you the only one on the channel?” “Nope, he is just blocking my viewing rights right now. They can see what I typed but I can’t see them or their answers.”

SecretBlonde: Hello. Not to seem rude or anything but I need to confirm your validity to be here. Tell me which of the premium members you are on the Auction site, otherwise I have to ban you for safety reasons.

Neonlights: It’s Rave.

Neonlights Username was changed to Rave.

Rave was granted the ‘member’ status.

Announcer: Welcome to ‘The Gamer Discussion Thread’ Happy to have you, Rave.

GrimPatron: Greetings, Rave.

Princess_of_Steel: Salutations.

SecretBlonde: Hello Properly~

KingGravity: Ah, another sheep joins the herd.

Minerva: An enlightened day I wish you.

Blood: Greetings, Comrade.

TorchCarrier: What @Minerva said.

Anathema: Omnessiah bless you…I hope anyone got that.

“I did!” John said despite knowing nobody could hear him. “Those don’t look so bad.” He quickly added. “I know at least one of those people.” Rave said and her voice was completely shaken “Really, whom?” John asked. Rave pointed at the sidebar where the members list resided. One name was missing from that introduction sequence right now. “Romulus…as in the guy who founded Rome? Interesting nickname.” “It is no nickname.” Rave was starring at the name with complete disbelief. “Romulus is the god-leader of the Italian seat of the Ten Gates ‘Pax Romana’.” She gulped audibly. “He is the strongest singular being in the Abyss. The Apex.”

John’s mouth hanged open after hearing that bit of information and they both just stared at the name on the screen when a private chat opened.

Romulus: I am only here to watch, Gamer. Don’t expect any answers from me.

Rave took her shaking hands of the keyboard. “This is…wow….” She exhaled. “Okay, let’s just stick to reading for the moment, I need to get that out of my system.”

Anathema: You guys think that the Gamer himself is also here?

Princess_of_Steel: A smart person would be. My personal guess is that it is you, Anathema.

Anathema: WOW! Just because I said Omnessiah?

KingGravity: A quick google search reveals that that is some fucking nerdy crap so yeah, you are on the top spot.

Princess_of_Steel: Such language is unbecoming of nobility, Maximillian.

KingGravity: Blurting my identity out just like that?! Are you having a bad day LYDIA AUGUSTA VON HOHENZOLLERN?

Princess_of_Steel: *Lydia Augusta IV von Hohenzollern, do it right. Also, Yes. I’d much rather take care of finances right now. Instead I have to hang out here just to keep track of what you are up to, “King” of Vienna.

KingGravity: You could just marry me and this whole dumb rivalry between us would be done. I’d fuck you right up the arse the way you like it every night. You might be unbearable but you got a nice body.

Princess_of_Steel: A laughable proposal. Don’t waste my time in such a manner.

GrimPatron: HAH, you two are funny. That alone was worth spending the money. Also, everybody knew who you two are, pretty hard not to. :D

“Who are they?” John asked with confusion. He knew the Hohenzoller dynasty and that they were the rulers of Prussia and the second German Empire thanks to videogames but otherwise he had no clue. “Ehm, I know that Lydia is the Heiress of Brandenburg and the granddaughter of the current ruler of Rex Germaniae so that KingGravity guy is probably that guy that is her main rival in the elections once the old Kaiser dies. You REALLY got some high-profile people here.”

GrimPatron: Well, even though nobody will be able to witness the truth of this, I am Olaf Strongliver. Just fair to tell you.

John looked at Rave. She shook her head. “No clue who that is.”

Anathema: If I tell you that I am a High Fateweaver you won’t believe me anyway, so why bother…

SecretBlonde: I am afraid you just did, lol. Also, I won’t give away my identity for obvious reason. ^^

Blood: It doesn’t matter who I am. I am just one of us.

TorchCarrier: And I’d much rather you and your toxic ideology would go away.

Minerva: Indeed.

Blood: Comrades, I am disheartened by your twisted world view. We are only fighting for equality.

Minerva: @TorchCarrier, Let’s just ignore the guy. Arguing with these people never gets us anywhere.

TorchCarrier: I agree, my friend. From your name I take it that you are with the French?

Minerva: Oui. I take it you are Greek? It is great to find another seeker of knowledge in these pits.

TorchCarrier: Indeed.

Blood: Well, if you two cannot see the error of your way you will be purged when our time comes again. We might be weaker than we were fifty years ago but we are stronger than we were ten years ago. We will never give up, for our cause is the only just cause and our resolve is undying.

Anathema: Yeah, you could say it is a ghost wandering Europe.

Minerva: LOL

TorchCarrier: Nice one!

Princess_of_Steel: Rather tastefully delivered.

KingGravity: Bwahahaha

GrimPatron: I drink to that joke!

Anathema: Thank you, thank you.

John pulled away from the chat as the debate changed into insults and banter. “Okay, so we got the strongest being in the Abyss, two nobles from Germany and Austria, a guy with a strong liver, a High-Fateweaver, some weird ideological guy and two people who got a hard-on for knowledge as well as the informant.” He concluded that little session. Rave let out a last exasperated breath and nodded. “Yep, this is all pretty…” another private chat opened.

SecretBlonde: Tell your BF he can join the chat too, lol. I’ll give him an exception from the naming rule. :-P

Rave: Creepy Stalker!

SecretBlonde: Naw, don’t hurt my feelings I am just running a business here.

“Unbelievable.” Rave complained, “You gonna take him up on that?” “Probably…does this program exist for mobile?” “It’s Discord, literally, just download the App and then a technomancer at the central will recognize that somebody with powers is on the other end and flip you to the Abyss version.” She explained leaving John shaking his head, “Technomancers seem to be the kings of the Abyss.” “They definitely have an easy time finding jobs.” Rave admitted.

John downloaded Discord and set-up his account. The process wasn’t instant like with the Abyss Auction and they didn’t ask for his true identity or something like that, although he still didn’t require a password so they too would trace his aura as a means of authentication.

Jeehan has joined the chat.

SecretBlonde: Oh wow, you use the same name as on the Auction. Bold.

Jeehan has been granted ‘member’ status.

A flood of welcome messages from the other chatroom participants. John was about to type something sympathetic back when he received a mental call from Aclysia. ‘I require your help with something.’ ‘What is it?’ Aclysia told him causing John to half giggle and half be dumbfounded.

To Rave he said. “You are not going to believe this.”