Chapter 17: A breather

Daki and Adora discuss minor plans on how to act while the cakeshop owner prepares their orders, not noticing the familiar faces passing by the shop.

"Did you get it now?" asks Charlotte.

"So, basically, aside from the Rope being a literal place, living on it isn't enough for you to be dragged along up during the rising. You would have to believe in the basics which are that the pilots are merely people sent to this void to convey the message of the rising and by that, you would be fully connected and be able to go up when the pull happens," sums up Neo.

"Yeah, that's it!"

"So that's why there can be non-pilot individuals here, and they still go up when the rising happens after being teleported to the Rope? Oh, and others call them the Rope people?"

"Yup, that's pretty much it. For more details, I advise you ask an actual pilot instead of me though,"

"By the way, one other thing is on my mind. If Kayn is the second strongest, then who is considered the strongest by the people?"

"Honestly, all I know about that is, the strongest pilot disappeared a very long time ago. I don't think anyone has seen or interacted with him in maybe thousands of years. He might be somewhere and some even think he's dead, giving him the title 'The Dead Pilot'," explains Charlotte.

"Dead? What would kill the strongest pilot?" asks Neo, flabbergasted.

"No idea. It's all just rumors with no evidence, anyway,"

"It is surprising that you know the answers to whatever I asked about the Rope though. Are you interested in it?"

"I – . . . actually wait a second, look at the time! We should head to the meeting spot, or we will be late!" exclaims Charlotte, rushing to the meeting location as Neo stands still, his eyes following her. He shakes his head and follows her to the meeting location.

"We are right on time!" says Charlotte, looking around and noticing someone waving at them as they walk closer.

"Hello!" says Adora as she and a masked figure approach them, boxes in both of their hands.

"Hi!" greets Charlotte.

"What games did you guys try out? Oh, I bought some cheesecake for us here!"

"Thanks! We tried out the–"

Neo and the masked man's eyes lock onto each other as Charlotte and Adora converse.

"You must be Neo!" says the masked man as he offers Neo a handshake, his voice completely different from Daki's.

Adora turns her head mid conversation, flashing the masked man a quick surprised look that goes unnoticed by their company and then goes back to talking to Charlotte.

"Oh! Yes, sir! I am Neo," confirms Neo, accepting his handshake, feeling a small amount of pressure on his hand.

"Hello! I am Charlotte. Adora, mind introducing your friend?"

"Oh! Yeah, this is my colleague from work! He is a bit self-conscious about his face, so I hope you don't mind,"

"Oh, um, okay. That's fine," says Charlotte, feeling awkward about the situation.

"You can call me Arcat. Nice to meet you Charlotte," says the masked man.

"Nice to meet you too!"

"Well, I heard that you guys are planning on playing a few games! What are we up to?" asks Arcat.

"We are kind of tired from all the arcade games and rides. I was talking with Neo, and it seems the game he is most familiar with is Monopoly! Would you guys be okay with playing a small game of Monopoly while we relax for a bit before going on another tour and then to the second level?" asks Charlotte.

"We can also have the cheesecakes! What do you think, Arcat?" says Adora.

"I think it's a great idea," he says, looking at Neo.

"Alright, then. This way," says Charlotte, leading the way as Adora walks next to her, Neo and Arcat following closely behind.

"So how was your experience in level 0 so far?" asks Arcat.

"Oh, it was a fun and enjoyable experience! There was only one place Charlotte refused to go to," says Neo.

"One place? What was it like?"

"Um, all I remember is that there were signs and warning displaying the words 'Adults Only',"

"Oh– alright then, anything else?"

"Well, I ate a small burger and that's about it,"

"I s–" starts Arcat but gets interrupted midway.

"But. . ." trails off Neo.

"But?" questions Arcat, side-eyeing Neo.

". . . Something feels off. I feel slightly uncomfortable in this place, and I have been feeling kind of shaken ever since what happened at the pilot game," explains Neo, looking down.

"What happened? What did you feel?"

"Well, there was this character and when Adora selected the character . . . I felt something. I don't know what it was, but then the machine exploded,"

"Felt what?" pushes Arcat.

"I felt . . . like I had seen that person before," finishes Neo, looking down at his right hand.

"Interes–" starts Arcat only to be interrupted again. This time by Haco's meowing as she jumps from Adora's shoulder to Arcat's.

"Woah! What's up with you, Haco?" exclaims Arcat, startled as Haco meows, reaching for Neo.

Neo smiles and pets her, and she starts purring as Arcat watches the interaction. He looks at Neo and then looks around him.

"Alright, everyone, here we are!" says Charlotte pointing at a huge sign displaying 'Monopoly Reality'.

"Well, this is new," says Adora as they walk towards the entrance.

They all enter the area and discover that the place is much bigger than they expected.

"Wow!" says Neo, looking around as they walk towards the registration area to get a table.

"Four people for one table, please. On my tab," requests Charlotte as they reach the desk.

"Oh, thanks! You didn't have to, Charlotte!" says Adora.

"It's okay, I insist,"

"Yes, ma'am. Is this your first time here?" asks the guy at the desk.

"Yes, it is,"

"Then here ma'am, these are the guidelines and rules. Please sign down there,"

They all pick their handouts and start reading them.

. . .

A moment passes as complete silence falls over them.

. . .

"Oi, oi, oi! What the hell is this?! These rules are insane! Is this even Monopoly?!" exclaims Charlotte, looking at the handout in disbelief.