Pei Guang naturally hadn't forgotten about the conductor, Pom-Pom. But before catching Aether Spirits for Pom-Pom, he planned to go with Stelle and March 7th to check out what this Aetherium Wars event was really like.
To better accommodate the people of Belobog and visitors coming to take part in the event, the company had dispatched employees to host in Belobog. Each player participating in the festival would be personally assisted by company staff.
And so, to get a better understanding of Aetherium Wars, the trio headed to the Underworld of Belobog ahead of time. This time, the Underworld was the designated venue for the final matches, so all related activities had been relocated there.
And sure enough, this Aetherium Wars event had significantly boosted Belobog's popularity. Given that the number of hotels in Belobog was limited, the company had even deployed several ecological ships to provide temporary housing.
Standing on the ground of the Underworld, March 7th looked around at the joyful crowd and couldn't help but speak.
"Ah~ I didn't think we'd be back here again. I wonder how many more times we'll be returning in the coming days~"
Stepping once again on the soil of Belobog, March 7th couldn't help but sigh. She even had a hunch that over the next few dragging days, they might be bouncing back and forth between the Space Station, Belobog, the Xianzhou Luofu, and Earth.
The only thing March 7th found a bit unfortunate was that the mini-map and teleport function could only be activated in areas explored by Pei Guang and Stelle. Otherwise, wouldn't it be wonderful to take them to places she'd visited before?
Hearing March's complaint, Pei Guang turned to her and said, "If our world is a long-running game, we'd probably be coming back here dozens, maybe even hundreds of times. If it's really a long-running game, there'd be some dumb NPC here every day handing us a quest even a total idiot could complete."
March 7th shivered slightly and hugged her arms. "Ew~ stop, please. Let's just register an account and get ourselves a few devices to bring back. Huh? Look over there—isn't that guy a staff member for Aetherium Wars?"
Pei Guang followed where March 7th was pointing. "Let's just go ask and find out."
The three of them walked up to the staff member. As they approached, Pei Guang spoke directly: "Aetherium Wars!"
The employee, whose name was Wilder, lit up with excitement. "You know about Aetherium Wars too?"
Pei Guang nodded and said, "I do! I'm actually here to participate. Let me introduce myself—my name is Pei Guang."
As soon as he said that, Wilder's eyes widened. "You're the famous Pei Guang? Director Topaz has told me about you. You're interested in Aetherium Wars too? I—I'm so touched!"
Wilder wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, moved with emotion. He couldn't help but say, "Come on then! I've been playing Aetherium Wars for eighteen years. If there's anything you want to know, I'll tell you everything!"
Hearing that, Pei Guang's lips curved into a happy smile. "Oh? So you're a veteran from the old days too. Then, good sir, please tell us how this game is actually played."
Wilder: "Well, as the name implies, it's a collectible card game based on Aether Editing technology, using Aether Coins as a medium. Players can record the biological data of creatures they encounter via Aether, and even materialize them into Aether Spirits to battle other players."
Pei Guang suddenly pulled out a red cap from who-knows-where, flipped it backward onto his head, and spoke in a solemn tone: "I understand now! As Aetherium Wars players, we must collect and nurture Aether Spirits, then command them in battle to ultimately become Aether Spirit Masters."
As soon as he said that, Wilder looked at him with the excitement of meeting a kindred spirit. "Exactly! Have you played Aetherium Wars before?"
Pei Guang shook his head. "Haven't played, but I already get what kind of memes your game is full of."
Watching Wilder getting all worked up, March 7th leaned close to Stelle and whispered, "I don't know why, but Ah Guang and that guy seem to really be on the same wavelength…"
Pei Guang put away the cap he was wearing and then said, "Alright then! Take us to get our Aether Spirits: let us become Aether Spirit Masters!"
Wilder looked at Pei Guang with stars in his eyes. "No time to waste! I must take you to the festival service hall right away to register your accounts. Follow me, this way please!"
Faced with Wilder's burning enthusiasm, Pei Guang said mysteriously, "I can already see the unique Aether Spirits that belong to the three of us. They look ordinary, but in truth, possess godlike talents… such miraculous Aether Spirits! By the way, can we name our Aether Spirits ourselves?"
Under Wilder's lead, the trio headed toward the hall. On the way there, March 7th looked around at the growing crowds and spoke excitedly, "Not bad~ this place is getting more and more lively."
Following Wilder's steps, the three arrived at a small square—familiar, yet unfamiliar. As soon as they stepped into it, Wilder spotted someone he recognized.
"Huh? Isn't that…"
Hearing Wilder's voice, the masked Giovanni turned his head. When he saw Pei Guang, excitement sparked in his eyes behind the mask.
"Ha! Wilder! I was just wondering where you went."
Then Giovanni looked at Pei Guang. "And you've even brought along a dashing gentleman and two lovely ladies. Welcome to my arena! If I'm not mistaken, this gentleman must be Pei Guang, and the two ladies are March 7th and Stelle, correct? Are you all here to participate in the Interastral Tournament Festival?"
Looking at the glasses-wearing man in front of them, March whispered, "Huh? This guy's mask is kind of interesting."
Faced with this man's inquiry, Pei Guang felt he couldn't lose his edge. He crossed his arms and looked at Giovanni. "Masked weirdo! State your name!"
Pei Guang's theatrics took Giovanni by pleasant surprise, and he laughed happily. "Haha! Look at me, how rude! I forgot to introduce myself. I am Giovanni di Giorgio da Epsilon, a humble private trader from Epsilon. Also, I'm the full sponsor of this year's Interastral Tournament Festival."
Pei Guang sucked in a breath of cold air, not that it made any difference to the surrounding temperature.
"Topaz is incredible… she even managed to invite a big shot like you?"
Giovanni shook his head. "Oh no, I'm no big shot. Just a humble private trader, that's all."
"How could that be? Your name is absolutely legendary! Giovanni, Joestar, Dio! With a name this stylish and so bizarre, please allow me to call you Jojo!"
Giovanni beamed. "Jojo? What a wonderful name! Hearing it makes my blood boil with excitement."
Pei Guang: "Right? The moment I saw you, I felt fired up too. This event is just too good—hasn't even properly started and I've already run into so many references. By the way, can you take off that mask and let me see? I'm really curious how many faces you've got under there."
Pei Guang was thoroughly impressed with the grand scale of this event organized by Topaz. It was already delivering a familiar vibe right from the start; he could only imagine what surprises lay ahead.
Giovanni laughed. "Hahaha! Mr. Pei Guang, you're certainly an interesting man. But sadly, this mask is tied to my personal safety. Let's keep a little mystery between us, shall we?"
March 7th curiously asked, "Still, it's kind of fascinating~ Someone as important as you, why show up here yourself?"
Giovanni: "As you can see, the Interastral Tournament Festival is about to be held on this beautiful planet. And as the full sponsor of the tournament, it's only natural I'd come to inspect how things are running. Besides, I want to meet the players too. In this vast universe, one can never have too many friends. Being called Jojo by Mr. Pei Guang, it's already the greatest honor I could ask for."
Giovanni hadn't expected Pei Guang to give him such a pleasant and story-rich nickname. Jojo… He'd decided: he'd let close friends call him that from now on.