Chương 500: Chapter 501: Is it just me, or does this stink of a cover-up?

[OracleRomy has liked this post.] After Oracle Andromeda liked Diva Lorelie's post on Xer-verse, the entire social media platform seemed as if it had broken for a moment, as for several seconds, nobody did anything other than stare at the notification with shock, as if trying to comprehend if what they were seeing was real or not. [... Someone pinch me, I think I fell asleep at my console because I could have sworn I saw Oracle Andromeda like Diva Lorelie's post.] [... If you're dreaming, then we are sharing the same dream because I just saw the same thing.] [... It's a bug, right? It has to be. I mean, why would Oracle Andromeda like a post regarding Diva Lorelie flaming the Universal Sporting Body?] [... Maybe she liked the way she flamed them.] [... maybe she's a Watersphere fan.] [... Maybe she's a Diva Lorelie fan.] [... Maybe she's just bored.] [... You're all nuts. Ok, I can kind of believe that Oracle Andromeda is a fan of Diva Lorelie, I mean, everyone is, but I have never heard of her being a Watersphere fan. I highly doubt she is bored, isn't she constantly receiving prophecies or visions or something? And I highly doubt she liked the way Diva Lorelie flamed them, as wouldn't that be beneath her?] [... How do you know what's beneath Oracle Andromeda? For all we know, she's just like any other girl.] [... Any other girl who can spy on the most powerful people in the universe.] [... Maybe she had her secret lover beneath her. Kek.] [... STOP with the pointless chatter and someone please tell me why Oracle Andromeda just liked Diva Lorelie's post. She never posts anything herself and very rarely likes or comments on other people's posts.] [... That's because we mortals are beneath her.] [... She's not a goddess, dude.] [... Close enough, bro. I mean, who other than a god or goddess could receive visions or prophecies of things happening on the other side of the universe?] [... Does that mean we should start addressing Oracle Andromeda as Goddess Andromeda now?] [... Isn't Oracle Andromeda going to explain her reason for liking the post?] [... Doubtful. As mentioned before, Oracle Andromeda never makes posts herself and rarely likes or comments on posts made by others, this is why it's such a big deal when she does do it.] [OfficialMuriel: I suppose it's up to me to explain then.] [... Muriel?] [OfficialMuriel: Since Oracle Andromeda has revealed it in her own way, I don't think she will mind if I inform you all that Oracle Andromeda is a Watersphere fan.] [... Seriously?] [... No way.] [... Called it. Who doubted me? Come out and apologise.] [... So that's the reason why she liked the post.] [... Oracle Andromeda must also think that the Oceana Abes substitution was suspicious.] [... I can't believe that she's a Watersphere fan. I wonder which team she supports.] [... That's a good question, @OfficialMuriel, do you know? And how do you know that Oracle Andromeda is a Watersphere fan?] [OfficialMuriel: Oracle Andromeda supports the Leucosia Aquatics, and I know because after I announced my retirement from the professional game, she contacted me to congratulate me on all my success and to thank me.] [... The Leucosia Aquatics? Really?] Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. [... Is something wrong with that?] [... You obviously don't follow Watersphere. They're like the worst team in the league.] [... You're not wrong. They have finished dead last the last three seasons running.] [... You would have thought with her prophecies she could see which team would win the league.] [... Oh god, that would be great for winning credits but awful since there would be no suspense.] [... That raises a good question. Do you think Oracle Andromeda is allowed in gambling establishments?] [... Ohhhh, I never considered that.] [... Muriel? What did Diva Lorelie mean by that G. O. A. T comment when she mentioned you in her post?] [OfficialMuriel:...]"It seems your post turned into more of a discussion regarding Oracle Andromeda being a Watersphere fan than the Universal Sporting Body's decision," Adam commented after he finished reading the Xer-verse while sitting between Lorelie and Stacey on one of the couches.

"That's not surprising; it's always a big deal when Oracle Andromeda makes an appearance on Xer-verse," Rowena remarked as she sat on the couch opposite.

"It's fine, the post served its purpose, look," Lorelie replied before using the console on the table before them to pull up a new holographic screen for Adam to read. It was a USNN news article that had been posted shortly after Lorelie had made her Xer-verse post. [Diva Lorelie calls out the Universal Sporting Body, causing Oracle Andromeda to make an appearance. Within the last hour, Diva Lorelie has made an Xer-verse post calling out the Universal Sporting Body regarding their decision not to investigate the controversial substitution in the recent Watersphere match between the Oceana Abes and the Oasis Fangs. In the post, Diva Lorelie used some rather surprising and colourful language to express her disappointment and called out the Universal Sporting Body to change its stance and conduct an investigation. In a surprising turn of events, Oracle Andromeda actually made a rare appearance on Xer-verse and liked Diva Lorelie's post, causing heated discussion as to why she would do such a thing. It was only after legendary Watersphere player, Muriel, made an appearance and explained that we learned that Oracle Andromeda is actually a fan of the game and supports the Leucosia Aquatics. Unfortunately, it seems that having an oracle as a fan can't help you win matches. USNN reached out to the Universal Sporting Body for comment regarding Diva Lorelie's post and asked for comment. They responded that their previous post was published in error and has since been removed. USNN can exclusively reveal that the Universal Sporting Body has decided that it will indeed conduct a full investigation into the controversial substitution during the recent Oceana Abes and the Oasis Fangs and also why their previous post about them not conducting an investigation was posted in the first place.] Oasis Galaxy, Oceana Seven.

"What do you mean the team's suspending me?" Murphy asked in shock and rage as he stared at his mother, who sat before him.

"It's as I just said. The team has decided to suspend you while the Universal Sporting Body conducts an investigation into that substitution," Murphy's mother stated while wearing an ugly expression.

"They can't just suspend me. You're a major shareholder in the team, and I thought you said that you had dealt with all that?" Murphy replied.

"I'm a silent shareholder as you well know," Murphy's mother replied before continuing, "Also, I contacted the person I know in the Universal Sporting Body and arranged for them to make this little mess disappear. Unfortunately, Lorelie and Oracle Andromeda got involved and blew things out of proportion."

"Lorelie and Oracle Andromeda?" Murphy asked in surprise as his eyes filled with lust at Lorelie's name.

"I told you to forget her already and find a new woman. She has a boyfriend now and clearly has no interest in you," Murphy's mother said in an annoyed tone as she saw the lust flash in her son's eyes.

"Hmph," Murphy snorted before attempting to change the subject by asking, "What does Oracle Andromeda have to do with this?" Murphy's mother eyed her son suspiciously before saying, "It turns out that she's a Watersphere fan herself and that she agrees with Lorelie's Xer-verse post. With two of the biggest names in the universe commenting on this topic, it was bound to reach the higher-ups in the Universal Sporting Body.

They are now not only conducting an investigation into why you were not substituted but also into why a post was made saying that they would not be investigating this matter. I have been dodging my contact's calls ever since the announcement was made because we both know that he is now burned and will probably lose his job. As for the team suspending you, they, like I fully expect the Universal Sporting Body to uncover that I am a silent shareholder in the team and they will put two and two together.

It's only a matter of time before they learn that I put pressure on the team coach not to substitute you for any reason."

"Fuck," Murphy cursed before asking, "What are we going to do?"

"Nothing, because there is nothing we can do. We will just have to face the consequences when this news becomes public," Muphy's mother replied in a defeated sigh.

"Is there no way to fix this?" Murphy asked.

"None that I can see. Oh, I just can't wait for my sister to turn up and start lecturing me again."

"Is it just me, or does this stink of a cover-up?" Adam remarked after he finished reading the USNN article.

"It totally does," Rowena replied before saying, "I can think of two possibilities. Either someone was trying to brush all this under the rug, but the combined intervention of both Lorelie and Oracle Andromeda has made the top brass of the Universal Sporting Body aware of the situation. Or the top brass themselves knew about this and were involved, but are now being forced to act, and so they plan to make someone else take the blame by throwing them under the mobile armour."