My only friend left me this puzzle when he visited my house for the first time and I tried to solve it but it's too hard for me. Maybe you can help me out:
You can find me in every sports team,
I make people happy yet also let them screamI am almost always there,
You can find me everywhereI am the definition of start,
But not in a certain ArtThis Art doesn't punch you KO,
Though has something in common with SOAs a last thing I want to slam,
Where I definitely not am:EnCt2224b070f865c161072137d84694d62182886d2ca224b070f865c161072137d84vBDHbp+d6wH KuVMZw1dbQg0tYvQyIwEmS
Now be advised and hear,
I am hidden within pearI am also used in this text,
But in another language indexedIf you manage to encipher.
it will surely have a hitMy reputation is not high,
So I will now say goodbye
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What am I referring to, LordCanada?GL with the riddle,
John Johnson
Hint 1:
Look at the exact formatting of the riddle! Do you see any irregularities?
Hint 2:
Look closely. There is a URL hidden in the text. (Hint 1 will help you find it)
MAJOR Hint 3:
The Paragraph under the cipher gives you the key.
Hint 4:
My friend John just texted me that removing "in" will help in finding the key
Hint 5:
It is intended to first find the key and use it on the cipher text and use the deciphered text to solve the riddle. Use Hint 3 and 4 to get the key.
MAJORLY MAJOR Hint 6:
The decryption key is not a normal word. "in another language indexed" means that the key which is contained as words in the text has to be converted in a certain way before using it as a key
Hint for non-key solving:
The part under the key isn't helping you with solving in any way. Also my friend is currently in Austria and he sent me another clue:
"I am the outcome of good learning,
but I'm not good at earning."
- Hint for non-key solving:
First of all: the "...slam, where I definetly not am" part is not useful for non-key solving. It's intended to be just a flavortext for adding the encrypted code. Now the hint: I think "SO" could refer to a similar website as you are on right now.
Feel free to ask a few question about things you don't understand.