Unfortunate Hero's Retirement Life

Silence invaded the conference instantly after that. Everyone at the conference looked at one person, the bespectacled reporter.

The bespectacled reporter, Hafed Glen looked around. His thoughts froze for a moment as he came into a sudden realization. He blinked his eyes a few times before he looked back toward the young President of the Hero League.

The bravery he just showed now sinking down under many eyes. Nervousness started to occupy his heart. No matter what, the young man behind the table was the President of the Hero League.

'But White Household is on my back. Moreover, Ryan White is the one who instructed me to do this. I will be okay, right!?'

Sweat started to pour down on his back but Ryan White's name was the one that managed to keep his head up. He faced the President and he was surprised to see the young President was not upset, no, Xing Heero did not even look at him.

Heero looked at the paper in his hand. The paper was a rundown of the conference. It started with a statement from him before they finally gave the reporter thirty minutes to ask.

He glanced at Bai Xin Yue and whispered a question, "Do all the reporters receive the rundown?"

Bai Xin Yue nodded, "They should be. Our staff would hand out the rundown to the reporters before the conference as always, "

"I see… a troublemaker, huh!?" Heero muttered under his breath.

Then he turned toward the bespectacled reporter with a smile, "May I know your name and which company you come from?"

Looking at Heero's gentle smile, Hafed relieved inside, 'Hah, so he is playing soft to keep his image good, huh!?'

"My name is Hafed Glen, a professional reporter from White Media, " Hafed replied with a calm smile. At least, he tried to not show his nervousness outside.

Hafed could see Heero was nodding his head while muttering "A professional reporter from White Media, " before the young President turned toward Bai Xin Yue.

The latter nodded her head. They seemed to talk about something.

Heero once again turned toward the bespectacled reporter and threw another question, "Do you receive the rundown from our staff?"

The young President waved a piece of paper in his hand. It was supposed to be the rundown of the conference.

Hafed Glen was confused as he looked down the paper in his hand. He certainly received the rundown before the conference. Why did he ask?

Still confused with the question, Hafed Glen replied honestly while showing the paper in his hand, "Yes. I have the rundown in my hand,"

"Then, are you illiterate?"

When Heero uttered the next question, only then Hafed Glen realized what Heero came after. His eyes widened as he realized that.

"Oh, no. There's no way a professional reporter is illiterate, right? Can you read in the rundown that the reporters are given a chance to ask after I am finished with my statement? If you're a professional, where's your manner? I am not even finished with my statement, "

Heero was still smiling but his words were full of sarcasm. Clearly, he was targeting the bespectacled reporter, he was at fault, after all. Not only that, but his words were also offensive.

Hafed Glen's face paled as he instantly turned away from Heero. He looked around and found out that even his reporter's friends were looking at him with pity.

"Please follow the rundown, Mr. Professional Reporter. For your mistake, from today onwards, White Media is blacklisted from attending the Hero League's conference for one year!"

Amidst the silent atmosphere, Heero announced the penalty. No one stood for Hafed Glen and the White Media. No one wanted to get on the Hero League bad side. It was a stupid decision.

"Should we kick him out?" Kang Seo-Yeon asked in an icy tone.

"Nah, it's okay. Let Mr. Professional Reporter stay. He still has an unanswered question, let him stay until the conference is over, " Heero waved his hand casually.

Hafed Glen did not dare to meet Heero's eyes. He had his head hung low as he sat back. His back soaked in sweat.

The bravery he showed earlier was nowhere to be seen. He was just like a duck that waited to be slaughtered.

"Alright, let's continue my statement. I said just now that I am not a hero, right? Am I afraid of the respected hero Ryan White? Let me finish what I have in my mind first, "

"First of all, the challenge is invalid. Why? Because I am not a hero and Ryan White is also not a hero, " Heero stopped at this point.

As soon as he said those words, it caused a big confusion among the reporters. However, everyone had learned their lesson not to interrupt Heero's words. So they only stared at Heero, waiting for him to continue.

"Maybe he's a hero in everyone's heart. I also never deny his contribution. Even though he's not here when the city faces a big crisis, we never revoke his status as a hero,"

"However, we are still in a reformation status. The heroes have to pass the revaluation test to be an official hero under the Hero League of Star City hence the challenge is invalid! My two disciples' challenges are also invalid,"

"Challenger is created to resolve a conflict between heroes when the talk is no longer the option. Between heroes, so the challenge is invalid when they don't have the status as a hero. It was our side's carelessness for forgetting to shut down the Challenger. No one expected a challenge would be issued under the reformation status, after all. However, I will make an exception, the challenge is accepted!"

As soon as Heero said those, all the reporters gasped in surprise, including Hafed Glen. They thought Heero talked like those to decline the challenge yet he did the opposite, he accepted the challenge.

Soon, the reporters were busy typing something on their smartwatch. Article after article was released online.

"I guess it answered a question from Mr. Professional Reporter from the White Media. I am not afraid of Ryan White and I accept the challenge, "

As soon as his name was mentioned again, Hafed Glen immediately lowered his head again.

When everyone thought Heero had finished with his statement, he continued.

"However, I have a condition. I wish respected hero Ryan White accepts the condition. I wish to broadcast the battle between us and get some money from the broadcast right. The money will be used to help with the reformation. I wish Mr. Ryan White accepted my condition as I made an exception to accept the challenge!"

Woaw!

Heero's condition shocked the reporters and the people who watched the conference outside there. Usually, Challenger Battle was held privately, never once it broadcasted.

"Ah, once more. I hope Mr. Ryan White to consider the current circumstance before pulling something not funny like this! I can't afford to waste my time on such a trivial matter while a big threat from the specter is not solved. I hope your careful consideration to not cause a mess like this,"

Heero's face was all smiling but his words were full of sarcasm.

The reporters looked at each other, they wanted to write something about Heero's last statement. However, the person Heero mocked was not someone who could be trifled with. He was Emperor Class Hero - Rank 1.

"Alright, that's it. I have finished with my statement. If you have any questions, you can ask. I give you thirty minutes of my spare time to ask, " Heero's face was smiling friendly, however, the reporters did not dare take it casually less they suffered the same fate as Hafed Glen.

After a moment of silence, a woman raised her hand.

Heero nodded, indicating the woman to speak.

"You accepted the challenge even though it's an invalid challenge. Then what about Mr. Sun and Mr. Musashi's challenges against Mr. White? Is it considered an invalid challenge too and will be canceled?"

The woman was asking about Heero's two disciples.

Heero rubbed his chin, "Hmmm, as I said earlier, Challenger is to resolve a conflict between heroes when the talk is no longer the option. I don't know what happened between them that ended with a challenge like this. You can ask them about that and the Hero League can't prevent them, they are not an official hero under our wing until they pass the revaluation test. We can't meddle in their private life, but we will keep them in watch just in case an unwanted incident breaks out, "

Of course, it was a lie when he said he did not know why his disciples challenged Ryan White.

"You can ask them directly though I doubt you will meet with them. They are currently under intense training, but you can try. However, I hope a fight does not break out between them. We are in a grave situation, the specter can sneak anytime so conflict between them is something we don't want to happen, "

The conference continued with question after question from the reporters. Heero handled everything smoothly.

Meanwhile, White Household Residence

Ryan White was watching the full broadcast from his home. He laughed when he heard Heero's answer regarding his disciples' challenge.

"Hahaha… So are you going to hide your disciple now? Do you think you can hide them from me?"

"Nah, it's okay, I will let them slide this time. You are my target! I am going to kill you first for standing on my path!"

Ryan White raised his clenched fist up and a bright fiery flame blazed up. The flame coveted his hand as his eyes turned red while looking at the screen.