"NO! Absolutely Not!" Immediately Heero gave his firm rejection outright. There was no hesitation as he rejected Kang Myung Chul right after he finished his sentence.
"Really, Old Man? After all of this, you are still asking me to join the Hero League? There's no way I will join the Hero League while my closest could encounter any danger anytime even inside the city which is supposed to be the safest place. Even now, I feel humans are scarier than the monster out there. Even the one you claimed to be a Hero tried to harm my lover, let alone the others."
Heero's impression of the Hero League plummeted down into unfavorable. Yes, somehow he disliked this Hero League more than Ranker Alliance what he experienced just now.
So far, Heero hardly encountered Iron Class or even Silver Class, he only knew about Wood Class Hero. Wood Class Heero usually did an odd job, helping the people around. At that time, Heero's impression of the Hero League was not bad.
Even though the people in the outer region were looked down upon by the others, the Hero League still cared for them. However, it was different now, Wood Class hardly portrayed the truth of the Hero League.
It could be said, Wood Class Hero was only the lowest status in the Hero League. They were just the same as people who lived in the outer region. The higher class treated the Wood Class the same way how people in the inner region treated the people who lived in the outer region.
Hero League and Star City were not that different. It proved by Hanzo Shusake's action to Sun Zhou Yi. Hanzo Shusake did not care whether Sun Zhou Yi was dead or alive.
"Urgh! But Hanzo Shusake is just one of many heroes. There are also many good heroes in the Hero League. Moreover, if you joined the Hero League, we will be responsible to protect your family and your girlfriend. We will guarantee their safety while you are out for the duty."
Kang Myung Chul did not give up and tried to clear Heero's misunderstanding of the Hero League. He, Kang Myung Chul who had been trained many geniuses for years could see the big potential Heero had.
Kang Myung Chul believed in that potential. He only needed guiding Heero a year or two years at most and the new Emperor Class would be born. For the current Heero, Kang Myung Chul believed Heero would easily enter the top 100 of the Gold Class.
As Hero Instructor of the Hero League, Kang Myung Chul did not want the genius Heero to slip away from his grasp. Zombie and beast were getting stronger by the days, humanity needed more geniuses like Heero to fight against the monster which was also growing at an alarming rate.
However, Heero still shook his head, he did not have the same thought as Kang Myung Chul. The humans on the Earth were more frightening than the people who sold their souls to Specter to gain power.
Hope Preschool's principal was one of the proofs he experienced by himself. The man who looked harmless could change at any time.
Kang Myung Chul was somewhat irritated with Heero's uncaring attitude. It could be seen from his eyes which was giving Heero a fierce glare. Han Ying and Hong Yu seemed to be intimidated by Kang Myung Chul's glare.
Heero tapped Hong Yu and Han Ying's shoulder, "You girls can go upstairs, next is a talk between men~." After that, Heero glanced back to Kang Myung Chul, "Old Man, stop with that fierce glare, you are scaring the girls."
Only then did Kang Myung Chul realize that his agitation has truly terrified the girls. The seventy years old man scratched his gray hair.
"No, I will stay here with you." Hong Yu firmly responded despite the fear that brewed inside her heart.
Han Ying also had the same response as her little sister, she smiled gently and said, "You are involved because of me. I can't help you in fighting, but let us shoulder the pressure together."
Hearing the two girls' responses, Kang Myung Chul was getting even more embarrassed. The two girls were worried if he would use force against Heero, he could tell that by one glance.
Heero smiled even wider as he heard the two girls' replies.
"Good! Let's face this "scary" Old Man together. Moreover, this "scary" Old Man is way more civilized than that weird outfit hero (Hanzo Shusake), so fear not, right Old Man?"
Kang Myung Chul was embarrassed to be teased by Heero. Yet he also could not refute Heero's claim for being a scary old man.
"Kuhum!" Kang Myung Chul let out a light cough to lighten the awkwardness he had and he turned into earnest mode. He stared at Heero earnestly and voices his thought out.
"Young man, don't waste the blessing you have by working in this place. Don't misunderstand me, I am not looking down at your current work, but you can do more with your strength than merely opening a noodles shop. As we were talking, the beast and the zombies outside there become stronger and stronger, humanity needed your strength to fight those monsters!"
"So don't waste your strength and join us the Hero League to protect our kind. If the danger loomed outside there destroyed, you can provide a truly safe place for your family and lover, not a cage just like Star City!"
Once again, Kang Myung Chul tried to convince Heero. This time, he came up with a more convincing premise than before. Then he saw Heero smile at him, this was a good sign. He hoped Heero would agree to join the Hero League.
"First, I have no blessing or whatever it is. I gained my strength through 17 years of training under my master's guidance, with my sweat and hard work. This is how I can become the current me now."
"Second, I never wasted my strength. I am using it to protect my closest one and the people who are worthy of being protected.
"Third, even without me, there are still many heroes who will protect the city and fight the monsters, it's just that I am not one of them."
"Fourth, as we were talking, not only those monsters who grow stronger but humanity also grow stronger. Oh, it's night now, maybe we humans are mostly sleeping right now."
Heero gave an expected response with a calm smile.
Hearing Heero's answer, Kang Myung Chul was aware that Heero would not join the Hero League. No matter what he said, this young man already decided not to join the Hero League. It was a pity, but he was also helpless. He could not force Heero to be a Hero after all.
"So really won't join us no matter what?" Kang Myung Chul sighed in resignation, disappointment could be seen from his look.
"Nope, I am already content with my current life. My strength is used to protect my family from the danger, whatever it is, whether it's human or monster." Heero gave his last answer that he would not join the Hero League.
"Also, Old Man, don't forget your promise. If Iron Fist Martial House, Ming Group, or even if it's a hero from the Hero League, I will not hesitate to kill next time."
Heero's voice was cold and assertive, indicating he was being serious about killing. Kang Myung Chul nodded, at least this was what he could do to repay Heero's kindness from saving his two granddaughters.
Just as he wanted to stand from his seat, he remembered Heero saying he had been training for 17 years under his master's guidance. Kang Myung Chul glanced back to Heero.
"What about your master? Can you…" Having not finished his words, Heero cut off it already.
"Don't bother with my master, he doesn't care about Hero or people here. Whether Star City is attacked, he doesn't care, he would not meddle as long as…" Heero stopped midway as he found it was inappropriate to say it. If he said it, it sounded like he was talking bullsh*t.
'As long as humanity is not under the threat of extinction, Saint will not meddle in worldly affairs.'
"As long as?" Kang Myung Chul was still hoping to get Heero's master to join the Hero League. A person who could train Heero to this extent, the Hero League could rope this person in to train the heroes.
However, Heero shook his head which disappointed Kang Myung Chul.
"Alright then, if you change your mind, you can come anytime. Hero League will gladly accept you. Once again, thanks for saving my granddaughters."
After that, Kang Myung Chul brought the unconscious Man out with him. He left with a disappointed look plastered on his face. He went out of the shop and walked to the left. After a few steps, Kang Myung Chul stopped and looked down.
The paved road had cracked and sunk for a few centimeters. The sunk-down part was the same size as his feet. It was the impact of blocking Heero's butcher knife from cutting Hanzo Shusake's neck.
He gazed at it for a moment and released another sigh. He still regretted failing to convince Heero to join the Hero League.
…
Meanwhile, inside the noodles shop, Hong Yu and Han Ying heaved a sigh of relief as soon as Kang Myung Chul was gone. During the talk, they were somewhat nervous as they were afraid of the Legendary Kang Myung Chul would attack Heero, but now they passed the ordeal and were relieved inwardly.
Heero was not nervous in the slightest, but he frowned upon looking at the messed-up shop. The counter near the kitchen was broken, most tables and chairs were also broken, leaving only a few of them remained intact, and the window also broke.
"It looks like we have to close the shop temporarily," Heero commented in annoyance.
"Ah, I forgot to ask for compensation. We should have asked for compensation from the old man." Heero said it with a regret.
Hong Yu let out a giggle while Han Ying gently smiled as she shook her head.
"What are you talking about? It's not Instructor Kang's fault. Moreover, with this, we could take a break for a while." Hong Yu responded.
With the mess that happened in Miao Miao Noodles Shop, Heero, Hong Yu, and Han Ying could only close the shop for a few days.
...
In a certain room with a dimmed light
Two men were facing their faces to each other.
"That guy has a conflict with Iron Fist Martial House of Ming Group. I guess it would be better if we let Ming Group take care of that guy!"
A man covered in a black cloak spoke in a callous tone. Across the man in a black cloak, seating a man with the graceful look, but his face somewhat twisted in anger which looked somewhat scary.
"NO! I… WANT… TO… KILL… THAT… MAN… WITH… MY… OWN… HANDS!!! JUST DO AS WE PLANNED."
The graceful man spelled his words by word per word. A thick hatred was so clear as the graceful man spoke.
If Heero and Hong Yu were here, they would recognize this graceful man. He was Fang Guo Ming, the former Hope Preschool Principal. The man who lost everything in a single night because of one event and Heero was the man who caused him to lose everything.