A hush fell over the conference immediately. Everyone in the conference looked at one individual, the journalist with the glasses.
The reporter, Hafed Glen, looked around. His thoughts froze for a moment as he came to a sudden realization. He blinked a few times before looking back at the young president of the Hero League.
The bravery he had just shown was now disappearing under many eyes. Nervousness began to fill 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. Besides, Ryan White is the one who told me to do this. I will be okay, right?'
Sweat began to pour down his back, but Ryan White's name was the one that managed to keep his head up.
He faced the president and was surprised to see that 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 summary of the conference. It started with a statement from him before they finally gave the reporter thirty minutes to ask questions.
He looked at Bai Xin Yue and whispered a question, "Do all reporters get the rundown?"
Bai Xin Yue nodded, "They should. Our staff would hand out the rundown to the reporters before the conference as usual,"
"I see... a troublemaker, huh?" Heero muttered.
Then he turned to the bespectacled reporter with a smile, "May I know your name and what company you work for?"
Seeing Heero's gentle smile, Hafed felt 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 not to show his nervousness outwardly.
Hafed could see Heero nod his head while muttering "A professional reporter from White Media," before the young president turned to Bai Xin Yue.
She nodded her head. They seemed to be talking about something.
Heero turned back to the bespectacled reporter and asked another question, "Are you getting 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 at the paper in his hand. Surely he had received the rundown before the conference. Why did he ask?
Still confused by the question, Hafed Glen replied honestly, showing the paper in his hand, "Yes. I have the rundown in my hand.
"Then you are illiterate?"
When Heero asked the next question, Hafed Glen realized what Heero was asking. His eyes widened when he realized.
"Oh, no. There's no way a professional reporter is illiterate, is there? Can you read in the rundown that the reporters get a chance to ask questions after I finish my statement? If you are a professional, where is your manners? I am not even finished with my statement yet."
Heero still smiled, but his words were full of sarcasm. Obviously, he was targeting the reporter, after all, he was to blame. Not only that, but his words were also insulting.
Hafed Glen's face paled as he immediately turned away from Heero. He looked around and saw that even the reporter's friends were looking at him with pity.
"Please follow the rundown, Mr. Professional Reporter. For your mistake, White Media will be blacklisted from the Hero League conference for one year!"
Amidst the silence, Heero announced the punishment. No one stood up for Hafed Glen and the White Media. No one wanted to be on the bad side of the Hero League. It was a stupid decision.
"Should we kick him out?" Kang Seo-Yeon asked in an icy tone.
"No, 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. His head hung low as he sat back. His back was soaked with sweat.
The bravery he had shown earlier was nowhere to be seen. He was like a duck waiting to be slaughtered.
"All right, let's continue with my statement. I just said that I am not a hero, right? Am I afraid of the respected hero Ryan White? Let me finish what I have in mind first," he said.
"First of all, the challenge is invalid. Why is that? Because I am not a hero and Ryan White is not a hero either," Heero stopped at this point.
As soon as he said those words, it caused a big confusion among the reporters. But everyone had learned their lesson not to interrupt Heero's words. So they just stared at Heero and waited for him to continue.
"Maybe he's a hero in everyone's heart. I will never deny his contribution either. Even if he's not here when the city faces a major crisis, we'll never revoke his hero status," he said.
"However, we are still in a reformation status. The heroes have to pass the upgrading test to become an official hero under the Hero League of Star City, so the challenge is invalid! My two disciples' challenges are also invalid."
"Challenger was designed to resolve a conflict between heroes when talking is no longer an option. Between heroes, so the challenge is invalid if they don't have hero status."
"It was our side's carelessness that we forgot to shut down the Challenger. After all, no one expected a challenge to be issued under the status of reformation. But I will make an exception, the challenge is accepted!"
As soon as Heero said this, all the reporters gasped in surprise, including Hafed Glen.
They thought Heero would say something like that to refuse the challenge, but he did the opposite, he accepted the challenge.
Soon the reporters were busy typing on their smartwatches. Article after article was posted online.
"I guess he 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 that Heero had finished his statement, he continued.
"However, I have one condition. I want the respected hero Ryan White to accept this condition. I want to broadcast the fight between us and get some money from the broadcast rights.
"The money will be used to help with the reformation. I wish Mr. Ryan White would accept my condition, since I made an exception to accept the challenge!"
Woaw!
Heero's condition shocked the reporters and people watching the conference outside. Usually, the Challenger Battle was held in private, never broadcast.
"Ah, once again. I hope Mr. Ryan White will consider the current circumstances before pulling something so unfunny!"
"I cannot afford to waste my time on such a trivial matter while a major threat from the Specter remains unresolved. I hope your careful consideration will not cause such a mess."
Heero's face was all smiles, but his words were full of sarcasm.
The reporters looked at each other, wanting to write something about Heero's last statement. But the person Heero was mocking was no one to be trifled with. He was an Emperor Class Hero - rank 1.
"Alright, that's it. I have finished my explanation. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I give you thirty minutes of my free time to ask."
Heero's face showed a friendly smile, but the reporters dared not take it lightly, lest they suffer the same fate as Hafed Glen.
After a moment of silence, a woman raised her hand.
Heero nodded and motioned for the woman to speak.
"You accepted the challenge, even though it's an invalid challenge. What about the challenge of Mr. Sun and Mr. Musashi against Mr. White? Is it also considered an invalid challenge and will be cancelled?"
The woman asked about Heero's two students.
Heero rubbed his chin, "Hmmm, like I said, challenges are meant to resolve a conflict between heroes when talking is no longer an option.
I don't know what happened between them that ended in such a challenge. You can ask them, and the Hero League can't stop them, they're not an official hero under our wing until they pass the reappraisal test.
We can't interfere with their personal lives, but we will keep an eye on them in case of any unwanted incidents."
Of course, it was a lie when he said he did not know why his students challenged Ryan White.
"You can ask them directly, although I doubt you will meet them. They are in intense training right now, but you can try."
"However, I hope that a fight will not break out between them. We are in a serious situation, the specters can sneak up at any time, so a 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, at the White residence
Ryan White watched the entire broadcast from his home. He laughed when he heard Heero's answer regarding his disciple's challenge.
"Hahaha... Are you going to hide your disciple now? Do you think you can hide her from me?"
"Nah, it's okay, I'll let them go this time. You are my target! I will kill you first for standing in my way!"
Ryan White raised his clenched fist and a bright, fiery flame blazed. The flame coveted his hand as his eyes turned red as he looked at the screen.