"They're nothing but parasites." Allen slammed his hand on the table, his voice echoing through the conference room: "Do you really think Heroes are your bodyguards? Your personal tools? There are plenty of people eyeing your positions!"
"You're just leeches protected by the Hero Association. Without us, you'd be a bunch of pigs waiting to be slaughtered. You only have money! But power is in our hands!"
The entire room fell silent. Chairman Sitch's forehead was covered in cold sweat, Zenil and the other high-ranking projections looked ashen, and the eyes of the Heroes in the conference room grew brighter and brighter as they listened, as if something extraordinary was awakening within them.
Metal Bat suddenly burst out laughing, slamming his bat heavily on the ground: "Well said! I've been fed up with these parasites for a long time!"
Tanktop Master slowly stood up, his muscular arms crossed over his chest: "Allen is right. We S-Class Heroes are not anyone's private bodyguards."
Child Emperor pushed up his glasses, a hint of surprise flashing across his youthful face. He hadn't expected the usually gentle Allen to suddenly erupt, nor had he expected his words to resonate so strongly. Even he had to agree with Allen.
It seemed he could talk to him later about how to deal with these corrupt parasites within the Hero Association.
Tatsumaki floated beside Allen, her green hair swirling violently. She quietly tugged on Allen's sleeve, her voice barely a whisper: "Idiot, are you crazy?"
Allen didn't respond, only staring coldly at Zenil's projection. He knew what consequences his words would bring, but at this moment, this was the effect he needed—to shift everyone's attention from himself to the internal conflicts of the Association.
Zenil's facial muscles twitched a few times, and he forced a fake smile: "Mr. Allen, please watch your words. We are all for the people."
"What do the people have to do with you?" Allen's voice was like ice: "When you live in luxury in your high-rise, have you ever seen people freezing or starving to death on the streets? What right do you have to talk about the people?!"
Sitch suddenly slammed the table: "Enough! Allen, mind your place! Your statements are dangerous!"
"My place?" Allen sneered: "I am a Hero, not your lackey, and certainly not your tool for dirty deeds!"
The atmosphere in the conference room was tense. Bang stroked his beard, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Allen and Sitch. He suddenly stood up, his aged voice surprisingly firm: "This old man supports my disciple's statement. The Association is indeed a bit corrupt."
Several high-ranking officials looked terrified, their voices turning sharp: "Are you rebelling? Don't forget who pays your salaries!"
"Salaries?" Metal Bat scoffed: "Do I fight Monster for money? Bullshit!"
If it weren't to be a Hero in his sister's eyes, he wouldn't have so much interest in playing along with these high-ranking officials.
Tatsumaki's green energy suddenly erupted, shaking the entire conference room: "Shut up! If anyone dares to threaten the Rookie again, I'll crush him to dust!"
Sitch's face was ashen, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table: "Everyone, calm down. We are discussing Allen's qualification, not…."
"Qualifications?" Allen interrupted him again: "Then let's vote. I want to see how many people are willing to be your dogs."
Sitch took a deep breath and looked around the conference room: "Then, the proposal regarding whether Allen should retain his S-Class qualification is now open for voting."
The voting process was unusually silent. When the results were announced, Sitch's face became even uglier: "12 votes in favor of retention, 15 votes against, and 3 abstentions."
He cleared his throat, trying to ease the atmosphere: "Since the vote result is as such, Allen retains his S-Class qualification. Now, let's discuss the next agenda item."
"No need." Allen suddenly stood up: "I am withdrawing from the Hero Association. If anyone wants to come with me, I guarantee ample funding, definitely no less than what the Hero Association provides."
Allen, who controlled two worlds, only needed a little time to integrate resources. The one thing he didn't lack was money.
The conference room instantly erupted. Metal Bat suddenly stood up, slamming his bat heavily on the table: "Rookie, are you serious?"
Allen looked around, his gaze sweeping across the face of every S-Class Hero: "I never joke."
Bang's hand, stroking his beard, paused, and a hint of complexity flashed in his aged eyes: "Allen, think twice, think twice."
Tatsumaki's green hair swayed violently. She grabbed Allen's arm: "Idiot! What nonsense are you talking about! We don't have that much money."
Her voice held an imperceptible tremor, and her fingers tightened unconsciously.
Chairman Sitch's face was ashen: "Mr. Allen, please calm down. It wasn't easy for the Association to cultivate you."
"Cultivate?" Allen sneered: "Where was the cultivation? I reached my current position entirely through my own efforts. What does it have to do with you? Now that you see I have the ability to leave, are you starting to play the emotional card?"
Zenil's projection showed a fake smile: "Young people are impulsive. Without the Association's resource support, what will you use to form a new organization? Just come back."
"Let's just say I was wrong and confused this time. I apologize to you here. Let's pretend this never happened, alright?"
Allen looked at Zenil's hypocritical smile, a cold smirk playing on his lips: "Alright, then let's pretend this never happened."
"But you should still offer me compensation for doing this," he added unhurriedly, his gaze sharp.
The atmosphere in the conference room solidified once again.
"He looks like a decent person, but he still wants money, doesn't he?" Zenil thought disdainfully, his fake smile frozen on his face.
"Of course, Mr. Allen. What compensation do you want? Just name it."
Metal Bat's expression instantly darkened, and he slammed his bat heavily on the table: "Hey, Rookie, are you serious? Compromising for money?"
Child Emperor shook his head, somewhat disappointed. He had thought Allen would have more backbone. He had originally planned to talk to Allen after the meeting, but now it seemed unnecessary.
Zombieman lit a cigarette and said coldly: "It seems I misjudged him."
Tatsumaki's green hair swayed slightly, and her small hand quietly tugged on Allen's sleeve, her eyes full of confusion. She didn't understand why Allen had suddenly changed his attitude, but her intuition told her that Allen wasn't the type of person who craved pleasure.
Allen's gaze slowly swept across the conference room, finally settling on Zenil: "How about this: I want you to double this year's charitable donations, and use all of it to improve the treatment of low-ranking Heroes."
"What did you say?" Zenil's voice trembled slightly. He hadn't expected there to be people in this world who didn't love money.
Allen put his hands in his pockets, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone on the projection: "I said, double your charitable donations this year, and use all of it to improve the treatment of low-ranking Heroes. What's wrong, Mr. Zenil, are your ears not working?"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"