"I want to challenge."

Wow! Hans' voice immediately caused uproarious laughter. A chubby guy like him wants to challenge someone? Even if you want to challenge, at least wait for the organizers to finish talking, but no, he didn't.

The moment the organizers finished speaking, the unremarkable Hans appeared on stage. He was someone who would be completely unnoticed in a crowd. Yet, this person, who was all fat, actually wanted to challenge Iserin the Illusion Mentor, and he wasn't following the rules. Is this a joke?

From a distance, even Iserin couldn't help but giggle, covering her lips softly with her hand. Yet, she knew the occasion, so she forcibly held her smile, looked at the organizers with a straight face, and wondered what to do next. Someone was not playing by the rules here.

"Ahem, sir, normally the challenge segment would wait a bit. Friends who registered are still in the written test phase." The organizers gestured for Hans to step down from the stage.

"Ah, this...?"

Hans had wanted to take this opportunity to expound on the Way of the Martial Artist—a serious topic that couldn't simply be used for promotional purposes. To his surprise, his bewildered expression incited another wave of laughter from the audience. It seems people today are indeed open-minded; ever since the chaos subsided, people's nerves don't seem as tense as in wartime.

"Alright, but I wanted to say..."

"Please don't; everyone's time is valuable. Sir, please step down." The organizers stressed once more.

A black line appeared above Hans' head as he disdainfully remarked, "You simply do not understand the essence of combat. Practicing martial arts for health's sake is all you've got."

Speaking of this, the organizers weren't afraid to engage.

The matter could escalate quickly, knowing that a Phantom Mentor was on stage. Yet a layperson dared to claim publicly that even the combat instructors don't understand combat? These words were a bit too much.

At this time, Iserin furrowed her delicate eyebrows. Although she disdained communicating with someone who doesn't understand battle, this brash man's arrogance was indeed excessive, causing the audience to quiet down...

"Heh, but I wonder how much you think you understand combat? Our combat system includes many forms. Can you state even one of their general tenets?" One could say that these principles were re-categorized in the New Era, with hundreds of types just under boxing. Even Iserin, as a mentor, might not remember them all. The organizers were clearly trying to make things difficult on purpose, knowing Iserin was unlikely to duel with someone of such caliber, as it would lower her status. Asking about general knowledge was intended as ironic.

It's either you know it or you don't, and Hans answered straightforwardly, "I don't know."

"Ha? You don't know, then what are you speaking up for?"

For a moment, the audience burst into laughter, some discussing, some shaking their heads, and some guessing that this guy was just trolling. Others were worried about Hans' precarious situation.

Surprisingly, Hans also laughed: "I admit I don't know, but there's one person who can demonstrate to everyone present what true combat is."

Hans saying this stirred another commotion, as people whispered and accused him of losing his mind. Does he even know who's before him? That's a First-Order warrior, none other than Iserin the Illusion Mentor, capable of defeating many with ease.

Yet, this ordinary chubby guy dares to show off his skills? Isn't that comical?

According to the normal procedure, it's still the organizers' promotion time, but they didn't mind the delay. A young woman sitting on the side teasingly asked: "And who is this person you speak of? We'd genuinely like to hear his illustrious name?"

The implication was clear—not to compare some unranked Rank 3 Martial Artist with Iserin, at least someone we've heard of. But in the Federation, how many could truly rival Iserin?

At this moment, even Iserin listened intently, genuinely curious about who this man was talking about.

However, Hans chose not to speak, frowning as outsiders felt he was caught in a dilemma, backed into a corner.

The young woman pressed on, "Oh? You can't say? Or does that person not even exist?" Her words immediately amused some of the staff sitting nearby.

In fact, Hans wasn't unable to say. What was certain was that the Revenge Shadow Rider would definitely appear in a year. As for why, such as the reason for return? Hans didn't know, but he was sure of the Revenge Shadow Rider's return.

Faced with the organizers' persistent pressure, Hans had no choice but to reveal his card. With a sigh, he explained earnestly: "It's not that I don't want to say, but because you're not worthy. You don't even qualify to face such an existence. In a year, if the Phantom Mentor participates in that battle, perhaps you might see him."

The organizers completely exploded! It was now certain that this guy was causing trouble. However, with his hat brim pulled so low, no one could discern his appearance or identity.

Hans' words only fueled more curiosity among the audience. Under the organizers' continuous questioning, Hans could only disdainfully scoff before removing his hat, reverently declaring: "Revenge Shadow Rider."

Oops!

The moment Hans spoke those words, everyone on stage exchanged knowing smiles, treating Hans as if he were a fool.

An older man started to jest: "Heh, maybe he's right."

An older woman asked Hans' back: "Do you know when the Revenge Shadow Rider will appear?"

It's safe to say that people in this position had heard some rumors. The Revenge Shadow Rider was not what it used to be.

However, this went unnoticed by the organizers. No one in the audience was laughing. On the contrary, quite a few stared at the organizers as if they were the fools now.

In the first few seconds, the organizers didn't realize, but as time passed, they noticed something unusual. The first woman to speak used a faux-neutral tone to question the audience: "Heh, everyone must be shocked by our friend's words, right?"

But no one responded to her. Only when Hans removed his hat, only when the crowd saw his face, did the once-noisy venue fall completely silent...

If anyone knew the whereabouts of the Revenge Shadow Rider, it would be Hans, without a doubt. If anyone else had spoken, they would have dismissed him as an idiot, but who was Hans? Almost every appearance of the Revenge Shadow Rider was heralded by Hans. He hadn't shown up in public for years. Even when he did, it was at small events. Today, he had publicly proclaimed, signaling perhaps the awakening of a long-held belief?

If it truly was the Revenge Shadow Rider, not even Iserin herself, or ten more, would stand a chance. Iserin truly had no right to challenge the Revenge Shadow Rider.

After uttering the four words 'Revenge Shadow Rider,' Hans put his hat back on, turned around, and shook his head at the group of organizers, "I don't deny your excellence, Iserin, but at best..." Hans didn't finish his sentence, feeling it wouldn't be fitting to say it publicly.

But that unintended remark left Iserin and everyone on stage utterly dumbfounded... Because the expressions of the crowd below said it all. The lightly furrowed Iserin seemed to realize something and said, "Are you Hans?"

Yes, her intuition had already anticipated it. Only Hans could cause such silence after saying those words. When shock overflowed, even cheers seemed redundant for the existence of one person—the Revenge Shadow Rider.

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