In This Rebirth, The Male Lead Is Mine [BL]

Rise was used to reporters. His relationship with them was one with even mutual benefits if he were asked.

Reporters could get stories from him, which would surely trend, and he could use the reporters as he pleased if he was bored, although they did not know that.

The media, even with the shift of an era as the gates appeared, their influence not only did not diminish but instead became even more prominent as the citizens were more alert and sensitive to news than ever.

At first, Rise did not bother with them, thinking they were there as someone recognized him and one or a couple of reporters decided to take a picture of him. That was common and nothing to fret about.

He was with Riri, and he did not want to ruin the little one’s time. However, as time passed, the reporters seemed to only grow in number. They probably became bolder as Rise did not do anything to them.

Rise glanced at the side, frowning slightly, observing what they were up to. At least, no one was approaching him, seeking their deaths or anything.

It was only then he noticed something odd...

These reporters, they appeared to be focusing on something else and not him.

Rise was not some attention seeker, and so he would have loved it if the reporters had not paid attention to him this time. The problem was... The subject of their scrutiny appeared to be...

Slowly, Rise’s gaze darkened, and his expression hardened considerably. He frowned and wanted to make sure. He took out his phone, which was only a display, and looked for the current trending news.

He saw his name first, which he immediately ignored, and as he scrolled, his expression just grew darker as the pressure around him became intense.

Wow...

Rise’s jaw clenched, gripping his phone until the phone’s screen flashed, shattering in his hand. He looked up and swept his eyes on the crowd with such coldness in his gaze.

It was a gaze of which... Everyone could never forget. A gaze anyone could recognize, especially by the media and his enemies.

He came here to have fun. Riri loved the playground, and Rise loved watching his fun. He was relaxing; this was a moment where he wanted to be an ordinary person for once.

The surroundings and everything seemed like a perfect moment for that. He had a lot to think about and prepare for the next few days, and this was necessary for him and the person he wanted to take responsibility for.

”Haah,” Rise breathed. He casually brushed his hair up as he smiled and almost laughed, but it did not reach his eyes. ”I’m so pissed. Wow, I’m just fucking pissed off, right now.”

He muttered as though in utter disbelief for what he was feeling.

Since when he have this feeling? Rise slowly stood up, his movements slow, almost sluggish even.

Seeing his image and rumors on the internet as the netizens scrutinized and hated him, having a field day to talk about him. Rise was used to that. He almost loved reading hate comments, thinking it was absolutely hilarious.

A lot of them were true; some were made up, and most were exaggerated. Yet, that was always going to be the case. He was famous, and a controversial one at that.

However, seeing his own face becoming the subject of gossip versus seeing someone he truly cared for and wanted to protect becoming the center of it all? Just being reduced to entertainment.

Rise found that extremely unpleasant.

Riri... He was slowly being precious to him. the little one who kept him grounded, feeling like everything would be alright.

Now, just reduced to another gossip news?

Rise let out a humorless laugh. He could not believe just how his body was trembling from anger.

He was mad. Rise’s presence became subdued, but that only made him more terrifying.

Am I becoming so... tame lately?

Did the reporters forget what he could do? Why could they still linger at the place where he was? They could even take pictures and write such absurd rumors about a little kid under his supervision.

Ah, right. Rise realized...

Maybe, I should make them recall...

Who I am.

His body then flashed, appearing just at the back of a man, holding a huge camera.

”This is such a huge scoop. Wow,” his eyes shining brightly, taking pictures of Riri just like the others.

The news about Riri, being the speculated Kamille Han’s secret child was already trending. Although none was confirmed, the media or the netizens did not care.

No one even bothered to care or think it was cruel for the child to become already the center of trending news, as his potential father was a huge figure in the federation. Probably thinking that was just his fate becoming the rumored son of a famous figure.

While he was capturing Riri’s pictures, he felt someone lightly tap his shoulder. At first he ignored it, but then the tap was persistent.

He frowned and turned, ”Can you st...” He was unable to finish as he already went stiff, eyes wide. In front of him was the nightmare of so many reporters and Espers.

Smiling, but with a gaze devoid of any emotion. Such a pair of cold and indifferent eyes and that smile... They were such contrasts from each other, but it gave off a kind of harmony whenever they appeared on this person’s face.

So beautiful, but dangerous.

”Ri...ughh...”

”Shh...” Rise grabbed the man by the neck so casually and smiled. ”Can I borrow your camera for a moment?” Even though he said that, he did not sound like he was asking for permission.

He took the camera from the man’s hand, which now had gone soft, eyes wide, and he forgot to even breathe. Ah no, he could truly not breathe. His eyes widened even further, now holding Rise’s arm that was holding his neck, wanting to break free.

Unfortunately for him, even an Esper could not do that so easily, and he was just an ordinary person.

Rise looked at the camera before it was destroyed just like that in his hands, the pieces falling on the ground.

”Oops, the camera is so fragile.” Rise, raise a brow, and look at the man. ”Just like you are.”

The man flailed around and gripped with fear, and he moved, wanting to escape, wanting to shout, but Rise’s hand was locked on his neck.

”Should I kill you?”

The man shook his head, tears strimming down his eyes, his pupils almost rolling from the lack of oxygen. Rise still and look at him with indescribable cold eyes.

”Don’t worry, I won’t.” Rise looked at his hand; if he gripped harder, this man’s neck would snap. Just like that.

Too fragile, too weak...

Rise clenched his jaw. Yet they were too brave for their own good.

”But you won’t be able to get up for a while.”

The man’s snot and tears were already all over his face, about to be unconscious. Rise then threw him to the side, like how he threw his trash.

The man’s body grew limp as it quivered, having a shock. Rise did not bother with him.

The reporters there, they were about to experience why...

Their seniors would be terrified to the point of pissing their pants at the mention of Rise’s name.

The same situation happened to others. Rise, as much as possible, wanted to clean up silently, not wanting to ruin Riri’s day for the commotion.

And the reporters were already in such positions where they could have a good distance but also a view from the playground.

”This... This is murder!” A woman shrieked, her eyes shaking as she tried to crawl away; her knees had already given out from terror.

Rise paused and then took the camera from the woman; he looked at it and the contents for a while and then destroyed it like the others. As soon as he did that, he glanced at the woman and smiled with amusement.

”Do you know what’s a murder?” He asked, as if truly inquiring. He stepped forward, and the woman shrieked once more, crying.

”Don’t... Please don’t come any closer. I’m sorry. Please... I’m sorry.” The woman was lucky to notice the disappearance of others, and just as she was about to escape, Rise had already locked her out.

Her movements became so heavy that she knew... Escaping was not possible.

Why... Did they provoke this devil? She regretted coming here.

”You crying?” Rise pursed his lips as he crouched in front of the woman and rested his chin against his hand. ”I haven’t done anything to you yet, though.”

The woman hiccuped, so terrified to even respond as Rise was now closer to her. Her tears just continued to drip down her cheeks, blurring her vision, but Rise’s face still seemed all too clear to her.

He reached out, making the woman flinch, but Rise was already touching her cheek, wiping the tears.

”You’re lucky.” He smiled. ”No, not because you’re a woman...”

He did not think he could favor one over the other, no matter the gender; as long as they provoked him, they were enemies.

”You did not take a picture of him.”

And so, the woman... was lucky to escape unscathed. Although the terrifying experience would linger for the time to come.