The silence stretched as Seth deliberated on a reply.
Trust... When it came to the level of power Seth held, and the political authority the President commanded, those words weren’t something to be used casually.
Even back on Seth’s team, it had taken time to build solidarity and trust.
But staring at the President, while Seth could say he respected the man, trust?
Well, he wasn’t so sure. Yet for the President to ask, something important must definitely be weighing on his mind.
Something he wished to share with Seth — information Seth wouldn’t want to miss.
Staring at the man’s sturdy back, Seth couldn’t help but be reminded of a similar silhouette.
A man he had encountered once, whose image remained so ingrained in his psyche Seth could recall vivid details of his features...
Adam...
And if there was one thing the human brain loved, it was the familiar — something it recognized.
So instinctively, Seth found himself leaning toward a positive reply.
Sighing, he didn’t resist it. After all, the President hadn’t done anything so far that would make Seth adverse to trusting him.
So in the end, he gave a quiet reply...
"Yes sir, you can trust me."
The President heaved a heavy sigh of relief, his shoulders falling slack, losing the strong upright demeanor almost as though burdened by a weight too much for one man to bear.
The President turned, revealing an expression marred with weariness. He then glanced at Seth seriously. "I will take your word for it, boy."
Gesturing his arm toward Seth, he offered, "You can take a seat," while clasping his steady recliner behind the desk.
Seth complied, pulling on the nearby chair to sit. He glanced at the President and couldn’t help but ask, "Why the sudden question, sir?"
The President sighed wearily, massaging his forehead with his fingers as though attempting to dispel a migraine.
"Because what I’m about to tell you, I haven’t told anyone. And I might be wrong, but I may be the only person on this planet alive who knows this."
Seth’s heart skipped a beat. When it came to information, he could call himself a glutton. Ears perked, he leaned slightly forward, listening with hushed breaths.
Raising his gaze, the President stared at him with the most serious expression Seth had ever seen on the man.
Not one that meant business — no, this expression bordered on grim.
"Tell me, boy, do you believe in ancient myths?" The President asked, his voice slow and foreboding.
Seth’s heart skipped again at the sound of that question, but he tried to keep his emotions in check, maintaining a neutral expression.
Unfortunately, before the President, it was no use. Narrowing his gaze, the President scrutinized Seth. Before Seth could even reply, he let out a dry chuckle.
"Well, well, indeed I was wrong. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you." The President’s words sounded more like a statement than a question.
Seth blinked, reeling from shock internally, lips parted — but before he could speak to defend himself...
The President clicked his tongue. "It seems you’ve even encountered one of these figures I’m referring to, right?" The President smiled, his eyes holding confidence.
At this point, Seth couldn’t help it anymore. His composure crumbled — shock, surprise, and curiosity all flashed through his eyes as he asked a single question in reply.
"How do you know?"
The President’s smile widened as he let out a hearty chuckle. "Trying to hide something from me? With how long I’ve lived, I’d be ashamed of myself if I couldn’t see through the bluff of a child."
The President needn’t say more. Seth’s eyes widened in shock and realization, his brain snapping pieces into place, connecting the dots...
"You... You’re one of them!" Seth gasped, reeling back as he pointed.
To this accusation, the President just smiled calmly and nodded. "Indeed, boy... I am."
Seth was even more stunned. The President confirming it made the revelation even more astonishing.
His heart hammered as realization dawned clearer. It all made sense now!
No wonder such a young-looking figure could take charge of a post like the presidency of the USA!
No wonder he saw through their ranks so easily. No wonder he never felt threatened by them, no matter how fast Seth and his friends progressed.
It was all making sense now...
And also, Seth stared at him — the similarity between this man and Adam becoming even more glaring.
"You... You must be Cain... like the actual original freaking Cain!" Seth blurted out, eyes wide and shining with certainty.
Now it was the President’s turn to be shocked. "You actually know who I am?"
Well, to Seth’s defense, it wasn’t like the President did much to mask his identity, even still using his original name at this point in time.
It was quite easy for Seth to figure it out, especially since he had met Adam face to face. The similarity between father and son was undeniable.
Especially since Adam was the first man, there were only so few genetic alterations that could affect his features.
The President’s eyes glowed as he smiled and proceeded to speak. "Then the figure you must have met..."
Seth nodded, completing his sentence with a single name. "Yes, it was Adam."
The President’s fists clenched tight at the sound of that name, his eyes misting ever so slightly red.
"So he’s alive..." he whispered, voice breaking. From his demeanor, one could see the man must have thought something tragic had happened.
But then the President’s eyebrows furrowed. There’s no way Father could still be alive and the racial lamp was lit... That could only be possible unless...
He stared at Seth, eyes widening in realization. He pointed at him. "You... You are the bearer of the Origin Soul!"
Seth smiled, nodding. "In the flesh," he affirmed.
The President chuckled. "I can’t believe I didn’t realize, and it was so obvious too — your abnormal will density, your absurdly robust constitution... Only the Origin Soul bearer could be so freakishly talented."
Seth just smiled at his words, not knowing whether to take it as a compliment or otherwise.
Both sides digested the revelation they had just experienced.
The President’s smile then faded somewhat. Seth, seeing this, subtly adjusted his demeanor, sensing the President was getting back to business.
"Good. Now that we’ve established that you know a lot, it shouldn’t be so hard to believe what I say next."