"You know, I investigated the Sovereign Garden and found out you are the leader," Sebastian said calmly.
Silas remained quiet for a moment. He released a puff of smoke that disappeared instantly under the passive aura Sebastian exuded.
"I know," Silas replied with a sigh.
Slowly, a smile began to form on Sebastian's face. "Oh, how do you know that?" he asked.
He knew one thing: Silas was not lying. If he were, it would have been obvious from his soul's color, which Sebastian could see clearly.
"I knew your identity was not simple. You even seemed stronger than the governor, which is not meant to be possible since the governor is the greatest talent on our planet."
Silas paused at those words and released a sharp exhale.
Sebastian did not need to hear anything else. He instantly understood what Silas meant.
"I am curious though, how were you able to find out about me so quickly?"
Silas smiled. "We both have our ways," he said.
The implications of his words were clear, they did not need to share their secrets.
But in reality, Silas did not have a secret. The reason he was able to find out was because of one of his workers.
He had posted Sebastian's picture and asked them to find out about him.
Luckily, the Monarch-tier guard was affiliated with Sebastian's tower.
"Secrets," Sebastian said with a smile. "I like that you are not exposing all your sources."
Silas also nodded with a slight smile.
"So, do you know the reason I called you here?" Sebastian asked, suddenly becoming serious.
Silas shook his head gently.
"Have you ever thought of why I came to this planet, despite how backward it is?" Sebastian asked.
"No," Silas replied.
Although he had a guess, it was just a guess, nothing more.
"Max is my disciple," Sebastian said. "I came to give him the Three-Eyed racial potion and assist him in his breakthrough to the Ascendant Realm's Monarch tier," he added.
"Oh, it was that," Silas said with a slight smile.
"What did you think it was?" Sebastian asked, his brows furrowed at whatever the boy thought had happened.
"Nothing," Silas said.
"I can tell if you are lying or not."
Silas's smile disappeared as he almost choked on smoke from his cigarette.
Silas hated the fact that his emotions were open to someone, but there was nothing he could do, he was just too weak.
"Would you kill me if I talk?" Silas asked.
"I would kill you if it is bad. If you don't talk, I will kill you still," Sebastian said, the temperature around Silas dropping to a chilling degree that made him shiver.
His heart tightened at those words. He could not lie, Sebastian was going to know.
As his mind raced, he heard a sudden chuckle from Sebastian, one that rattled his bones but was still confined within their space.
"I was joking, even if I had thoughts of killing you previously, your talent would be too useful to the human race to lose."
Silas was not too surprised at Sebastian's words. Anyone with a bit of sense would know of his potential, but he did not think that Sebastian would place so much value on it.
"Don't worry, you don't need to tell me what was on your mind, not like I care anyway."
Silas nodded.
Then he asked a question. "But Master Sebastian, with your influence, you can get disciples better than Governor Max, why did you choose him?"
He had heard from Alfred previously that underestimating Max was a mistake no one should make.
Sebastian looked at Silas for a moment before he replied. "Max was able to defeat a Paragon-rank cultivator," he said, his words slow as if he still found it impossible to believe.
"For context, a Marshal-rank full-power attack can at most affect an area spanning ten miles, and that is for extremely special cases. And a Paragon-rank cultivator can destroy a city with less effort."
Silas's eyes widened. He did not need Sebastian's explanation to understand the absurdity of what Max did.
He had read his fair share of books and knew the gap that existed between each realm. It was a vast chasm, and even crossing realms to fight a person one rank higher than you was monstrous on its own.
Only a few peak-tier races could do that. Crossing a realm to fight above two stages was completely unprecedented. Maybe the top geniuses of peak races that had been cultivated extensively could achieve it.
As for Max's achievement, it was unheard of. And thinking of it now, Max was only an ordinary human, with no special genetic ability that made him unique.
"I had to conceal the news so those tower masters wouldn't take him for themselves," Sebastian laughed.
Silas joined in the laughter. Thinking about it, there was no real reason to laugh, but watching Sebastian laugh that way made him laugh.
"Okay then, let's get to business, would you become my disciple?" he asked directly.
Silas was caught off-guard by the sudden question.
"I understand Governor Max, but why me? I don't have the overwhelming combat power of Governor Max. Although my talent is high, for someone of your level, billions of people with better talents will be groveling at your feet just to have a chance," Silas said.
"Don't you know of the rule? No one can have a human with Extraordinary talent and above as a disciple. They are to be cultivated by Tower Masters themselves. Mythic talents are cultivated by the empire itself," Sebastian explained.
"As for why I chose you, I was only considering it after Max spoke about you, but now I have seen your potential. On this planet, you were able to advance to tier 3 citizen, tier 1 scientist, and start an organization that has drawn the eye of countless towers. That alone qualifies, not to talk about your combat power which can even cross ranks."
Silas felt flattered by Sebastian's praise. But he still had to think about it. He knew it could be a really good boost to his growth.
"You will have my full backing if you accept," Sebastian added.
Silas smiled at those words. He stood up from his chair and dropped the cigarette into the ashtray that Sebastian had provided him earlier.
"Greetings, Master," he bowed.