The Forgotten Bloodline

Chapter 3

The following day, Eric’s hospital room was rarely without visitors.

The police arrived first. They asked him several questions about the previous day’s incident, but most of them merely repeated information that was already circulating. From the way they spoke, Eric could tell the interview was little more than a formality.

Not long after the police left, the vice chancellor of Astraea Vellora University arrived with two members of his staff.

The middle-aged man smiled warmly as he placed a basket of fruit on the table.

“Eric, we’re deeply sorry about what happened to you. The university has completed its internal investigation and identified the students involved. They will be disciplined in accordance with university policy.”

Eric merely nodded.

The vice chancellor paused before continuing in the same friendly tone.

“We hope this matter can end here. Rest assured, the university will give you special consideration. If you encounter any academic or administrative difficulties during the remainder of your studies, we’ll do everything we can to help. We’ll also make sure you can complete your degree without further trouble.”

One of the staff members then placed a folder on the table.

“This is humanitarian assistance from the university.”

Inside was a check for thirty thousand dollars, along with a letter stating that the money was intended to cover Eric’s medical expenses and recovery.

The vice chancellor smiled again.

“All we ask is that this incident not escalate into a larger issue. After all, we also have the university’s reputation to protect.”

His words sounded polite, but Eric understood the meaning behind them.

If he continued dragging the case into the public eye, the rest of his time at Astraea Vellora University would be anything but easy.

“Young man, sometimes accepting reality is far wiser than continuing to pursue justice.”

With that, the vice chancellor turned and left with his two staff members without waiting for Eric’s response.

Eric let out a quiet breath.

In the end, he decided to accept their decision for the time being.

He knew the university wasn’t an opponent he could face alone. Behind the institution stood countless influential figures with power and connections far beyond his reach.

More importantly, Astraea Vellora University was backed by the Rothwell family.

They might not be the wealthiest family in Velora, but no one questioned their influence. Whether in business, politics, or law enforcement, the Rothwell name often appeared behind the scenes.

Eric wasn’t foolish enough to make another powerful enemy in his current condition.

⸻

After all the visitors had left, the hospital room fell silent again.

Eric glanced toward the door to make sure no one was outside, then summoned Legacy Intelligence in his mind.

The transparent screen immediately appeared before him.

He drew a slow breath.

It was still difficult to believe that such impossible technology truly existed.

“Hello…” he murmured. “What exactly can you do? And are you able to speak?”

A few seconds later, lines of text began appearing on the screen.

[I can perform various functions according to my owner’s commands.]

[However, most features remain locked.]

[Current Version: Level 1.]

[Voice communication is currently unavailable.]

[Raise Legacy Intelligence to Level 5 to unlock the communication module.]

Eric frowned.

“Level?”

[The higher Legacy Intelligence’s level, the more functions its owner can access.]

Eric’s curiosity intensified. He stared at the transparent screen without blinking.

“Then what can I access right now? Can you give me money or create physical objects?”

The text on the screen immediately changed.

[No.]

The blunt answer caught Eric slightly off guard.

Several new lines soon appeared.

[I cannot create money, gold, weapons, or any other physical object.]

[I can only provide information, analysis, simulations, and solutions based on available data.]

A hint of disappointment crossed Eric’s face.

“Then how do I raise your level?”

[Legacy Intelligence’s level is not determined by the system.]

[Legacy Intelligence’s level advances alongside its owner’s development.]

Eric became even more confused.

“What does that mean?”

[If the owner stops growing, Legacy Intelligence will also stop growing.]

[If the owner loses all sense of purpose, Legacy Intelligence’s evolution will cease.]

[The greater the owner’s abilities, experience, influence, knowledge, and achievements, the higher the authorization level Legacy Intelligence can unlock.]

Eric read the words several times before finally murmuring, “So I’m the one who determines how powerful you become?”

[Correct.]

[Legacy Intelligence does not create legends.]

[Legacy Intelligence only helps legends reach their full potential.]

Eric fell silent.

For the first time, he realized that this technology from the future wasn’t a shortcut to success.

If he remained a weak man who did nothing but complain about his fate, Legacy Intelligence would remain stuck at Level 1 forever.

Slowly, the corner of his mouth lifted.

“Interesting…”

Knock! Knock!

The door to the hospital room opened.

Andreas entered first, followed by Xavia.

The moment he saw Eric sitting up in bed, Andreas smiled.

“Good. You’re finally awake.” He glanced at Xavia standing behind him. “Look, someone came all this way just to see you.”

Xavia let out a soft sigh.

“Don’t listen to him.”

Andreas chuckled.

“All right. I’ll go find Dominic.”

He gently patted Eric on the shoulder before stepping outside and closing the door.

The room fell silent again.

Eric glanced at Xavia, then turned his gaze toward the window.

Xavia stood there for a moment before pulling over a chair and sitting beside the bed.

The silence between them felt awkward.

“I’m sorry,” Xavia said softly.

Eric turned toward her.

“For what?”

“I was too late.”

She offered no further explanation, but Eric understood what she meant.

He shook his head. “You’ve already done more than enough for me.”

Xavia looked at the cast encasing his right arm.

“Does it still hurt?”

“A little.”

Their conversation came to another halt.

After a moment, Xavia picked up a plastic bag beside her chair and placed it on the table.

“I brought you some fruit.”

Eric glanced at the bag.

“Thank you.”

“That’s all.”

Eric gave a small nod. “Thank you for coming.”

Xavia didn’t respond. She simply sat there in silence for a while.

Strangely, neither of them felt the need to force a conversation.

Before leaving, Xavia stood and looked at Eric for a moment.

“Take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

Xavia turned and walked out of the room.

After the door closed, Eric stared at the bag of fruit on the table.

There was no expensive gift.

No heartfelt speech.

Yet somehow, for the first time since the incident, he felt that someone had genuinely come because she was worried about him.

⸻

Not long after Xavia left, the door opened again.

Four people entered together.

Three middle-aged men and one woman. All four wore white coats and hospital identification badges.

Yet Eric had never seen any of them before.

Andreas and Dominic were still outside, leaving Eric alone in the room.

The oldest-looking man stepped forward.

“Good afternoon. How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” Eric answered politely.

The man nodded with a faint smile.

“That’s good. We’re going to perform a brief examination.”

Without saying much else, they began examining Eric.

They checked his blood pressure, heart rate, pupils, and reflexes with meticulous care.

There was something different about the way they worked compared to the doctors who had treated him before.

The woman among them then replaced his IV bag with a new one.

“Vitamins to help speed up your recovery,” she explained briefly.

Eric merely nodded.

A short while later, one of the doctors approached him carrying a small vial.

“We need to take a blood sample for further testing.”

“Wasn’t my blood already drawn yesterday?” Eric asked in confusion.

The doctor maintained his smile.

“It’s merely an additional procedure. It won’t take long.”

His voice was calm, but his tone left no room for further questions.

A few moments later, another man adjusted the pillow behind Eric’s back. At almost the same time, he plucked a strand of hair from the shoulder of Eric’s shirt and slipped it into a small transparent bag with a movement so subtle it was nearly impossible to notice.

The entire examination lasted no more than ten minutes.

Before leaving, the oldest doctor looked at Eric once more.

His gaze seemed warm.

Yet for some reason, Eric felt that the man wasn’t looking at him the way a doctor normally looked at a patient.

“I hope you make a swift recovery.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

The four of them nodded, then left the room.

The door closed behind them.

Eric assumed it had all been part of a routine examination. He had no idea that the blood sample and single strand of hair they had just taken would change the course of his entire life.