The Forgotten Bloodline

Chapter 8

The night grew late.

Eric lay in a bed far larger than any he had ever owned.

A classic crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. To his right, a window nearly three meters tall overlooked the mansion’s back garden.

Yet despite the comfort of the room, sleep did not come easily.

Too much had happened in too little time.

Last week, he had still been a poor college student.

Tonight, he was going to sleep as a grandson of the Brown family.

Eric let out a quiet breath before raising his left hand.

“Legacy Intelligence.”

Ding!

A transparent blue screen appeared before him.

Eric studied it for a few moments.

“What do you know about the Brown family? How wealthy are they?”

The display immediately changed.

[Head of the Brown Family: Cole Brown]

[Country: Kravania]

[Total Wealth: USD 20,000,000,000]

Eric’s eyes widened.

“Twenty billion dollars?”

A few seconds later, his brow furrowed.

“Wait. Cole Brown is the head of the family? Isn’t that Grandpa Noah?”

More text appeared.

[Cole Brown.]

[Noah Brown’s youngest son.]

[Current head of the Brown family.]

Eric nodded slowly. “That makes sense. Grandpa is too old to lead the family now.”

He leaned back against the headboard.

After asking a few more questions about the Brown family, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

“Then can you heal my arm?”

A few moments passed before new text appeared.

[That ability is beyond the scope of Legacy Intelligence’s functions.]

Eric felt a little disappointed. But before he could say anything, another line appeared.

[Legacy Intelligence can provide a medicinal formula to accelerate the healing process.]

Eric immediately focused on the screen again.

“A medicinal formula?”

[A formula can be provided.]

[The formula can be used to produce recovery pills.]

Eric’s eyes lit up. “Then show me.”

The display immediately changed.

Ingredient names appeared one after another, followed by quantities, the mixing sequence, heating temperatures, and every step of the preparation process.

Eric read everything carefully. The longer he read, the deeper his frown became. He had never heard of any of the ingredients, let alone knew how to prepare them.

“It looks like I’ll have to find someone who really knows pharmaceuticals.”

Eric picked up a notebook and pen from the bedside table and began copying the formula.

He carefully recorded the ingredients, quantities, and every step of the preparation process.

After making sure he had not missed anything, Eric closed the notebook.

His gaze returned to the transparent screen before him.

Since Legacy Intelligence had appeared, he had only begun to realize that the capabilities hidden within the ring might be far greater than he had first imagined.

—

The following morning, after breakfast, several servants entered the living room carrying more than a dozen shopping bags from well-known brands.

Clothes, shoes, watches, the latest phone, and various everyday necessities had all been prepared. Nothing had been overlooked.

A little later, Robert handed Eric a black bank card.

“Starting this month, one million dollars will be transferred to your account every month, sir. If that isn’t enough, I’ll arrange for more immediately.”

Eric stared at the card for a few moments before accepting it.

“Isn’t that a little too much?”

Robert simply smiled and shook his head.

“You needn’t worry about that, sir.”

Eric nodded. Just as he was about to put the card away, he remembered the formula he had written down the previous night.

“Robert, could you help me with something?”

“Of course, sir.”

Eric took out a neatly folded sheet of paper and handed it over.

Robert unfolded it, his gaze moving over the list of ingredients and preparation instructions.

“I need this medicine as soon as possible. I’ve written down the formula and how to make it.”

Robert nodded. “Certainly. I’ll find a specialist who can prepare it right away.”

—

Once he had his new phone, Eric immediately contacted Andreas.

He sent him the address of Brown Mansion and asked him to bring Dominic. There was too much to explain, so Eric decided it would be better to talk in person.

Less than three hours later, a white sedan stopped outside the gates of Brown Mansion.

Andreas and Dominic stepped out. Their eyes immediately went to the magnificent mansion before them.

The two exchanged a glance before spotting someone waving from the front grounds.

Eric.

They quickly approached him.

The moment they met, Andreas bombarded Eric with questions.

Eric merely smiled and patted his shoulder with his left hand.

“Come inside first. We can talk over a meal.”

“Last night, Xavia only told me you were all right. When I asked for details, she told me to wait and hear it from you.”

Eric nodded.

Meanwhile, Dominic had not even managed to say a word. He was still busy taking in the mansion and its surroundings.

Their conversation continued at the dining table. From the beginning, however, Andreas was more interested in asking questions than touching his food.

Eric finally explained everything, from how he had been taken from the hospital to discovering that he was a grandson of the Brown family.

Andreas fell silent for a few moments before patting Eric’s shoulder.

“So now I only have one poor friend left.”

He glanced at Dominic.

Dominic slowly raised his head, still chewing.

“Hey, why me?”

Andreas pointed at Eric.

“This one has moved up in the world. Now you’re the only one left.”

Dominic nodded solemnly.

“Oh. So from now on, whenever I’m out with you two, I’m the poorest one?”

Andreas burst out laughing.

“You only just realized?”

Dominic sighed.

“In that case, starting tomorrow, don’t walk too close to me.”

Eric raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“People might get the wrong idea. What are two rich guys doing hanging around with a factory worker?”

Andreas laughed and patted Dominic’s shoulder.

“That’s exactly why we’re friends with you. If we ever go broke, you can find us jobs at the factory.”

Eric could not help laughing along.

Their conversation continued until Andreas suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, right. I almost forgot. There’s some interesting news. My family told me this morning.”

Eric raised an eyebrow. “What news?”

Andreas grinned. “Issabel is in serious trouble.”

Eric leaned forward slightly.

“Don’t leave me hanging. Tell me everything.”

Andreas chuckled.

“All right. Last night, Issabel was driving drunk and hit Catrine Rothwell. Fortunately, Catrine only suffered minor injuries.”

Eric frowned. “That’s what you call interesting?”

“I’m not finished.” Andreas’s grin widened. “The interesting part is what happened afterward. Jason was robbed and beaten badly last night. His right arm was broken, and so was his left leg.”

Eric fell silent.

Broken?

His gaze dropped to the cast around his right arm.

Even Dominic, who had been busy eating, looked up.

Andreas continued, “No one knows who did it yet. The Smith family is investigating, but I think it was probably the Rothwells. There’s no way they’d let someone get away with hitting Catrine.”

Eric smiled and leaned back in his chair. If that was true, Jason was certainly getting what he deserved.

But something bothered him.

Catrine Rothwell had only suffered minor injuries. Surely the Rothwell family would not have needed to go that far.

And strangest of all… why had Jason’s right arm been broken too?