The Forgotten Bloodline

Chapter 9

The night grew late.

For the first time after years of barely scraping by, Eric lay on a bed so large that his body seemed to sink into it.

A classic crystal chandelier adorned the ceiling. To his right, a nearly ten-foot-tall window overlooked the mansion’s backyard.

Every corner of the room radiated a level of luxury he had never even imagined.

Yet the more luxurious the room felt, the harder it was for him to fall asleep.

Eric let out a quiet breath.

Too many things had happened in such a short time.

Only a week ago, he had still been a poor college student.

Tonight, he was sleeping as the grandson of the Brown family.

The change didn’t feel real.

After a moment, Eric raised his left hand.

“Legacy Intelligence.”

Ding!

A transparent blue screen slowly appeared before him.

Eric stared at it for several seconds before finally asking, “How wealthy is the Brown family?”

The display changed moments later.

[Head of the Brown Family: Cole Brown]

[Country: Kravania]

[Total Net Worth: USD 20,000,000,000]

Eric’s eyes widened.

“Twenty billion dollars?”

His breath caught for a moment. Several seconds later, however, his brow gradually furrowed.

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

New text appeared on the screen.

[Cole Brown.]

[Youngest son of Noah Brown.]

[Current head of the Brown family.]

Eric slowly nodded.

“That makes sense. Grandpa is already too old to lead the family.”

He leaned back against the headboard.

After asking several simple questions, most of which received only brief answers from Legacy Intelligence, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

“In that case, can you heal my arm?”

Several moments passed without an answer.

Then a new line of text slowly appeared.

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

A trace of disappointment crossed Eric’s face. Before he could say anything, however, more text appeared.

[Legacy Intelligence can provide a medicinal formula capable of accelerating the healing process.]

Eric’s eyes lit up again.

“A medicinal formula?”

[The formula can be provided.]

[It can be compounded into recovery pills.]

A smile slowly spread across Eric’s face.

“Then show me the formula.”

The display immediately changed.

Ingredient names appeared one after another, followed by their exact measurements, the order in which they had to be combined, the required heating temperatures, and every stage 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, much less how to process them.

“It seems I’ll need to find someone who’s truly an expert in pharmaceuticals.”

Without wasting any time, Eric picked up a notebook and pen from the table beside his bed.

He meticulously copied down every ingredient, measurement, and preparation step. He didn’t leave out a single detail.

After making sure he had recorded the entire formula, Eric slowly closed the notebook.

Since the Brown family’s appearance, he had become increasingly convinced that the ring and its system possessed abilities far beyond anything he could imagine.

⸻

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

Clothes, shoes, watches, the latest smartphone, and every daily necessity he could need had been prepared without a single item overlooked.

A short while later, Robert handed Eric a black bank card.

“Starting this month, one million dollars will be transferred into your account every month, Young Master. If that amount proves insufficient, I will increase it immediately.”

Eric stared at the card for several moments before accepting it. For an instant, he thought he must have misheard. But when he remembered the Brown family’s wealth, the amount slowly began to make sense.

“This is already far more than I could ever spend.”

Robert merely bowed his head slightly.

Eric suddenly remembered something.

“Could you help me with something?”

“Yes, Young Master?”

Eric took out a sheet of paper he had carefully folded the night before and handed it to Robert.

“I need your help with this.”

Robert accepted the paper and slowly unfolded it. His gaze swept over the list of ingredients and preparation steps written on the page.

“I need this medicine as soon as possible.”

Robert nodded.

“Understood. I’ll immediately find an expert capable of preparing it.”

⸻

After receiving his new phone, Eric immediately called Andreas.

He sent him the address of the Brown Mansion and asked him to come with Dominic. There was too much to explain over the phone, so Eric decided to tell them everything in person.

Less than three hours later, a white sedan stopped outside the mansion gates.

Andreas and Dominic quickly stepped out.

Their gazes immediately settled on the magnificent mansion towering before them.

Neither of them walked inside. They exchanged looks, as though still trying to confirm that Eric had sent them the correct address.

Then a familiar figure suddenly waved at them from the front courtyard.

Eric.

Andreas and Dominic exchanged another look before hurrying toward him.

The moment they met, Andreas bombarded Eric with questions.

Eric merely smiled and patted him on the shoulder with his left hand.

“Come inside first. We can talk while we eat.”

Andreas still looked uneasy.

“Last night, Xavia only told me you were safe. When I asked her for details, she told me to wait for an explanation from you.”

Eric slowly nodded.

Dominic, meanwhile, hadn’t even had a chance to speak. His eyes were busy taking in the grandeur of the mansion before settling on a dining table covered with luxurious dishes.

He swallowed unconsciously.

Their conversation continued over the meal. From the beginning, however, Andreas was far more occupied with asking questions than touching his food.

Eric finally told them everything, starting with his transfer from the hospital and ending with the discovery that he was the grandson of the Brown family.

The room suddenly fell silent.

Andreas stared at Eric for several seconds before gently patting his friend’s shoulder.

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

He glanced at Dominic.

Dominic, who was still chewing, slowly raised his head.

“Wait, why me?”

Andreas pointed at Eric.

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

Dominic nodded solemnly.

“Oh. So whenever the three of us go out together, I’m the poorest one now?”

Andreas burst out laughing.

“You’re only realizing that now?”

Dominic sighed.

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

Eric raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“People might get the wrong idea. Why would two rich men be friends with a factory worker?”

Andreas laughed and slapped Dominic on the shoulder.

“That’s exactly why we’re friends with you. If we ever lose all our money, you can find us jobs at the factory.”

Eric could no longer hold back his laughter.

Their conversation continued until Andreas suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, right. I almost forgot. I have some interesting news. My family told me about it this morning.”

Eric raised an eyebrow.

“What news?”

Andreas grinned.

“Issabel is in serious trouble.”

Eric leaned slightly forward.

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

Andreas chuckled.

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

Eric frowned.

“That’s what you call interesting?”

“I’m not finished.” Andreas’s smile grew wider. “The interesting part happened afterward. Jason was robbed and beaten half to death last night. His right arm was broken, along with his left leg.”

Eric immediately fell silent.

Broken?

His gaze unconsciously dropped to the cast around his right arm.

Even Dominic, who had been busy eating, raised his head.

Andreas continued, “No one knows who did it. The Smith family is investigating, but I think it was probably the Rothwell family. They couldn’t have been happy about their granddaughter getting hit.”

Eric leaned back in his chair and shrugged. If that was true, then Jason was finally getting a taste of his own karma.

Several seconds later, however, the faint smile on Eric’s face gradually disappeared.

‘Catrine Rothwell only suffered minor injuries. The Rothwell family shouldn’t have needed to go that far.

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