With practiced care, the elderly man approached Li Mingzhe's bedside, his movements deliberate and gentle as he helped the young man into a sitting position. The morning light cast long shadows across the luxurious chamber as the physician reached for his belt pouch. "How are you feeling?" he inquired, his voice carrying the professional warmth of someone who had spent decades tending to patients.
Mingzhe's enhanced senses caught something peculiar - as the man withdrew a notebook and pen from his pouch, the fabric remained perfectly still, as if the items had simply materialized rather than being physically removed. The oddity sent his mind racing with possibilities. Could this be confirmation that magic existed in this world? But even more intriguing was the inexplicable pull he felt toward the pouch itself.
Drawing from countless novels he'd read during his hospital confinement, Mingzhe wondered if the sensation indicated the presence of some legendary medicine - the kind of mystical panacea that naturally attracted those in need of healing. His analytical mind was already forming theories when he realized the physician awaited his response.
"Same as usual," he answered cautiously, acutely aware that he lacked any memories from this body's previous occupant. The words had barely left his lips when a mechanical voice resonated through his consciousness: [Initializing merge!]
The pain struck without warning - sharp, overwhelming, like lightning coursing through his skull. His scream echoed off the chamber walls as he doubled over, fingers clutching desperately at his head. The physician moved quickly to steady him, but Mingzhe was beyond comfort, his body twisting and turning on the floor as waves of agony crashed through him.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the old man acted decisively. He extended his arm, placing weathered fingers gently against Mingzhe's temple. "Sleep," he intoned, the word carrying power beyond its simple meaning. A soft green aura materialized around Mingzhe's head, and consciousness fled instantly, his features relaxing as the pain released its hold.
With surprising strength for his age, the physician carefully lifted Mingzhe's limp form and placed him back on the bed, adjusting the pillows with the expertise of one who had performed such tasks countless times before. His expression betrayed a hint of concern as he studied his young patient's now-peaceful face, not understanding what had just occurred.
…
The physician had just finished settling Mingzhe onto the plush bedding when the chamber door burst open, the heavy wood swinging wide to reveal three figures silhouetted in the doorway. The sudden interruption sent ripples of tension through the previously quiet room.
Leading the group was the physician's assistant, his nervous energy palpable as he ushered in two of the most powerful figures in the kingdom. Friedrich Rothschild entered with the easy confidence of one born to power, his middle-aged features carrying both the weight of authority and natural charisma that marked him as the current head of the illustrious Rothschild family. Beside him stood his wife, Victoria Rothschild - formerly of the Lancaster nobility, a family whose prestige, while not quite matching the Rothschilds, still commanded significant respect in aristocratic circles.
The contrast between husband and wife was striking. While Friedrich maintained his aristocratic composure, Victoria was a portrait of maternal panic. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her breathing labored as she practically materialized at her son's bedside, her noble bearing forgotten in her rush to reach him. Her hand clasped her son's limp fingers as words tumbled out in desperate succession: "Ambrose, are you awake? Mom is here! How are you feeling?"
The silence that answered her questions transformed her worry into rage. She turned on the physician, her elegant features twisting into something dangerous. Before she could speak, the old man raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Relax, he was having a headache so I put him to sleep using magic. He should be waking up soon."
His words, meant to calm, only stoked the flames of her anger. "You used magic on him?" Her voice rose sharply, power beginning to radiate from her form. "You know he has the Weak Body physique, but you still dare to use magic on him?" Her eyes blazed with ethereal blue light, her feet lifting from the ground as ancient power stirred within her. "It seems people have forgotten my name since I left the front lines," she declared, the air around her crackling with barely contained energy.
A firm hand on her shoulder halted her ascent. Without turning, knowing her husband's touch, she pleaded, "Dear, are you really going to let him harm our son?"
Friedrich's response was cold and precise: "You're the one harming our son by using magic here." The truth in his words hit her like a physical blow. Horror replaced rage as she dropped back to the ground, her power dissipating instantly as she frantically checked her son for signs of damage from her magical display.
"Besides," Friedrich continued, his expression shifting to something predatory as he regarded the physician, "sleep magic only lasts one hour. Even accounting for Ambrose's Weak Body physique, it'll take no more than two hours." His smile turned cruel, carrying the weight of generations of noble authority. "If he doesn't wake up by then, it won't be too late to slaughter his entire family as tribute to my son."
Victoria's own expression mirrored her husband's wickedness as they both fixed their gaze on the physician. The assistant trembled visibly at the threat, but the old doctor maintained his composed exterior through years of professional discipline. Inside, however, his thoughts raced with mounting horror. What had begun as a simple opportunity to earn additional funding for his research had somehow spiraled into a life-or-death situation for his entire family. 'How could I forget that these two are...' The thought trailed off as he contemplated the notorious reputation of the couple before him.
…
In an absolute void devoid of light or sensation, Mingzhe's consciousness drifted like a leaf in an invisible wind. The boundaries between existence and non-existence blurred as he floated, stripped of all physical feeling. A fleeting thought crossed his mind - had his Weak Body Physique finally claimed him? The thought gave him pause. Weak Body Physique? What was that? And who was Ambrose? He was Li Mingzhe... wasn't he?
Foreign memories began cascading through his mind like a digital download, each one carrying fragments of another life. As the torrent of information finally settled, a mechanical voice echoed in his consciousness: [Merge complete! Restarting...]
But Mingzhe barely registered the notification, too absorbed in processing his newfound identity. He was now Ambrose Rothschild, sole heir to one of the most powerful families in the Avaloria Kingdom. His parents, Friedrich and Victoria Rothschild, weren't merely nobles - they were the nobility that other nobles aspired to be. The common saying rang in his borrowed memories: "There are noble families, and then there are the Roths." Their dukedom wielded military might that rivaled even the royal family's power.
While his original family had been wealthy by Earth's standards, they were mere commoners compared to the Rothschilds' influence. He had indeed reached the heavens in a single leap - if only his body wasn't still as frail as paper.
[Restart Complete!] The mechanical voice interrupted his musings, and suddenly, a diminutive figure materialized before him. She was fairy-like, roughly the size of a smartphone, with luminescent blue wings and matching attire. Despite her radiant glow, the surrounding darkness remained impenetrable, as if rejecting light itself.
The fairy circled him with analytical precision, her expression growing increasingly troubled. [Hm, what if I... No, that wouldn't work,] she muttered in her static-tinged feminine voice, seemingly oblivious to his presence. [What do I do now?]
Mingzhe waved his hand before her face, finally catching her attention. [What do you want, human? I'm trying to think here,] she snapped with fairy-sized arrogance. Suddenly, her expression brightened with inspiration. [Hm, that could work!]
Without warning, she darted forward, placing her tiny hands on his forehead. [Human, today is your lucky day. I don't usually give gifts like this, but consider it your good fortune.] A brilliant blue light emanated from his head, and upon seeing her "gift" take effect, the fairy spoke hastily, [Seeing as you have accepted the gift, in accordance with the contract, I'm free!] Before he could respond, she vanished into the darkness.
"What was that?" he wondered, struggling to process the whirlwind encounter. As if in response, a translucent blue interface materialized before him, displaying his status in precise detail:
[Name: Ambrose Rothschild]
[Level: 1]
[Species: Human]
[Physic: Weak Body (Can't increase physical stats in any way)]
[Title: Rothschild's Heir (+10 Charm), One who leapt through through Space & Time (Space-time Talent)]
[Talent: Observation, Space-time]
[Health: 1/1 (Tip: 90% chance to trip and fall to your death)]
[Mana: 0/0]
[Strength: 0.1 (Average 5)]
[Stamina: 0.1 (Average 5)]
[Agility: 0.1 (Average 5)]
[Intelligence: 15+ (Average 5)]
[Stat Points: 100]
[Experience: 0/10]
[Overview: These are the worst stats this system has ever seen, apart from the divine Space-time Talent, everything else is useless. But even with the talent, without any mana, it is almost impossible to ever use this divine talent so let's not even talk about it. Even with the given free stat points, you can only reach the level of a 1 in 10 genius, and that's only if you distribute it equally but looking at your weak body, it'll be IMPOSSIBLE to increase any other stat apart from intelligence.]