Vanguard Technologies' headquarters resembled more of a massive private garage merged with an archive than a typical company.

Passing through the reception area, Ella found no office spaces, no conference rooms-just rows of server cabinets reaching to the ceiling,humming quietly.

A young man wearing black-rimmed glasses and a checkered shirt, looking barely older than Ella, led her into an isolated laboratory separated by glass walls.

The most striking feature wasn't any high-tech equipment, but an entire wall-a blackboard covered with dense, yellowing chalk formulas.

A tall, thin man with silver hair stood with his back to her, chalk in hand,seemingly modifying one of the variables.

"Dr. Adler, Ms. Brooks has arrived," The young man announced.

The man turned around. He wore a faded sweater.

"You look just like your mother." Robert's first words caught Ella completely off-guard, causing all her prepared questions to stick in her throat.

"Dr. Adler, I want to know everything about that patent," Ella forced herself to remain calm, cutting straight to the point.

"Patent?" Robert smiled, placing his chalk down.

He walked to a lab bench and extracted an old document carefully preserved in a plastic sleeve from beneath a stack of blueprints. "You

mean this?"

Ella stepped forward.

It was a draft patent application, half written in Robert's handwriting, the other half in her mother's elegant, strong script.

"This patent was never meant to attack, but to protect," Robert said.

"It was a legal fortress designed by your mother's own hand,a commercial trap," He continued.

Ella's breath caught momentarily. "I don't understand."

"Your mother anticipated that her research would attract countless covets,especially those Brooks family fools blinded by greed. She needed a lock-something that would secure the core technology while deterring potential thieves."

"So Vanguard Technologies became that lock. We deliberately applied for a foundational patent that appeared core but intentionally contained logical flaws and technical defects. By making this patent public, we set it up as a target to draw attention and discussion within the industry."

Robert's gaze sharpened. "Anyone attempting to steal or replicate the Sprout Initiative's core algorithms would inevitably encounter this foundational architecture. The moment they used similar logic, they'd immediately step into our patent trap."

"At that point, Vanguard Technologies would strike like a lurking viper,launching international patent litigation that could potentially cause catastrophic financial losses or even bankruptcy for the competing compuny."

"That's the true purpose of this patent. It's not a sword but a shield-the last line of defense protecting the Prometheus fire."

"What about Austin's acquisition?" Ella asked.

"That was a variable outside your mother's plan, and a surprise." Robert looked at her. "Someone wanted to use him against you, to turn this shield into a weapon to attack you; but instead, he unwittingly handed the ownership of this shield directly toyou."

"Now, Vanguard Technologies belongs to you. This fortress has finally welcomed its true master."

Austin had been transformed from a perpetrator and high-handed judge into a deceived pawn who had foolishly handed her the keys to the castle.

Ella felt conflicted as the black and white photograph and the words "he is not the enemy" resurfaced in her mind.

Perhaps he wasn't an enemy after all, just another tragic player dragged into a conspiracy spanning twenty-six years.

"Twenty-six years ago, what exactly happened to my mother? Why did she leave Lumeria and abandon the Sprout Initiative?" This was what Ella most wanted to know.

Robert's expression darkened as he walked to the window, gazing out at the gray sky.

"Because she discovered someone wanted to turn the Sprout Initiative into a tool of war."

"Within the consortium, an extremist faction attempted to adopt milltary pructices, using 'Industrial brain' technology to develop a fully automated

warfare system without human control."

"Your mother refused. She wanted to crente a botter future, not a more efficient killing machine."

"But that faction had immense power. They began pressuring her through various means,even threatening your safety."

Robert's voice dropped very low. "To protect you and prevent the Sprout Initiative from being tainted, she had no choice but to destroy all data and disappear from everyone's radar with you."

"Filing this patent in Drakmoor was her final move before leaving Lumeria.She wanted to ensure that even if she were gone, no one could touch her life's work."

Ella's eyes grew warm with emotion.

In a past she knew nothing about, Janice had once stood alone against Lumerian industrial giants, all to protect a future that belonged to all humanity.

"Is that faction still around today?" She asked.

"They never disappeared-they just hide deeper now." Robert's eyes were filled with concern. "Ms. Brooks, the moment you decided to restart the Sprout Initiative, you placed yourself in direct opposition to them."

"They will use every method possible to take what you have or destroy you,"

"John's poress conference is just the beginning."

Bila instanily understood-the Brooks family was morely another pawn

pushed forward by this dark force.

Their goal wasn't family assets at all, but to use a shameless lawsuit to completely drag her and Diamond Tech Solutions down, leaving her no energy to touch the core of the Sprout Initiative.

"Dr. Adler, my mother must have left more than just this," Ella said.looking at Robert.

Robert nodded, his gaze falling on a climate-controlled safe.

He retrieved a black USB drive from it, identical to the one Karen had given her.

"Your mother divided her legacy into three parts."

"The first part is the global patent, embodying her wisdom and serving as your technology foundation, previously guarded by Mrs. Raymond."

"The second part is Vanguard Technologies, demonstrating her foresight and serving as your shield, which I have been protecting."

He handed the USB drive to Ella.

"As for the third part, it contains the Sprout Initiative's core data, infused with her heart and soul, serving as your 'sword."

"Where is it?" She asked.

"Solaris," Robert slowly pronounced this location that Ella already knew. "Years ago, your mother stored that core data there with the highest security clearance. She stated that only her legal heir, carrying both parts of her legacy, would be able to awaken that sword."