Mr. Thomas has grown a lot in just a few days. The rich man who always holds his head up and likes to talk big is gone. Now the decayed and declining atmosphere is rolling up, and after his gorgeous dress fades, what is left is a man over fifty years old.

In William's first sixteen years of life, he had never suffered any real setbacks. The world always treated him gently, and everyone's words were always good, and most of the dreams could come true. He had long been accustomed to the life of the stars, and had never even tasted the feeling of being ignored and neglected.

The life he was familiar with was quickly moving away from him. The world finally tear off its gentle mask and showed its minions, showing him its ugly and terrifying side.

The first one to cut off their ties were the relatives who often traveled around, and then friends in the business world, local gentry and joint officials far away from major trade hubs.

The wool girl from Spencer's family climbed up to a noble son with lightning speed, and was said to be engaged soon; Mr. Harris was still planning to catch a rich son-in-law, and the Thomas family has been regarded as a waste by him.

William suddenly understood why his father was anxious to match the girl from Spencer's family. If he obeyed this marriage, the family situation might still have room for improvement.

The sisters cried day and night, and they didn’t know whether they were crying for the fate of the family or crying themselves.

The housekeeper Albert dismissed the servants he hired at home one after another - thanking him for his loyalty. If he even gave up, he really didn't know how to deal with so many things.

The family's plan to leave Grantham was urgently advanced. Everyone knew that avoiding the plague was just a decent statement, and avoiding the influx of creditors was the fundamental reason they needed to leave quickly. Those capitalists who played money games were like a group of vultures eating rot. After smelling the breath of decay, they would gather in groups to share the feast of death.

The covettors who were sensible came faster than expected. When the creditor representatives of the British East India Company came to visit, William was not too surprised. They were Mr. Thomas's largest trading partner in the East and the largest creditor.

Despite his haggard appearance, Mr. Thomas still came forward to receive the reception himself. The aura he developed over the years is still there, and even if he loses his power, he still remains unrestrained in dealing with people.

William felt sorry for his father, but he couldn't help at all - just like his at a loss when facing his friends' difficulties.

Through a door, he heard the company representatives being aggressive and his father was complaining. The words "selling", "liquidating", and "debt" were repeatedly mentioned, like a ghost that lingers around.

"I want to know where that fleet is now." Mr. Thomas's voice sounded exhausted, "When they arrive at the port, the difficulties will pass."

"No one can know," said a strange voice, "Barbary pirates, Dutch armed plundering ships, and French, Portuguese-"

Another person responded: "As well as countless sea storms and sailor rebellion. There are unexpected situations, Mr. Thomas." He deliberately dragged his tone to emphasize, "The plague is spreading throughout the country. Think about it, what would happen if one person in the closed and isolated ocean fleet got sick?"

"I have entrusted my friends from the Royal Navy..." Mr. Thomas whispered over and over again, "They promised to send me a letter to you recently."

"We are now very doubtful whether your messenger can deliver the message safely. Plague and robbery are all things that cost lives."

Mr. Thomas was still defending himself: "Arthur Thomas, my brother..."

"You brothers are not in a good relationship."

The other party immediately pointed at his weakness. Master Thomas stopped talking as if he was hit hard.

"And we must regret to tell you that Arthur Thomas had been killed in a battle with the Portuguese half a year ago." The speaker seemed to have no emotional fluctuations. They had long collected all the news that they could use to knock down the Thomas family. "Their ship was sunk and no one survived."

These words were poured into his ears like thunder. William felt like his head was hit hard by a stone, and his whole body was light and as if he had lost his presence. This year's birthday gift had not arrived for a long time, and he never thought it would be the reason.

The hero he longed for in his childhood fell in the depths of the cold and dark ocean. Before he could follow his footsteps, he had not seen the magnificent morning sunset in the Eastern world side by side. The dream of hope had just begun, like a young bird yearning for the world outside the eggshell through the hazy white light, but was shattered by sudden violence, and was exposed to a harsh world.

The invisible weight made him difficult to breathe. He knew that he was crying. He wanted to find someone to talk to, but suddenly he remembered that his friends were getting farther and farther away.

William didn't know how long he had been in the cubicle. When he pushed the door out, it was just dark and the East India Company's people had already left.

My father was smoking in the study, the door was closed and there was no light. A little light of red light shone out the outline of his silent face.

The servants at home were almost gone, and the originally bustling mansion became deserted, so quiet that you could hear the ringing of insects in the open space outside the house. Although there were many furniture and tithings, they always felt empty, like a body that had lost its soul.

William felt uneasy and habitually reached out to grab the pendant on his chest, but caught it empty. This made him even more frustrated.

He sat on a short stool against the wall, with huge portraits of clan members hanging above his head. The ancestors stared at him silently.

The door knocked three times softly, and the housekeeper Albert appeared silently at the door of the reception room and brought two letters. He did not want to disturb William's being alone, so hesitated for a long time.

"Albert?"

William was a little surprised. He saw the letter in the hand of the housekeeper. Generally speaking, he had only one person to correspond with. Now he couldn't think of anyone else who would write to him.

Albert raised one of them: "Miss Anne of the Clark family just sent it." Then he raised another one, "When I received the letter, I found this in the gap at the door. I don't know who put it, but I only wrote it to you. There is no signature on the envelope."

The housekeeper handed over the letter and William accepted it. He unfolded the first letter, which was Anne's handwriting.

"William, sorry:

I just learned about what happened in your home, and I really don't know what to say to you.

My own affairs have been messy these days, and I have to rely on you to comfort me. I regret it now! Why didn’t I notice it? Alas, when you encounter such a change, you have to say so much to me every day, and you must feel very sad. I’m so sorry.

Actually, I know about your quarrel with Isaac. Last time I asked him, he told me. Isaac regrets quarrel with you, but he doesn't know how to tell you. I originally planned to tell you, but then I heard about your family's changes. I think you may not be in the mood to listen to these things now.

Isaac is indeed a bit weird lately. He often goes out at night and sometimes comes back early the next morning. He always feels that he has something to hide from me, but when he asks him this, he refuses to say it. Oh, I can't tell you whether this is suitable now, but I really hope you can make up. I know you are all feeling uncomfortable.

If you want to find someone to talk to, I've been here all the time. I hope I can help you and make you feel better. Please tell me if I can do anything."

When reading the letter, the girl's worried expression emerged from her mind, and William felt that some soft part of her heart was touched.

He breathed a sigh of relief and finally felt a little relieved. He put down Anne's letter and picked up another letter. He was also familiar with his handwriting and wrote it in charcoal on the back of the manuscript paper full of chemical formulas and star track operations. His heart thumped slightly, as if a lonely little rabbit woke up from his sleep.

"William, sorry:

I'm leaving and going to London. I should have asked you to say it in person, but every time I can't say it, I might be more safe to write a letter. I knew you didn't mean it that day, and I was very impatient at that time, and it was reasonable for you to be anxious.

Alphons promised to continue to provide me with materials later so that the medicine can be continuously produced. It was of great help to Anne's father's illness. We tried it for a while and maintained the effect was quite stable. I haven't figured out what its ultimate form is, but the premonition is most likely something very close to the Sage Stone.

I didn't mention this to you, for fear that you would worry. I didn't plan to trust Alphonse completely. I knew what kind of person he was. But I needed the resources he had too much. Don't worry too much, I would be very, very careful.

I only wrote to you, and I don't want Anne to know the reason why I left Grantham. Don't tell her. Take good care of their family for me.

Thanks to you over the years, I am very grateful and cherish the time I have been with you. You are my most important friends."

The signature of the letter at the end is "Crucible". William's mouth curled, and a hint of naughty and self-deprecating meaning was read.

He put down his letter and breathed heavily.

The air inhaled into the lungs could not rinse the large mass of things blocked in his chest. He couldn't say what it was, but he felt that his limbs and bones were locked up in chains, and he was even struggling to breathe.

The news that followed was overdrawing his mental power.

Not too late...not too late...

He said to himself in his heart.

William threw down two letters and stood up, rushed out of the door under the housekeeper's surprised gaze, and ran into the darker night.
Chapter completed!