"So, you never saw him again?"

Yousuf changed his comfortable position and leaned on the side of the boat. He recalled William's previous narrative: "It's been seven years, and there's no clue at all?"

"I tried," William pondered, "but he was more like... hiding from me."

"This is unreasonable. You are obviously very good friends." Yousuf captured the clues left in his words, "What happened later...?

William's eyes and tone were serious, not as leisurely and joking as he used to be: "Anne's illness did not appear for no reason."

"...what does it mean?" Yusuf was a little shocked. He looked at the blonde young man in front of him and read a hint of undetectable difficulties from William's expression of wanting to speak: "Is this matter related to him?"

"I don't know," William said, "I hope there isn't."

"He has been working for the East India Company?"

"I guess it's. I heard that among them there was a young man with black hair who was quite talented in alchemy and natural sciences, and it should be Isaac." William frowned and recalled carefully. "I must have seen him several times in the middle, but he got out of him every time."

Yousuf shrugged: "To be honest, I admire him very much. From your description, this person seems to have never been smooth, but he is very persistent in what he pursues." He nodded affirmatively, then shook his head, "Such a person is respectable and terrible."

"Scary?" William laughed. Then the faint smile disappeared from the corners of his lips, and his expression gradually became solemn: "... Maybe."

"Worrying to be strangers to your best friend?"

William smiled bitterly: "Maybe he's already stranger."

"However, why did he go to the East? He will die all the time, and the nerd may die halfway through the road." Yusuf thoughtfully, "He doesn't look like he will participate in the Eastern trade. Unless-"

"Alchemy technique." William said confidently, "or... alchemy? It is said to be an alchemy secretly circulated among the Chinese. They spent many years trying to refine something called a elixir. It is rumored that it can make people live forever... Doesn't it sound familiar?"

Yusuf showed a disgusting expression: "Stone of the Sage."

William teased: "How many people can't ask for it, but you pretend to be more enthusiastic."

"What's the good thing about this ghost thing? I'm an indestructible monster now." Yusufu looked impatient, "If I were willing to cut a hole on my body and bleed, there would definitely be a large number of princes and nobles who came to me with gold and silver mountains. Maybe they could marry a princess home."

"Aren't you afraid of being twisted by Isabel?"

Yousuf grinned and showed a terrified expression: "Forget it. You are not afraid of death, fear of pain."

"I'm not afraid of pain, I'm afraid of death." William raised his eyebrows, "Let's change?"

Yousuf was about to punch at each other when he was suddenly attracted by the silver light shining on William's chest. He raised his hand and pointed: "Regurus?"

"Um."

William held it in his palm and rubbed it, and the metal-like cold and hard touch spread inch by inch.

The wind blew from the sea, carrying the salty smell and the singing of gulls. The two of them were silent for a while, and Yousuf suddenly said, "Actually, your friends should all envy you. After all, among you, you are the only one of you, your dream has come true."

"Yes." William also turned his back to the side of the ship, looking up at the snow-white sails above, "Some people have always said that. I grew up with other people's compliments and praises, and I have long been used to it." He whispered again, "But I envy others too."

He continued: "When I was a kid, I always wanted to catch up with half of Isaac's intelligence."

"Maybe Isaac doesn't know what you think."

"Of course!" William said firmly, "Who is willing to admit defeat? Who is the old man who doesn't talk about right or wrong?"

Yousuf thought about it but didn't answer.

After a while, he slowly said: "You haven't explained in detail how you became a pirate. After doing so, it's just over a year after you entered the Royal Navy."

William said "um". Yusuf chased and asked: "You just said you were still in the Royal Navy when you were dealing with the Zheng family in Nanyang?"

"Yes." He took a deep breath and said calmly, "I remember telling you before that one of them was put in front of my house..."
Chapter completed!