The boy living in the dormitory opposite is named Charles Norman.

He was said to be a boy, but in fact he was one year older than William and would soon become an adult. He was sent to the Royal Navy by his family three years ago, but he has not passed the lieutenant examination in the Navy Department and is still an alternate sergeant.

Charles' real interest is to collect all kinds of beetles. Everyone in the military port has heard of his story of catching a long-legged golden flower worm falling into a cesspool. They even gave him the nickname "Beetle Boy". People often joked about him, and even boys who had just entered the military academy looked down on this predecessor who had not grown up.

Even though he lives close to him and meets him frequently, William has never dealt with him too much.

However, he still learned the hidden fear in Charles' heart, although this was not done on purpose.

After the chart drawing class that morning, the instructors rarely stayed in class, and Old Qiao did not come to cause trouble. William decided to take advantage of the good weather to go to the dock in Linhai to see the newly built battleships.

From the teaching classroom to the shipyard, you need to pass a narrow corridor. Few people know this road, and most people have to circle around the military harbor to reach the dock. William discovered it by accident because of the labour of cleaning the warehouse by Lao Qiao last time.

The narrowest part of the corridor required a sideways to pass. William skillfully clamped the chart and sextant under his armpit. While he was passing against the brick wall, someone was crying softly from the other side of the wall.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Genggu...I'm sorry..."

Charles' voice. Mr. Genggu is the green-backed dung he cherishes very much. He was stomped by several prank freshmen while performing a dung ball last evening.

It seemed that Mr. Gangbang was unable to save his life. Although William thought it was too ridiculous to speak to a bug, he stopped listening. He thought of Isaac, the friend who was once isolated.

"I should hit them...I should hit them hard!"

William heard Charles crying while smashing the ground with his fist.

"But I dare not...I dare not!" he cried, "I am a waste! Useless waste!"

"Sir Genggu, I'm sorry... I'm sorry!"

Charles' sob whispers gradually disappeared.

As soon as William was about to leave, he heard the sound of water throwing and thundering sounds coming from the partition wall. He suddenly remembered that the other side of the wall was a workshop that used to test the water seepage at the bottom of the ship. The craftsmen dug the ditches to divert water to this point, and they probably haven't had time to drain it yet.

He was shocked suddenly, and quickly threw away the chart and sextant in his hand, and quickly squeezed through the narrow passage - there was a small opening for exhaust and light transmission not far ahead, and turning it in from there was the fastest way.

Although he was not familiar with Charles, watching alone and dying by the water was too terrifying, and he could never sit idly by.

William climbed up to the wall in a hurry, not caring about his pants being scratched, and he crawled into the workshop from his small mouth.

Then a scene that stunned him appeared in front of him.

Charles was spreading his long hands and feet, sitting in the puddle that had just flooded his chest and fluttered hard. The expression on his face was obviously extremely frightened, but it was obviously not dangerous. Mr. Genggan, who was unfortunately killed, was packed in a small transparent glass jar, floating up and down with the waves he stirred up and down.

"You just have to raise your legs and stand up," William said speechless. He accidentally moved closer so that his clothes would not be wet by the splashes of Charles. "This water will not flood you."

"No!" Charles yelled with his eyes closed, "I dare not!"

"What?" William was very shocked, "Are you... afraid of water?"

Charles did not answer, he could not escape from fear surrounded by water.

William kind of knows why he failed the lieutenant exam for three consecutive years: "...you can swim?"

"I can learn it!"

Charles refused to show weakness. William had no choice but to look down at him with his hips.

"Help! Help!" He finally couldn't bear it anymore and waved his hands randomly to call for help.

William rolled his eyes and shook his head and sighed, unbuttoning the buttons of his coat.

Even in summer, my whole body still makes me tremble with cold after getting wet. The wind is strong on the beach, and when I get up from the wet water and blow it like this, everyone will tremble.

The close-fitting shirt was twisted into a ball, and with a little force on both hands, a small waterfall-like stream was squeezed out. William twisted it several times, and after confirming that he could not squeeze anything out, he put it up and placed it near the fire.

"Why are you going to be a royal navy when you are afraid of water?" He pissed off the bonfire, "You can't even swim, you probably are the first one in history."

"I...I'm learning." Charles was like a child who had learned a lesson. He hugged his knees in front of the fire, trembling with coldness.

"Just that was just now?"

Charles shrank his head and said nothing.

"Mr. Genggu is dead with his eyes open." William sighed, "Who wants you to be the navy?"

"My dad." Charles stumbled, "My brother said I..."

"Okay, I don't want to know what your brother said about you." William interrupted him. According to the oldest son's inheritance system, the eldest son of a noble family would inherit all the property, and the other young sons were either stuffed into various departments to serve as public offices or block the road and robbed. Since Charles had an older brother, it would be natural for him to appear in the Royal Navy - although at this point, his family seemed to be working together to kill him.

Seeing Charles' expression of being reluctant to speak, William calmed down, making himself look a little less impatient: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you! You...you are very nice."

William glanced at Charles. He had no heart to tell him that his kindness and help were simply because he saw the shadow of his friend in him. So he asked lazily: "Why didn't you stop me when I was beaten by Old Joe?"

Charles was very embarrassed. He blushed and hesitated for a long time, but he couldn't say a word.

"Actually, for you, it's better to meddle in other people's business." William decided not to mock this stupid big boy, "Don't cause trouble, trouble won't mess with you."

"Well... he said something similar to me," Charles nodded seriously. "That's why I... didn't..."

"who?"

"Your uncle. You look so much like you." He reached out and gestured on his cheek, "especially here."

Arthur didn't mean to see his nephew be beaten. William felt a little whispered in his heart. He resisted the sarcasm and asked, "Do you know me?"

As soon as he said that, he knew the answer - the two of them lived in the opposite door, and there was no reason why they didn't know each other when they looked up and saw each other.

"He has brought me a lot of bugs!" As soon as he mentioned the beetle Charles, he became excited. "Last time he brought back a Papuan golden stag beetle from Batavia, and he bleeded my hands!"

"You guys have a good relationship." William knew that his heart began to feel sour and jealous again. Isaac wouldn't have it, but what happened to this stupid Charles.

"I guess I don't have any friends, so I have pity for me." Charles scratched his head, "Actually, I don't see him very much. He's on the sea most of the time." He continued, "He mentioned you to me and asked me to help prepare gifts for you before!"

"Uh...what gift?" William was a little surprised and prayed in his heart that he must not be a strange bug.

"Birthday gift! You are sixteen years old this year, right?" Then Charles was depressed, "But... he never came back from the sea... Alas, they all said he was dead."

He was sincerely sad. This made William feel more affection for the slow-moving big boy: "Do you believe it?"

Charles shook his head. He thought for a while: "I would rather believe he was hiding."

William felt aroused and asked seriously: "What did Arthur ask you to prepare for me before?"

"Uh, he asked me to help buy a book." Charles was a little embarrassed. "I guess he made some riddles and other things... but I definitely can't guess it."

"Where is the book?"

"Just put it in his room. There seems to be something else. You, where are you going--"

William did not care about his clothes, and rushed into the bright sunshine and ran towards the military house.

Yes, the treasure map game he was familiar with began.
Chapter completed!