Chasing Time

“Next, we have the most noble recipient of the Order of the Garter, the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Grand Cross of the Bath, the Victoria Cross and the lower grades of Knighthood, the leader of the anti-colonial movement, the bell-ringer of the East India Company, the hero of the Crimean War, a Fellow of the Royal Society, a lifelong dear friend of literary giants such as Dickens and Great Dumas, a steadfast supporter of scientific luminaries like Faraday and Darwin, having served as assistant under-secretary, deputy under-secretary, and permanent under-secretary in departments of the Home Office and the Navy Department of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the inaugural Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, the first graduate and most distinguished alumnus of our school. Please welcome Sir Arthur Hastings to deliver a speech on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the University of London.”
Arthur's gaze swept across the crowd before him, looking at the young faces and murmured, “Agares, what do you think I should say?”
The Red Devil's wraith hovered behind him, saliva almost dribbling from the corner of his mouth, “Look at these ignorant souls; they still worship you as a hero. Why not say something they'd like to hear?”
Arthur took a deep breath and let out a deafening roar, “Oxford is a bunch of whores' bastards!”
“Oh!!!!”
The audience erupted into thunderous applause.
“Cambridge is the same!” he added immediately.
The applause grew even more fervent...
(The protagonist, possessed by a devil, travels through 19th-century Britain in a world without magic)

The Shadow of Great Britain

The Gresham College lecture hall's back entrance has a separate small room.


Arthur arrived at the door led by a servant, and before he could enter, he saw the door open on its own, revealing a silver-haired old man with a sturdy physique, a moustache, and a black eyepatch over his left eye.


Despite his age, the old man stood as straight as a sheer cliff, leaning on a cane, wearing a clean and severe black suit that was spotless, exuding an overwhelming aura even from several yards away.


With a dark face and a fierce momentum, the old man swung the door in front of him open; the door hit the wall so hard it felt as if the ground shook.


Seeing Arthur standing at the door in his police uniform, he was initially taken aback but then scrutinized Arthur with his remaining keenly sharp right eye, examining every inch of him.


After looking for a while, and before Arthur could ask, the old man took the initiative to approach and heavily patted Arthur's shoulder.


Chapter 14 The Duke's Investigation Commission