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

Almost at the same moment the door opened, Tom and Tony took a brisk step forward.


Tony clenched the edge of the door tightly, making an effort not to let it close.


While Tom was the first to lift Adam, who was at the door, and retreat to the back.


Inside the door, the thief leader Fagin's face changed dramatically. Without even thinking, the man in his sixties immediately pulled out his right hand, which had been behind his back—it was a gleaming meat cleaver.


Just as he was about to deliver a ruthless cut to Tony in front of him, a hand as strong as iron tongs seized his wrist.


Fagin winced in pain, and the knife in his hand clattered to the ground.


Arthur, wearing a bowler hat, tipped up the brim and with his other hand, opened his coat to reveal the flintlock pistol tucked at his waist.


Arthur began, "Don't trouble yourself, Mr. Fagin. We mean no harm, we just want to have a brief chat with you."


Chapter 19 Fagin's Intelligence