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

Across from the Greenwich Police District, Eld was animatedly discussing the latest news with Darwin in the café.


"Charles, did you see the news? Louis Philippe of Orleans has succeeded to the throne of France—those Frenchmen must be out of their minds. They got rid of one king only to install another. What was all the fuss about then?"


While reading a book, Darwin absentmindedly replied, "I thought France was full of republicans. Are they satisfied with having a king in place?"


Eld said, "I read in the newspaper that lately a group of radical republicans planned to stir up trouble in Paris, but they were discovered before they could start. Those involved were either imprisoned or exiled. For all we know, there might be a few French republican exiles right here in this café."


After saying this, Eld began squinting as he scanned the café's patrons.


Chapter 59 Assistance of the Knights of the Round Table