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

Officers at Portsmouth Port's dining facility watched as Arthur sat before a dish he had heard much about but was seeing for the first time.


The dish looked from the outside like freshly baked bread with a golden crust, but when Arthur sliced through its outer layer, he discovered its true complexities.


The "bread" was divided into three layers: the outer layer was a mix of egg wash with foie gras pâté and mushroom purée, the middle layer a perfectly marinated, richly red smoked ham, and at the core lay a tender and juicy prime filet mignon.


Because this was Duke Wellington's favorite dish, it naturally acquired a fitting name in British restaurants—Beef Wellington.


Arthur cut a piece of the steak and chewed thoughtfully for a moment.


Sitting beside him, Eld raised an eyebrow and asked, "How does it taste?"


Chapter 77: The Unfortunate Former Secretary of State