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

As the crew of the Black Thorn indulged in laughter, the deck of the Beagle was still a hive of hurrying activity.


Colonel Fitzroy, while observing the course of the Barbary pirate ship through his telescope, ordered an adjustment of the cannon positions.


"Set the range! Elevation 30 degrees, 15 degrees east by south, four shots, fire in unison!"


The thunderous roar of the cannons could be heard, causing a series of splashes on the sea surface. The Barbary pirate ship was hit in two places, but the damage was all above the waterline and did not affect its mobility.


But as soon as the barrage from the Beagle ended, the Barbary pirates' retaliation came swiftly.


They unveiled six guns in a row, firing fiercely at the Beagle.


With a loud boom, wood splinters flew all over the deck and smoke billowed.


Chapter 73: The Sound of the End