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

In Wheatstone's music store, Arthur looked at the two phonographs on the counter and doffed his hat to Wheatstone in greeting.


"Thank you for your cooperation, good citizen."


Wheatstone simply propped one hand on the counter and covered his forehead with the other, "I hope you won't have another opportunity to salute me in the future."


Arthur was not upset by Wheatstone's rudeness; instead, he responded quite calmly, "On that point, I think you might be inconsiderate. I believe we'll meet again soon, if not at the Royal Society, then right here in the music store."


"Fine, fine," Wheatstone waved his hand dismissively, "So, Mr. Hastings, now that you've got the phonographs, what about the gun loss issue?"


"Gun loss?" Arthur raised his head slightly as if struggling to recall.


Wheatstone looked at him suspiciously, "You're not thinking of going back on your word, are you?"


Chapter 145: The Gentleman Who Escaped from the Asylum