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

Arthur leaned against the tree trunk and took a drag of his cigarette.


"Do you think I'd fall for your trick? If it were someone else saying this to me, I'd just assume they didn't understand Britain's parliamentary system. But you, the all-knowing Devil, when you say this, I can only assume you have ulterior motives. You must know that being a Member of Parliament comes with no salary."


Therefore, usually only those who are worry-free about food and drink and own fixed properties would consider becoming a member.


Only a very small part of the members, essentially the prominent figures of the party, could gain various cabinet posts during cabinet reshuffles and receive salaries for their positions.


And the kind of backbench MP that Duke Wellington wanted me to be, not only has no income but must also vote along with the party. It's a job even a dumb animal could do, why would I have done it in the past?


Chapter 151 The Transformation at the University of London (4K)_2