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 heard Mendelssohn's doubts, but just smirked, "You arrived late just now and stood far away, so you might not have heard clearly. However, it's no big deal. I've already notified the theater staff to replace the piano. Judging by the time, they should be arriving soon."


As soon as Arthur finished speaking, he saw the theater's curtain lifted by someone, and several staff members with flushed faces were delicately moving a heavy piano from backstage to the lobby.


As they moved the piano, they couldn't help but curse, "Isn't this wrong? Wasn't the piano usually not this heavy?"


"Damn it, this one feels almost twice as heavy as most pianos."


Following behind the staff, with an embarrassed expression, was Wheatstone, who was nervously apologizing, "Sorry for the trouble, everyone. This piano is a modified version from Wheatstone Musical Instruments, and it might be a bit heavier."


182 chapters On and Off Stage Are All Musicals (4K6)_2