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

Bayswater District, in the living room of Arthur's mansion.


Great Dumas, Arthur, and Victor were sitting at the dining table in the living room.


As Arthur poured tea for Victor, he quietly listened to the story of the man reputed to be the best criminal investigator in the world.


"In fact, I am not as legendary as everyone thinks. Since you've read my published 'Memoirs', you should understand that I've been quite the rascal since I was five or six.


Of course, this had something to do with my older brother, too. Our family ran a bakery in Ostend, and as children, my brother and I often stole money from the shop.


After this behavior was discovered by my father, he was so angry that he sent my brother to apprentice at a tailor's shop in Lille. As for me, because I was younger and my mother begged for me, I escaped that fate.


Chapter 176 The Circle of Great Writers in France