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

London Number 1, in the entertainment room of the Apsley House, two new players joined the card table.


Great Dumas glanced at his hand, a set of low cards that nearly made his scalp tingle.


The royalty check that Disraeli had just settled with him yesterday was being frittered away in no time at the gambling table.


Compared to the restless Great Dumas, Arthur, sitting across from him nonchalantly puffing on his pipe, seemed much more composed, even though the cards in his hand were not impressive. Luckily, he had a king in his hand and, more importantly, a joker devil by his side. As long as he didn't want to lose, no one could win money from him.


Sitting next to Arthur were Talleyrand, humming a tune, and the latecomer Duke of Wellington. These two gentlemen seemed less engaged in card playing and more in a battle of wits and trash talk.


Chapter 194: Arthur, You Must Survive Until the End (4K4)