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

Under Arthur's watchful eye, a sweating Mr. Riddle almost immediately met his request to jump the queue for cologne.


However, Arthur was clearly more concerned about the reputation of Bernie Harrison in the perfumers' circles than the cologne itself.


Arthur uncapped the perfume bottle and took a light sniff, then nodded in satisfaction, "I have to admit, Mr. Riddle, the perfume you've blended is almost as good as that of Mr. Bernie Harrison. Do you know Mr. Harrison? He entered high society precisely because of his skill in crafting perfumes."


Upon hearing Arthur mention Bernie Harrison, Riddle's demeanor softened considerably.


He responded with a smile, "You flatter me, sir. While I do confess to having some insights into the art of perfume blending, there's still quite a distance between me and a big shot in the fashion world like Mr. Harrison, who supplies a stable stream of perfumes and cosmetics to numerous important clients."


Chapter 202: Human-like Constellations Shine (5K)