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

"The French have been much more subdued these past few years than during Napoleon's time, and as for Bavaria, well, I admit I have a bit of a family tradition of prejudice against them. You might not know this, but my father was an immigrant from Hesse in Germany, so..."


Arthur, smiling, asked, "So how do the Hessians view the Bavarians?"


The diplomat, also smiling, began, "My father used to say: 'Bavarians are a transitional species between Austrians and humans.'"


Upon hearing this, Arthur couldn't help but joke, "In that case, perhaps I happen to have a genuine Bavarian among my friends."


The diplomat stopped in his tracks and feigned sorrow, "Oh, Officer Hastings, hearing such news is truly unfortunate."


Arthur, shaking his head with a smile, said, "It's nothing, I've gotten used to it. Being friends with a Bavarian isn't so bad. Looking on the bright side, it's certainly better than dealing with Austrians."


Chapter 240 Conversation with the Foreign Minister (5K)_2