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 nodded slightly and said, "It sounds quite lively. So, were the ticket prices not expensive back then?"


Dickens replied with a smile, "Indeed, they weren't expensive, and even common people could afford to watch a play occasionally. I heard people say that during winter, when the theaters opened, residents from all over London, after finishing work at noon or in the evening, would often spend four pennies to buy a ticket in the main hall and enjoy a play. If the guests were willing to spend an additional two or three pennies, they could buy a large glass of barley beer and a serving of fish and chips in the theater's pub. If someone spent about a dozen pennies, they could get several meat dishes, like a devouring cake."


Arthur found this odd, stared at Dickens for a long time, and suddenly pinching his chin, he started, "Charles."


"Are you talking about London? Why does it feel more like Luzhen to me?"


Chapter 236 Dickens's Love Story (4K6)_2