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

In the office, Arthur looked at Disraeli, who was sprawled on the sofa gasping for breath, and calmly took a sip of tea.


He set down his teacup and began, "What's the matter with you? Isn't it just moral suasion? The way you are now, people who don't know better might think you've been attending to the ladies' business non-stop for a month."


Disraeli looked up at the ceiling and muttered, "Non-stop for a month? Arthur, you think highly of me. If I really had to do that, I'd prefer to just give the money and forgo the follow-up services. After all, dealing with Mrs. Sykes alone has already exhausted me."


Arthur picked a small biscuit from the box on the table, "It seems that Mrs. Sykes's motives for getting close to you are indeed not so pure…"


Upon hearing this, Disraeli adjusted his collar and said earnestly, "Arthur, my relationship with Mrs. Sykes hasn't progressed to the extent you're imagining."


Chapter 248: Hastings-type (5K6)