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 ordered a pint of beer and blended into a penny house, leaning against the wall and quietly listening to the roaming singer's impromptu tune; in the dim lighting and the noisy environment, Arthur in his overcoat seemed to have merged with the place.


In that dark corner, no one cared about the identity of this tall gentleman, nor what his intentions might be for being here.


Even Fiona's sisters only gave him a glance at the beginning and then no longer paid him any attention.


As for the gangsters who came in later from the East End, the older ones wanted to strike up a conversation with Arthur, but after being tactfully declined, they wisely found an empty seat to watch the show by themselves.


The younger gangsters were still curious about the identity of this young, tall man, until they learned from the older gangsters, in hushed, mysterious tones, that this was Mr. Arthur Hastings. Only then did they start to feel an inexplicable sense of awe and fear.


Chapter 250: I Have Very Few Friends (5K)