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

East End of London, Tower Hamlets, Whitechapel.


Business at Martin's Tavern was booming today, as always.


Perhaps it was because the business was so prosperous that not long ago, Mr. Martin, the owner, had also taken over the neighboring grocery store and had carefully renovated the tavern.


Nowadays, the former counterfeit tradesman could proudly announce to everyone that Martin's Tavern was the most attractive landmark in Brick Lane.


Unfortunately, the customers who came to Martin's Tavern never cared about the interior decorations; they only knew that the Martin Family's beer was not only abundant but also cheap.


Those who cared about decor would never deign to venture to a tavern in the slums, where the air was thick with brickworks dust and slaughterhouse effluent, to gulp down what they considered horse piss.


Chapter 249: Wonderful Journey (5K4)