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

And those who delicately held plates, eating as if they feared swallowing their slender, white fingers with a bite, were the hired maids and governesses. Their incomes were slightly better than the laundry maids', and with lodging provided by their employers, they naturally had more disposable income. For them, occasional indulgences were entirely acceptable.


Meanwhile, those gathered around the round tables, sipping their beer like high society savoring wine and occasionally puffing on their slender, long-stemmed ladies' pipes—releasing thick smokescreens that didn't seem to dissipate—were the dazzling beauties donning fashionable wide-brimmed hats.


As for their identities, there was no need to elaborate further; after all, there weren't that many professions available to ladies in those times. In just a short while, Arthur had spotted several girls he had seen in Fiona's company.


Chapter 249: Marvelous Journey (5K4)_3