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

Deep in autumn, London rarely sees the sun early, and by evening, the twinkling stars can faintly be seen behind the night sky's curtain of clouds.


Under the bright moonlight, the newly installed kerosene streetlamps along the roads were lit one by one, bidding a permanent goodbye to the pitch-black nights where one couldn't see their hand in front of their face, and the shining city that never sleeps was no longer exclusive to Halloween, nor were the brightly lit streets merely for guiding the reawakened spirits away from this city.


Outside the Astley Circular Theatre, built in imitation of the ancient Roman Colosseum and partially open-air, the streets were bustling with activity. Carriage drivers could be seen on the roads, waving their whips, as well as proper gentlemen escorting either their own wives or someone else's.


However, just for tonight, it might be that most couples were in non-marital relationships.


Chapter 254 London Focuses on You (6K4)