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 a quiet box on the third floor of Astley's Circular Theatre.


A crisp "ding" sound was heard as Viscount Palmerston raised his glass to gently clink it with the glass of Lady Lywen, who accompanied him there that day.


Lady Lywen spoke with a beaming smile, "Henry, after a year in office, you've really become more adept at your work in the Foreign Office. I've always seen a certain irresistible social charm in you, and you've skillfully applied it to your diplomatic work. No matter what others say, at least I think you are the best Britain has had in this position in recent decades, even surpassing Sir George Canning and Viscount Castlereagh. You've worked hard to avoid conflict between Britain and Russia, bringing Europe precious peace."


Upon hearing this, Viscount Palmerston responded with his signature smile, flattering this lady in front of him who was both the wife of the Russian ambassador and one of the hostesses of Almack's Club.


Chapter 263: Astonishing Secret (4K2)