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

"You also know, if a person is born into a poor family in London, especially a mischievous boy, that as soon as he learns to walk, he already has one foot stepping onto the wrong path. I did things like stealing iron and toys when I was a child, and once, I was caught stealing by my father."


He called me over with a serious look and said, 'Michael, although we are poor, we want no part in unclean deeds. We have hands, feet, and a heart that's upright and hardworking. You can't go on like this, I don't expect you to become a gentleman riding in carriages, but I do hope you become a man of integrity and strength. Michael, my dear son, do you know? Your mother and I are really worried about you. We fear that one day we'll see our son hanging on Tyburn's gallows. Promise me you won't continue down this path, will you? If you want toys, daddy can buy them for you.'


Chapter 273 It's not the best of times, it's not the worst of times_3