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

On the endless seaside plain where one could not see the end, the grass was emerald green, and a gentle breeze brushed past, pushing down the tall grass and revealing flocks of sheep in the distant pastures, leisurely grazing like clouds.


Suddenly, from afar came a series of loud clanging noises. The sheep, which had been at ease moments ago, were startled by this sudden noise, scrambling in panic, and with a sharp whistle, the sheep's anxiety peaked instantly.


They anxiously stared at the pitch-dark cave where they couldn't see their hands in front of them. Since last year, such terrifying hellish sounds had been emitting from there several times a day.


Every sheep that had grown up in Liverpool knew that the appearance of such sounds meant that the arrival of the steel dragon was not far off.


Sure enough, accompanied by the piercing steam whistle that tore through the silence, thick white steam burst forth from the dark cave.


Chapter 282: Contraband Inspector