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

Arthur saw Schwaiger's occupational disease as a businessman flare up and couldn't help but remind him aloud, "Sir, we can talk about business later. Before that, have you forgotten that there is something more important you should discuss with me?"


"Oh, sorry, Mr. Hastings, I almost forgot the real issue."


Schwaiger first glanced outside through the window, then leaned forward and lowered his voice.


"In over ten years at Liverpool, I've not only made a fortune but also broadened my horizons. You being sent to Liverpool by the Cabinet to investigate smuggling surely means that you understand just how lucrative foreign trade can be.


"Us textile mill owners labor day and night, toiling away, to find at the end of the year that we are still not making as much profit as those second-rate traders.


"So I thought, rather than letting others earn this money, I might as well earn it myself. It was also a good time to get my two grown sons involved in the company to give me a hand."


Chapter 284: 19th Century Early Access Experience_2