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 shook his head as he read, "Not this kind of story again. Perhaps I've seen too much; it's starting to make me numb."


Field lit his pipe and sat down next to Arthur, "Chief, to be honest, I feel the same. I must admit, you were right when you said, 'Work at Scotland Yard long enough, and your heart hardens.' You were spot on."


Arthur closed the first file and began, "Let's set aside the unfortunate plight of the Kowalczyks and discuss the case. If it's true what the parishioners say, that Mrs. Kowalczyk maintained a high standard of living through some special channels, then perhaps we also need to employ means from certain special channels."


"Exactly," Arthur replied, accepting a light from Field, "Send someone to London, tell our 'Underground Queen' it's time for her to start working her lazy ass off. I've had my eye opened; we can't just let this slide."


Chapter 306: Three Files_2