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 the lounge of the Golden Lion Inn, words and laughter erupted sporadically.


Arthur asked, "Mr. Owen, were you serving in the military in the United States back in 1812?"


Swirling his drink, Owen responded, "Hmm, although I've always thought that fighting wars was foolish, considering the Royal Navy was off the coast of New York at that time, I, as a New Yorker, couldn't help but take up arms to defend my hometown. However, my service was short-lived, and I retired as soon as the siege of New York was lifted."


General Napier, seated on the sofa, burst into laughter and replied, "If that's the case, the shortest distance between us in 1812 might have only been a few miles."


Owen furrowed his brow and asked, "Were you an officer in the Royal Navy?"


Chapter 316: Each Sets Out