“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 morning sunlight slanted through the narrow window of Whitehall Street, falling on the oak desk still carrying the scent of ink.


A copy of the unfolded London Gazette lay on the desk, its paper casting a faint yellowish-white hue in the light, with a rather mundane news item printed in neat lettering at the corner:


Under the command of His Majesty's Government, hereby announced: The establishment of the Police Commissioners Committee (Board of Police Commissioners) to inspect and report on the security situation and police discipline within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from this day forth.


Upon His Majesty's gracious approval, the following appointments are made:


The Right Honourable Henry Hobhouse, PC (Privy Council Advisor)


Sir Arthur Hastings, Kt. (Junior Knight), O.S.A. (2nd Cl.) (Russian Empire "Second Class Saint Anna Medal" Knight)


Chapter 1906 - Chapter 145: Tsar of the Police