The Shadow of Great Britain

349: Chapter 213: The Bizarre and Diverse of the 19th Century (4K)_2 349: Chapter 213: The Bizarre and Diverse of the 19th Century (4K)_2 Arthur saw his appearance and raised his hand to greet, “Good morning, Agares.

Are you enjoying your vacation?”

The Red Devil heard this and, without any politeness, tossed his suitcase onto the desk, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a full cup which he downed in one gulp, “The beaches of Portsmouth are barely passable, but the Officer’s mess at the Royal Navy Base can’t compare to the taste at St.

James’s Palace.”

Hearing this, Arthur leaned back in his chair and responded, “Having something to eat is good enough, you’re pretty picky for a Devil.

If I remember correctly, didn’t you use to say you lived next to Baal’s dung yard restaurant?

You could swallow that environment, but dining at the Officer’s mess is below you?”

The Red Devil slammed his cup down on the table and cursed with wide eyes, “Baal?

If you hadn’t mentioned Baal, I might have almost forgotten about what just happened!

Arthur, you better watch out, I suspect Baal’s bizarre power has possibly invaded Britain!”

As Arthur wiped the spilled tea off the desk with a handkerchief, he inquired, “What, did you discover some specialty dish in London?”

“No!” Agares slammed his hands on the desk in alarm, “Do you know what I found when I passed the Thames River just now?

I saw two men rescuing a drowning person!”

Arthur nodded in approval and remarked, “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?

Now that you mention it, I also seem to recall something about a new civilian group recently formed…

um…

that’s right, the Thames River Drowning Victims Rescue Association!

You see, people helping each other, using their skills in swimming, if there were more helpful citizens like this in London, our job at Scotland Yard would be much easier.

Agares, I know you have a low opinion of humans, but you can’t begrudge seeing some good deeds, can you?”

Agares shook his head, “Little bastard!

I’m not jealous of saving drowning victims!

But do you know what they did after they rescued the person?

Those two men actually took out a pipe and a tube from a nearby first aid box.”

Arthur raised his teacup and said, “After doing such a great deed, saving a life, it wouldn’t be too much for them to have a smoke to relax, right?”

“That’s the issue, is it?

You’re not curious about the tube?”

Seeing Agares’s anxious and exasperated state, Arthur reluctantly complied, “Alright, what was the tube for?”

Agares pulled at his own face, almost twisting it into a mask of pain, “My King Solomon!

After those men took out the tube and pipe, one of them lit the pipe and started to smoke, while the other pulled down the drowner’s trousers and shoved the tube into his rear.

Then the smoker took a puff and exhaled into the tube, another puff and exhale.

My millennia of experience were shattered in those short ten minutes, like glass strewn across the floor!”

Hearing this, Arthur’s tea-sipping halted, he stared at Agares for a long while, then set down his teacup and fell silent for a moment before asking, “You watched for ten minutes?”

The Red Devil was taken aback at first, then furiously retorted, “Arthur!

Get your priorities straight!

This kind of behavior isn’t something ordinary humans would do; it’s absolutely the corruption of Baal’s filthy power seeping into the Mortal World.

If you fools don’t take notice soon, you’ll end up snacking on ‘little treats’ like him!

I just saw that idiot who was blowing smoke circles into the tube nearly got a big bite!

Hmm…

but I can’t say that for sure, maybe that was his goal?”

Arthur, who had also been considering the issue raised by Agares, suddenly noticed an advertisement in the corner of his eye on the newspaper.

He was startled at first, then pointed to the printed picture in the newspaper and asked, “Is this what you saw today?”

Agares looked down and saw the advertisement clearly stating — Intestinal Smoke Therapy Device, Smoke Therapy for treating various diseases, recommended by hundreds of London doctors, verified in the field by the Thames River Drowning Victims Rescue Association, has already saved the lives of dozens of unfortunate drowning victims.

Agares stared at the newspaper for a while, at first enlightened, then skeptical, but eventually, his face broke into a warm and kind smile, “Oh, my dear Arthur, wouldn’t you consider buying one?

To freshen up your intestines?”

“Sorry, not interested.”

“But the newspapers all speak highly of it, look, it has saved dozens of lives, this is indeed an immeasurable merit machine, I’m willing to call it the greatest invention of the 19th century!

Look at you, with your ready tobacco and pipe, just buy a machine and you’re set.”

“Didn’t you just say it was Baal’s conspiracy, an invasion from Hell?

How quickly you change your face!

Agares, you’re a learned Devil, do you really not know whether blowing smoke rings into someone’s rear end can save them?

I bet those folks did something extra besides giving the drowning victims smoke rings, perhaps artificial respiration?”

“Oh!

My dear Arthur, if you don’t believe me, you must believe the doctors, right?

Damn it!

The unparalleled 19th century is truly remarkable; the humans of the past 18 centuries might as well have not existed at all, for apart from nailing Jesus to the cross, there hasn’t been anything more ingenious than this!

How on earth did they come up with such a groundbreaking new invention?”

“Agares, I think it’s worth considering whether or not the doctors of the 19th century should be trusted.”

“Arthur, that’s anti-intellectualism!”

“I don’t mind, you don’t need much brains to work at Scotland Yard, just follow orders.”

“Weren’t you just priding yourself on being so progressive?

Why so resistant to new things?”

“Spare me your flattery.

Not too long ago, the media called Scotland Yard a bastion of authoritarianism.

And as for you, Agares, what is this, a revenge complex?

Making others suffer as you have?

We don’t entertain such notions here.”

“Hey!

Arthur, you son of a…”

Arthur glanced at him and continued his desk work, “Agares, you’ve gone to great lengths to offer me a warm bite, and for that, you’ve certainly racked your brains.

But thank God, Alexander didn’t really fall into the Thames.

I must tell him all about the incident you encountered today when I get back, so that he knows drinking excessively might not only lead to drowning but could also lead to tearing the sphincter.”

Seeing that Arthur was not taking the bait, Agares quickly lost interest in playing his prank.

He leaned against the desk and said, “Truly dull, you little rascal, you don’t have a shred of humor.”

“If humor in the Devil’s context means enjoying such ‘stuffed snacks,’ then indeed I am no match for you.”

“Arthur!

I have no such interest.”

“I’ll try my best to believe you.”

Since Agares couldn’t gain an advantage on that front, he had no choice but to cool his efforts.

He twisted open the lid of the sugar jar, planning to eat a piece of candy as usual to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Unexpectedly, Arthur slapped his hand down on the lid, standing up with an indescribable look of distaste, “Have you washed your hands?”

The Red Devil was momentarily stunned, about to rage, when behind him there came a knock-knock-knock at the door.

Chief Inspector Field walked in with a file in his hands and whispered, “Sir, Sir Peel has just sent someone over to the office.

He’s asking if you have the time now; he’d like to speak with you about the matter of the gramophone records.”

Before Chief Inspector Field had finished speaking, the knocking sound came again.

Tony burst into the room, saying, “Arthur, the autopsy report from the Royal Medical Association has arrived.

Regarding the cause of death of the maid, the victim, there seems to be some doubt among the doctors.

They believe there might be other possibilities besides drowning.”