The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1667: Chapter 49: The Rule Maker of Scotland Yard

London had just experienced a drizzle, and the sunlight slanted across the carriage window, refracted through the damp glass into a hazy and beautiful view.

The carriage slowly rolled past Grosvenor Square, the wheels grinding over the cobblestones, producing a rhythmic squeaking sound.

Arthur reclined against the cushion of the carriage, a new book spread across his lap. The dark cover bore the title in gilded letters—”Alroy’s Wonderful Story.”

This is a masterpiece that Benjamin Disraeli, one of the seventy-two pillars of the British, painstakingly crafted for the new magazine ”Spark.”

How should this work be described?

In terms of story structure, this book is an excellent adventure novel, an absolute must-read for those who love historical and adventurous elements.

Especially considering Disraeli’s impending election campaign and the efforts he must have put into the new book to garner social support.

Although the social evaluation of this book after its publication remains unknown, Agares has already given it a whopping Devil rating of 9.0.

To be honest, the fellow has already spent the entire night reading the book, flipping through it repeatedly.

”I must say. This is the most thrilling reading experience I’ve had in the past ten years, nay, the past twenty years.” Agares took a sip of red wine and commented in that familiar, leisurely yet slick tone: ”I admit I had a bias against the little Jewish earlier, but his new book has greatly changed my view of him. This book is more captivating than the eighteenth-century Black Mass Manual, more imaginative than Lord Byron’s autobiography, and more literary than the narcissistic collections of politicians I’ve read in the Mortal World.”

He raised his eyebrows, lightly tapping the book’s cover with his knuckles: ”Alroy, Prince, descendant of King David, fugitive, prophet, love saint, ultimate Messiah—what could attract readers more than these?”

Having spoken, he turned to Arthur, who had been ignoring him all along, looking like he was earnestly preparing for a book recommendation meeting of the Duke of Hell level.

”If you are a noble-born but financially strained teenager, if you can’t find a sense of presence in politics, if you can’t remain faithful in love, if you are neither devout nor thorough in religion, then this is the book written for you.”

Agares, full of enthusiasm, received an extremely indifferent reaction from Arthur. As he flipped through the pages, he softly muttered, ”Agares...”

”What? You also agree with me?” The Red Devil eagerly chimed in.

”From last night until this morning, you were incessantly buzzing in my ear. If I didn’t see you when I opened my eyes, I’d think Baal’s flies had invaded my house.”

Upon hearing this, Agares furrowed his eyebrows intensely.

Typically, this was a sign of his impending anger.

But today, instead of launching into an attack using over 200 languages Arthur could or could not understand against this dark-hearted and ruthless York youth, he surprisingly offered peaceful advice: ”Arthur, seriously, the subtitle of this book ought to be written by me, or at least let me write a recommendation. Listen to this: A passionate attempt concerning identity, faith, and thoroughly messing up everything. Alroy sets off like Saint Paul, indulges like Solomon, and ends up losing votes in Parliament like an ordinary English MP.”

Arthur closed the book and lightly shook his head: ”Too plain.”

”How about this paragraph then?” Agares cleared his throat: ”The experience of reading this book is like being on a ship in the Mediterranean during a storm: you know it’s going to capsize, but you can’t help but keep watching.”

Arthur scoffed: ”As a subtitle, it seems nonsensical; as a recommendation, it sounds like you haven’t even read the book properly.”

Agares widened his eyes, his nose almost pushing into Arthur’s eye sockets: ”Arthur, you damn well don’t push your luck, do you know how big an honor it is in Hell to receive a comment from me? If you think you have better taste, are good at naming, then come up with something better!”

”What’s so hard about that?” Arthur, who had spent several years in publishing, spontaneously rattled off: ”’Alroy’s Magical Journey, or How to Fall in Love in the Syrian Desert While Dodging Holy Warriors,’ ’Alroy: How to Launch a Failed Business in the Kabbalah Holy Land,’ ’The Jewish Prince Training Manual: From Fugitive to Throne in Three Steps, Fourth Step is Messing Up,’ ’My Army, My Lover, and the Scepter I Didn’t Understand Until the Story Ended...’.”

Having spoken, he raised a finger in commentary: ”By the way, due to the storyline involving reclaiming King Solomon’s scepter, certain Devils have shown particular appreciation for this book.”

Seeing the steam almost erupt from Agares’ head, Arthur dramatically changed the subject: ”But I have to say, although this book has its this and that flaws, Benjamin’s tendency to write autobiographically in novels hasn’t changed, at least this time he does it more subtly than in ’Young Duke’ and ’Contarini Fleming.’”

Hearing this, Agares finally settled down, although he was quite upset with Arthur’s earlier remarks, he had to admit Arthur was right, owing to the Devils’ consistently superior literary taste.