The Shadow of Great Britain

"If I'm not mistaken, this young lady seems to have a bit of interest in you, right? A girl in love is the easiest to deceive."

"All it takes is a little bit of that charm you've got nowhere to put, and you could easily deliver her right into my mouth. A young maiden, despairing from betrayal by her lover, is a delicacy in the Mortal World."

Hmm...

"Perhaps a bit of seasoning could be added. Arthur, do you think if you deceived her and then cheated on her in front of her over and over, it would add a bit of flavor?"

"Aren't you afraid it would taste bitter and astringent?"

Agares clasped his hands together with a beaming smile on his face, "Oh, my dear Arthur, you've misunderstood me. When I said cheat, I didn't mean with women, that's just too ordinary. Remember, I am a Devil."

Arthur wasn't angered by these words; he simply picked up the teacup in front of him and took a gentle sip.

"All Devils like to cheat with men?"

Agares' head suddenly swelled, his features distorted by rage almost bumped into Arthur's own.

"Arthur! It's not that all Devils like to cheat with men, I'm talking about you, you! Don't twist my words!"

But Arthur was obviously not buying it; to Agares' scary tricks, he had long been accustomed.

"So it's just you who likes it? Agares, you are way too out of touch."

"I meant you should cheat with men!"

Agares roared so loudly, Arthur's hair billowed in the blast.

With an unchanged expression Arthur replied, "I refuse."

"Why?"

"Because it's too much of a burden."

"For Elisa?"

"For me."

Agares deflated like a pierced ball, collapsing till he was nothing but a layer of skin spread out on the carpet.

"Fine, fine. Whatever the case, you first seduce Elisa, and the cheating we can discuss later."

"I refuse."

"And why this time?"

"It's mainly for two reasons. First, Elisa and I have no intertwined interests, and she has helped me with Professor Dumps' matter. Since I am a person with a conscience, I don't intend to repay kindness with malice."

"Oh! What have I heard? A conscience! Arthur, I didn't expect a poor lad like you to have such a luxury!"

Agares' skin sack instantly inflated, his ethereal body shooting his head into Arthur's chest, turning his neck in all directions unobstructed.

"It's pitch black here, a vast emptiness, I can't see a thing. A conscience? Where's that golden heart?"

Seeing that Arthur didn't respond, Agares continued to shout, "Arthur, can you hear me speaking? Speaking? Speaking? King? Ing?"

Arthur simply replied indifferently, "I may not have a conscience, but at the same time, I am extremely certain that my chest isn't spacious enough to echo."

No sooner had he spoken than Arthur lifted his teacup and drained it in one gulp.

Before long, Agares came back, clutching his dripping wet head.

He conjured a handkerchief out of thin air and began to wipe his head, speaking discontentedly, "Then continue with the second point."

"Second, it's because you have absolutely no credibility with me. You said you'd help me, but you didn't follow through."

"How did I not follow through?"

Agares was furious, flames burning atop his head, boiling oil rolling over his hair.

"You said you wanted to go to university, so I went to great lengths to arrange for a befuddled old gentleman to be your affordable uncle and used his connections to thrust you into the newly established University of London."

"In exchange, you would provide me with an endless supply of souls. This was all part of our agreement!"

"Now you've graduated from university as you wished, my promise has been fulfilled, and it's your turn to deliver on your end of the deal!"

Arthur was indifferent to Agares's rage.

"I am honored to be called an excellent university graduate, if only the bankers and politicians thought the same."

"Oh..."

Agares couldn't help but grit his teeth and suppress a laugh, but the smile at the corner of his eye betrayed him.

"Arthur, don't be so pessimistic. I believe that one day, the University of London will certainly receive a royal charter and Parliament's approval for teaching. When that time comes, your degree will be socially recognized. But until then, you must be patient."

"A devil, telling me to be patient?"

Arthur loosened his collar, trying to make his neck more comfortable.

"Agares, I think you should consider being a devotee of Calvinism, for being a devil doesn't suit you. Or perhaps, you already knew the University of London wouldn't receive a charter and intentionally had me attend this unqualified institution to cultivate my anti-social personality, thereby better serving your purposes?"

Agares's mouth was stretched to his earlobes, his fingers interlocked, as he spoke gently and smoothly, "Arthur, you really are the little worm in my stomach; you see through all my little schemes. But how did you come to realize what I was thinking?"

Arthur glanced at him, picked up his small leather bag, and opened the door, "Naturally, because this isn't the first time I've experienced this. Gaining knowledge but not finding the corresponding job will certainly turn a person into a rebel."

A gaping maw suddenly appeared before Arthur, its white interdental spaces packed with blood, flesh, and bones of various creatures, a huge tonsil swinging in mid-air like a shaky pendulum.

"But what good does it do you to see through it? To beg the Devil for happiness is foolish enough. Do your work for me dutifully, and perhaps you'll have a chance to change your fate."

Arthur scrunched his brow slightly, disgustedly raising his hand to cover his nose, "Agares, you should see a doctor. This level of halitosis can't be explained away by a minor cold."

"Our contract is clear, Arthur Hastings, your soul already belongs to me. If you can't fill my stomach, then you'll have to suffice as a side dish."

"What did you just call me?"

"Arthur Hastings," Agares laughed arrogantly, "Don't tell me you're so frightened that you've even forgotten your own name?"

Arthur pursed his lips and asked in resignation, "Who, exactly, told you my name was that?"

"Hm?"

A hint of unease arose in Agares, "You, you aren't by that name? Impossible."

Arthur rolled his eyes and then flashed Agares the middle finger.

"I've told you many times now, my name is Yang Fan. As for the Arthur Hastings you speak of, I too would like to know where he's gone off to."

"If you can find his soul, then please make sure to summon him before you devour him, so I can have a word.

Furthermore, if you're incapable of making me wealthy, then please move out of my way immediately; your little worm has to go to work."