Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

Opening his eyes, Durin glanced at the window—it was pitch dark, he couldn't see anything.


Getting up and crawling to the window, Durin and Anta poked their heads out and looked down.


What a scene, seven carriages, lanterns lit, not to mention dozens of Grassland Elves had surrounded their estate's gate, and someone was knocking on the door.


What's all this, Durin wondered as he opened the window, while Anta held onto the Lynx that had jumped onto the windowsill, to prevent the little guy from falling out.


"Who's there!" Durin called out loudly, taking the gun passed to him by Anta.


"It's me! Old Patchy! Your brother Durin!" someone responded like this.


Durin breathed a sigh of relief, "It's Old Patchy from the Engineering Academy."


He thought it was some of Anta's suitors who had discovered Anta was here and had rallied a gang for a rumble.


Chapter 27: Lublin at Four in the Morning