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

Emerging from the opened carriage door, Anta instinctively looked around. The train station in the early morning was not crowded, which made it seem somewhat deserted.


The old butler who followed her off the carriage was carrying her bulky luggage. He certainly could have used Mage Hand to do the work, but the butler wouldn't agree to it no matter what.


He insisted on escorting his young lady himself, and Anta, unable to win the argument, could only let him accompany her.


As they reached the platform and found a seat, the old butler sat down, while Anta surveyed the iron giant before her—this was a steam locomotive. It used Arcane Energy to boil water, then converted the steam into kinetic energy. It was the pinnacle of the Engineering Association's achievements; the Western Lands only had large-scale trade transport because of it.


Chapter 29: Antanya Aye II