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

The dining car had meticulously prepared food for the passengers in the First-class carriage, and this owed thanks to the fact that the robbers didn't have the heartlessness to take the ingredients along with them. Moreover, to comfort the passengers whose spirits had been shaken, all of this was free of charge.


Durin received a special veal steak set meal that, besides the tender and juicy steak, also included the fruit juice and fruit salad that Grassland Elves liked the most.


Since he was alone, the dining car prepared a small table for two for Durin, and especially provided him with an extra plate of grilled oysters, said to be the favorite of the gentry by the sea. The person in charge of the dining car, upon hearing that Durin came from an inland area like Lublin, had purposely prepared it for him.


Chapter 8: Comparing Yourself to Others Will Only Make You Angry