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

Dulin, having had his fill, climbed on top of the car and sat on the edge, watching the busy human gentlemen. Mrs. Melissa's anger was visibly palpable, and when the source of her anger was dragged back, Dulin nearly laughed out loud.


The broken motor vehicle the human gentlemen cursed was the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit jointly produced by Dulin and the Craftsmen's Guild. Dulin designed everything while the Craftsmen's Guild was responsible for manufacturing, splitting the profits at a ratio of forty-sixty—with Dulin contributing knowledge and thus earning less.


But that was still a substantial sum of money. To Dulin, these vintage cars were too beautiful and comfortable for the world's nobility and royal families, so they were willing to spend a lot on them, allowing Dulin to earn quite a bit as well.


Chapter 9: Some People Are Loved by Everyone