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

After placing the small items from the box that he didn't want to discard on top of the fireplace, Durin began to look over the small building—on the first floor was the kitchen and the living room, the living room had a fireplace, as well as a sofa set and a bookcase, which was stuffed with books. He did not know whether they were purchased by Fabien or left by the landlord.


Compared to the old-fashioned living room, the kitchen was very modern, with an arcane gas stove, an arcane oven, and even a griddle Durin found that could be placed over the gas stove—by the looks of it, it had definitely been used for barbecue.


Chapter 14: Cause and Effect (Part 2)