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

"I understand," Durin said, watching regretfully as the assistant from the Embassy boarded the carriage at his doorstep.


Having written a letter to Tony explaining that he couldn't accompany the two brothers tomorrow due to an invitation from the Embassy, Durin placed it in the mailbox and then attached it to Hemo's leg, sending her to deliver the message to the Stark family.


Afterwards, Durin felt at a loss with nothing else to do and, after much deliberation, decided to buy himself a new set of clothes to suit his aging self.


Yet just as he was about to step out, he saw a thin man in a suit riding a motorcycle coming around from the end of the road.


The thin man in the suit was from the Andilobe species, a branch of the High-Hoofed, characterized by a pair of sharp, long horns pointing to the sky, akin to an antelope's.


He rode a high-handlebar Harley model motorcycle, racing towards him at a blistering speed.


Chapter 28: This Man Comes from High Tower