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

Irene and Melinda, with one being naive and the other shrewd, formed such an interesting duo that Durin developed a certain curiosity about the House of Sario.


However, Durin was not as curious as a cat with nine lives; after feeding Kelsey and Hemo and settling them in, he jumped onto the Embassy carriage that had come to pick him up at the front door.


As he left, Durin noticed Mr. Ron standing beside the door, watching Durin in the sunset with an expression that held neither sorrow nor joy.


Out of respect for an elder, Durin smiled and raised his hand in a salute.


Watching the young master of the Ailish family board the Grassland Elves' Embassy carriage, Ron silently watched as the carriage carried the child away into the distance.


"Come in, the carriage has taken the child far away," his wife's voice came from behind him. Ron turned his head to look; she was in front of the stove, making meat patties.


Chapter 30: Sudden Rain