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 morning in Copenhagen still carried a chill.


Durin pushed open his door and came to the mailbox, taking out the Copenhagen Morning News that had been delivered early that morning.


At first glance, Durin saw the sensational headline on the front page—last night, the Oslo Autonomous Territory had been attacked by unknown forces, with His Excellency Omricht Sario and His Excellency Salam Larny seriously injured, and His Excellency Damani Vilp killed in action.


Good gracious, Damani Vilp, if Durin remembered correctly, that would be a legend, and moreover, a Druid skilled in transformation. How could he have died?


What on earth happened yesterday at old Enrique's?


While thinking, Durin saw a Silver Spirit car whizzing towards him.


The car hadn't even stopped properly before Ambassador Quinn started waving at Durin from inside the vehicle.


Durin jogged over to the car, "Mr. Ambassador, what's the matter?"


Chapter 53: The Firing Pin Ignites Not the Primer, but a New Era