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

Of course, just the exquisiteness of the visuals definitely wasn't enough to captivate these people.


Clothing, makeup, props—for these veteran assassins, they were merely icing on the cake; what truly attracted them were the combat scenes, the flowing and seamless fighting movements, integrating blocking, parrying, and attacking into one martial art. More than one old-timer had their doubts, but ultimately, after group deliberation, they arrived at the conclusion that "I might not be capable, but someone out there truly is."


The story began with a young apprentice upholding the last glories of the Tri-Saint Society with his life, to his final days feeling time was running out, dying alone in Eagle's Nest after disbanding his followers.


In the last few minutes, Durin used a technique that no one in this era had ever used before— as the end drew near, the aged protagonist exhaled his final breath.


At the same time, a small hand rested on the back of his aged hand.


Chapter 22