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

Today was the last day, and Durin felt some regret because he had to report to the Engineering Academy tomorrow to explain his six-legged mechanical platform.


"Dammit, you old fossils, when I left Lublin, I sent you guys so many blueprints. You didn't even look at them properly, did you?"


With such regret, Durin pushed open the door, "Alright, come on in."


And then, a pair of hands nonchalantly lifted Durin up.


Looking at the girl before him, Durin sighed, "Tanya, my girl, how did you get here?"


Today, Tanya was dressed in casual clothes, which accentuated her perfect figure.


"Grandpa said I've hit a bottleneck, and mindlessly practicing isn't meaningful. He told me to come and stay with you for a while," Durin's girl said, laughing as she hugged Durin close.


Then, quite naturally, she saw Durin's broken horn and felt a twinge of pain.


"I still have a life to live," Durin patted the girl's arm, landed on the ground, and motioned for the guests behind him to come in.


Chapter 168: I Ask You Where is the Mine