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 representatives of the Venetian merchants were practically on their knees begging Durin, in their words, the port on Durin's side had taken over at least half of the goods, with Venice and Genoa consuming 30%, and the remaining goods were previously monopolized by the Southern merchant associations.


"What does your starvation have to do with me, Durin? I haven't even settled accounts with you on behalf of the merchants of Chang Tang yet, and now you want me to save you? Are you all betting with your brains?" Durin slammed his hand on the table and stood up.


"No, that's not it, Lord Durin, we, the Venetian Merchant Guild, just want to establish an association at your port, and we will compete fairly."


"That's all right, but if I find out you're up to any dirty tricks, I'll kill you all," Durin said.


They might not understand the term for covert dealings, but they definitely understood the part about being killed.


Chapter 205: All Is Destined