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

After having arranged for Dr. Indiana and his group, Durin returned to Foresty Land.


The temperature had dropped in recent days, and this area had already seen snow. Hearing of Durin's return, the mothers had still brought their children out and lined up early the next morning.


The good news was, on his way back from Sicily, Durin had bought some rainproof canvases, which he'd brought back to line under the rain shelter's army rain tarp. Together with the heat from the stoves, it provided a relatively warm and wind-free environment for the adults and children.


Durin had gotten up early, too, hastily washed his face and left the house, his hair still a mess from how Lan En had combed it.


In the queue, Durin also spotted Romiel, accompanied by two children around the ages of eleven or twelve, likely the children of His Majesty Hack's eldest son.


Chapter 55: The Suffering of Others