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

"I won't listen, I won't listen," chanted the deaf monk.


After breakfast, Durin asked the three girls about their plans for the day.


Anta was heading to the academy because, starting from yesterday, she was responsible for teaching a week of Arcane classes to the boarding students.


Intense tutoring, free for students, and anyone interested could attend; also, the Circle of Truth provided a certain tutoring fee to each teacher who came to the school.


Reed and Lan En had nothing to do, so they planned to visit Durin's mother at the Eternal Blaze Nest and then find Tanya to check on her training status.


They originally wanted to visit Melinda, but considering the survival-of-the-fittest situation at her place, they decided not to bother her since the two of them combined weren't as strong as Melinda.


"It's okay, I'll take you to see Melinda," Durin said, "Do you know where she is?"


"In the eastern part of Foresty Land, she gave us this camp's coordinates."


Chapter 78: Searching High and Low