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

Deputy Editor of the God of Knowledge Daily, Copenhagen Division.


The slightly bearded Austin was no longer the young editor of past years. Yet, this time, he had signed up for the front-line group, not for any particular reason but because the young men originally slated to go had either just started families or had children still needing to be fed. He could not bear to watch another family torn apart.


At least, it shouldn't be torn apart like this.


They had never served as soldiers, hadn't even touched a gun, while Austin... had done so many times.


Today, Austin's infantry squad was scheduled to stand guard on the city walls. The weather had been cold for the past two days, windy, and even snowy which even the Green-skinned Orcs seemed to prefer less for their siege activities—they seemed to favor warmer weather.


Chapter 169: Facing