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

Setting his displeasure aside, Durin stepped down from the lectern and shook hands with the representatives chosen by the students—these first-term students would be organized into groups of a hundred for study, and for the first month, they would learn from the mentors who in turn would grade them for genuine survival of the fittest.


The mentors were former soldiers of the Northern Doctrine whom Durin had found in Farol and Sicily. These literate elders generally had nothing to do, and they were always very happy and straightforward in accepting the invitation from Durin.


Leaving the affairs of the academy in the hands of Vice Principal Enrique, Durin had other matters to attend to.


For instance, today was the day he had agreed to meet with Old Shatter Bone. In the ruins of a city to the east of the Foresty Land, Durin met with Old Shatter Bone.


Chapter 187: New Life