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 Forest Master was in a state of utter disarray.


Her reserves were plentiful, but she did not know where to deploy them -- such was the dire consequence of the lack of clear battlefield intelligence.


Fortunately, everyone's favorite, Durin, arrived.


Firstly, the Orekhov Fortress was still standing; without siege engines, the green-skinned orcs were at a loss with the ten-meter-high walls, and the cannons also helped the defenders thwart the orcish casters' fanciful ideas.


Secondly, Zaporozhye was in the process of fortification, and Durin's southern troops had already retreated to the line of Zaporozhye-Vasylivka-Melitopol, where they were organizing defense on the spot -- the losses from the retreat were nearly non-existent, all battalions were close to full strength, and Durin had already begun mustering troops, with at least twenty well-armed battalions expected to arrive within a week.


Chapter 166: Making a Move