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 Sect Leader of the Veldra Family was sitting inside a private booth at Eternal Pavilion, enjoying the rare freedom. 


There was no endless work, no ceaseless business to conduct, life was so delightful that when a waiter walked in, the elderly man with white hair was flabbergasted momentarily before reaching out to hold back the young man next to him from reaching into his bosom.


"It's okay, Mr. Peck is a guest I invited; my child, it's good to be vigilant, but don't be over-vigilant. Here in the Eternal Pavilion, no one will resort to knives or guns."


The youngest son of the Veldra Family looked uncertainly as Peck arranged the dishes from a large wooden tray onto the table.


His grandfather, smiling, watched Peck, "If I weren't well aware of your circumstances, I'd have thought you'd been a waiter in your childhood, Mr. Peck."


Chapter 209: Just Worry