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 applause started first from the bishop's seats, the Old Cardinal's face flushed with red because the circle at Sir Durin's feet had never changed.


This signified that Durin's words matched his actions, granting him a most righteous and impeccable reason in the eyes of the members of the Church of the Original Creator for the massacre in the market—for the sake of the impoverished populace.


The Church of the Original Creator had always been this way; its bishops were often the offspring of the poorest people, and each Cardinal was personally chosen by No-name; here, there were no so-called hereditary bishop families.


Without a heart of devotion and kindness, they would have no way to attain high office.


And Austin, in the silence, had removed his flat hat, "It's truly a pity that the lords of the Church of the Dual Mothers are not here today, otherwise they would surely be moved to tears by your speech."


Chapter 237: Concealment