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 old Dwarf and old Clay were heavily drunk.


The snow outside the window was getting heavier.


The young man escorted Durin out of the castle, he looked at Durin who, despite having drunk half a barrel of wine, only had a slight flush on his face: "Thank you for coming in person for us kids, Lord. I never imagined that someone as amazing as you would stand up for orphans like us. I've heard the stories of the army orphans, and ... are you really willing to help everyone?"


"I help justice, whether it's a Sidney army orphan or children like you or someone else. I want everyone to live a good life. There might be some differences in such a life, but these differences can be reversed by effort and diligence, rather than a noble's child always being a noble, and a slave's child always being a slave." Said Durin outside the gate, he then looked towards the city down the hill: "Alright, you go back and take care of Earl Crite, I'll be on my way."


Chapter 284: One