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 grilled fish in Burgas City is truly peerless," Lina murmured into Durin's ear as they entered the hall.


"You've been here before, haven't you? Is it really that good?" Durin asked, smiling at his little mother dragon.


She nodded vigorously: "Super delicious, it's just hard to get full."


Others might not convince Durin, but Lina, the only Western Lands little mother dragon in his household, certainly could. He had personally witnessed this girl boast about devouring a whole roast sheep and still claiming to be only two-thirds full.


So Durin nodded: "Then I'll take your word for it."


"You're right to trust me," Lina said happily, hugging Durin's arm.


Knowing that Durin had to rush off after eating, Old Clay stopped by the kitchen to give a heads-up, and soon enough, the chefs and cooks simply came to the dining hall, carrying their tools.


Chapter 283: Lament of Parting