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

Durin heard about the story in the Golden Hall in the afternoon, undoubtedly the news traveled here directly.


Otherwise, how could the events of the Golden Hall cross half of Shangjing and reach Durin's ears so accurately?


Whether the punishment in Chang Tang is severe, in Durin's opinion, it's not at all. This is just the beginning. Back in the day, when Durin worked for the High Tower, even the cockroaches under the wooden floor had to be eliminated to achieve a complete dream for everyone.


There was even a hierarchy of responsibility – like last night's incident where the main culprit would receive ten lashes, the secondary person seven, followers five, and accomplices three.


This means the first to open his mouth gets ten lashes, the second and third get seven, those who laugh heartily get five, and those who show reluctance get three.


Thus, six young individuals were reportedly publicly flogged at the execution platform.


Chapter 102: Soaring Steed