Durin's Diary

Durin really wanted to give this human trafficker's lackey and his family an unforgettable torment, but no matter what, the three children were innocent. Until today, they were still playing with their Grassland Elf friends, and no one knew their father was a spy for a human trafficker.

But once people come here, innocence doesn't matter anymore, and pity is irrelevant.

The jailers began to prepare the instruments of torture, and the man's wife rapidly pleaded with her husband in human language.

"I've always been curious as to why, when the families of the caravan members are all controlled, you are not," Durin said, looking toward the Elder standing at the doorway, then burst into laughter, "I've seen pictures of Klein Salik when he was young; you couldn't possibly be his half-brother from a different mother, could you?"

This comment completely ignited the man's fury. He reached out to grab Durin but his fingertips stopped just seven centimeters from Durin—the solid steel bars tightly trapped his arms.

Distance makes beauty, Durin had a deep understanding of this saying, therefore, a true hunter never gives the prey a chance to resist.

"Guided by market value, a Grassland Elf child can fetch an exorbitant price on the human black market, thereby giving rise to traffickers like you. It seems you're still defiant. Punish his children," Durin turned his head and ordered the jailers.

"Why not beat his lover?" The Elder finally could not contain his curiosity and asked, "That's usually how we start over here."

"If a wife or husband dies, the other can remarry. If he's heartless, even if we flay and debone his wife and make a thousand, ten thousand cuts in front of him, it would be useless. But if his children die, then they're truly gone, all his years of effort wasted. He'd need to find another young wife capable of childbearing, then have another child. But the new child may not be as excellent, nor as well-behaved as the last…" Watching the man struggling and bellowing in front of him, Durin revealed a knowing smile, his Dragonkind heritage made his teeth exceptionally sharp, "…so, we must understand what kind of price is unbearable for the enemy, Your Excellency the Elder."

"Why, child, why do you think so? Don't you feel this is very cruel?" the old man inquired curiously.

"Your Excellency the Elder, I believe that in our line of work, one must first feed their conscience to the dogs because our enemies have neither conscience nor morality. If we retain these unnecessary traits, we will only hurt ourselves and those children who have been abducted," Durin answered calmly.

Cruel? Indeed, it is cruel, but in this line of work, you have to feed your conscience to the dogs. If you can't protect your own people, then any kindness to the enemy will seem like a joke.

Think about it—who supports and follows you, who opposes and harms you, and whom you must unite, protect, distance yourself from, and take revenge on.

If you can't clearly understand such a simple problem… you might as well be something that only makes rice more expensive by being alive. What's the point of even living?

The Elder was taken aback, then turned to look at the doorway.

A few oldsters either had frozen expressions or were thoughtful, while only Durin's Elder Yishu leaned against the wall, nibbling on the butt of his cigarette, wearing a face full of distress.

"Yishu, having a grandson like yours in your family who is tougher than you is a good thing," said the Elder, breaking the silence, effectively shouldering the situation for Durin.

When the man saw his children were about to be punished, he screamed, and before the small knife fell, he gave up.

Durin also breathed a sigh of relief—see, even a devil has weak spots, which also proves that such a devil is not well-trained.

But if he truly didn't speak, then the torture would have indeed been inflicted upon the child.

Having lived for so long, Durin deeply understood the value of morality and how precious kindness is. Yet when innocent young ones had been trafficked for so long, and when all the puzzles had only such a single breakthrough point, any hesitation would be shameful.

Even if it meant using the forbidden Soul-searching Technique, they had to make headway today. Unlike the high and mighty who could afford to be merciful from a higher Plane of existence, Durin would not pity any human trafficker and their family. To him, pitying them was less worthwhile than shedding one more tear and putting forth more effort for the parents of the abducted children.

And now that this man had decided to reveal everything, Durin, who had breathed a sigh of relief, did not participate in recording the testimony.

He stepped forward to face the Elders, nodded obediently to the Elder and those beside him, and said, "The task is completed, esteemed sirs."

"Don't call me 'esteemed sir,' just call me Old Philo," the Elder said with a smile.

In the world of the Grassland Elves, when a junior addresses an elder, it is an honor if the elder allows them to use 'Old' + their name—it signifies the elder's acknowledgment of the junior's words and actions. The young person can then address the elder by their name directly instead of using an honorific title.

Just like Durin calls his grandfather Old Yishu, which is how he usually addresses him, and only calls him Grandfather when discussing serious matters.

In other words, this Elder was taking all the responsibility for Durin—whatever Durin had done here was not wrong, it was sanctioned by Old Philo himself. Anyone who objected could come to him, but they could not blame Durin, not anyone, not even if the Holy Mother herself wanted to pick a fight with Durin; Old Philo would dispatch someone of the same age from his family to duel in his place.

Thus, this was the highest praise an Elder could give to a junior.

"Thank you, Old Philo."

"That's better," the Elder said with a smile, then turned to look at several old fellows, "Alright, once the testimony is asked, we'll consider how to deal with Klein Salik."

Durin obediently played the role of an audience member. After the elders had finished offering their suggestions, he did not speak a word.

Not until Old Philo directed his attention toward him: "Child, what are your thoughts?"

"Since you've asked, I'll speak," and so Durin began, "Gentlemen, as you may also know, the person in question is Klein Salik's illegitimate brother. In recent years, humanity has, to some extent, begun to acknowledge bastards. Of course, the Salik family doesn't lack heirs, which is why they let him come to Lublin Town to be a spy. But what if one day the Salik family falls to the extent that they need him to take over the family business?"

Having said this, Durin smiled and lowered his head.

The expressions of the elders were quite priceless, and Old Philo prompted Durin to raise his head.

"Why would you think that way?" he asked.

"I detest human traffickers and wish their entire clan would drop dead. But we have to acknowledge that a neighbor who is easily controlled and holds fear is safer for us. So, I think missing one bastard from the Order of Extermination is acceptable... We can't allow a human trafficker's family to live on our border, posing nonchalantly as our neighbor, occasionally kidnapping children for drinking money. Yet, if putting this man in charge could reduce or even eliminate the underground human trafficking in this region, it would be a good thing."

At this point, Durin paused.

Seeing the curious gaze of the elders, he smiled.

"Everyone must pay the price for their choices; those who kill must be prepared to be killed, and traffickers should especially be aware of this. Please make your decision."

After speaking, Durin looked at the assembly.

Karma, after all, must be repaid.