Daily News: Insect Girls' Heavy Dependence

Yekaterin fell into a deep sleep in Richard's arms.

Her tense nerves finally relaxed. That night, the two found a brief moment of peace in each other's body heat.

Richard himself was unaware that he was receiving daily intelligence under the lamplight.

In the stillness of the night, the Thunder Demon Insect silently broke through to the second tier.

The process was as smooth as breathing, flowing naturally and without any ripples.

If it weren't for the little dream bug loli gently reminding him from the depths of his consciousness...

He probably won't realize until he uses his strength that he can hold out for a few seconds longer than usual...

[The Time Worm reminds you: Duke Birmingham's funeral will proceed as scheduled tomorrow. Various factions are gathering in New Rome...]

The voice in my mind was calm and still.

It seems the Time Worm doesn't mind that Richard is aware of its existence.

It was simply doing its duty, bringing news that was enough to shake the entire Kingdom of Kiel.

However, it was much later than expected, as it was already dawn.

It seems that the current daily intelligence system does not rely on midnight refresh.

Without dwelling on it further, Richard began to examine the detailed intelligence:

[List of factions: Royal representatives led by Julia and Louis...]

[The East Sea Duke delegation led by Leonardo Sotus... The South Frontier Duke delegation led by Cassanisa Jehovah...]

The Western Regions Duke's delegation did not arrive on time due to the long journey and unforeseen circumstances...

[And other delegations from the Kingdom of Kiel, including thirty-six marquises...one hundred and eight earls...including members of the Charlemagne family...]

[The viscount had five hundred attendants... the baron had one thousand attendants... the lords and nobles totaled over five thousand...]

[The 55 fully evolved fourth-order beings are scattered throughout New Rome.]

The August family comprises over 2000 mature, third-tier members.

The total number of Tier 3 mature beings in New Rome has exceeded 10,000...

As the list unfolded in his mind, Richard's heart sank.

Although it is unknown whether these are all the nobles of the Kingdom of Kiel.

But this scale... the noble forces of most of the kingdom will definitely gather here!

Although the Kingdom of Kiel is called a kingdom, it actually occupies a vast continent.

The fact that so many nobles appeared in New Rome at the same time was definitely not just for attending a funeral!

Richard looked down at Yekaterin, who was fast asleep in his arms. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she were dreaming.

Dawn was approaching outside the window, but the city was still brightly lit.

The Eiffel Tower's deep blue light still flowed swiftly across the night sky.

Even amidst the elevated highway network, one can still spot some eight-legged horse-drawn carriages making their way...

Richard only knew a few of the names of these forces.

But he also understood that beneath the seemingly calm night, the undercurrents were already surging to their extreme.

The infighting within the Augustan family, the attitude of the royal family, the stance of the four dukes, the calculations of thousands of nobles...

Everything will intertwine and collide at this funeral.

And he, a young man who had just broken through to the second level and whose head was still wrapped in bandages, had unknowingly stood at the very center of the storm.

Ekalin, nestled in his arms, stirred slightly, and Richard tightened his grip.

Before dawn, a new chapter has quietly begun, with the first light of approaching daylight.

Tomorrow, the new city of Rome will host a grand, yet dangerous, gathering.

And him and her.

We must work together to navigate this minefield.

...

...

Daytime.

Inside the grand and solemn Great Hall of the August family.

A heavy atmosphere enveloped every corner like an invisible curtain.

The towering dome is carved from countless giant black jade insects, and a cold light seeps out from its interior, making the entire dome look as if it were immersed in the deep sea.

The walls of the auditorium are adorned with large coats of arms and portraits of family members from past generations.

Those three-dimensional human figures, inlaid with gold thread and gemstones, shimmer with a silent and majestic luster under the constant cold light, as if countless gazes are looking down on the present from the depths of history.

The hall was enormous, large enough to hold thousands, with plenty of room to spare. After all, only true nobles and heirs to titles were allowed to attend…

The ground is paved with shiny obsidian slabs, their textures resembling solidified darkness, reflecting the faint blue light above and the neatly arranged jade wall lamps on both sides.

The giant pillars supporting the dome require ten people to encircle them, and the pillars are wrapped with reliefs depicting the epic scenes of the August family conquering all directions and hunting insects and beasts.

The body of Birmingham August, Duke of the North, was not found in the center of the hall.

Only the newly made, enormous, three-dimensional portrait, symbolizing his identity and glory, stands quietly on a frame covered with heavy black velvet.

As the music of the ritual music played, the solemn and sorrowful atmosphere reached its peak.

Buck August. The Duke of Birmingham's great-great-grandfather and the previous Duke of the North.

Today, he is the most authoritative figure in the August family.

He stood before the stage, his aged and withered figure shrouded in a solemn black tuxedo, his skeletal face revealing neither joy nor sorrow.

He did not use any amplification device; he simply read the eulogy calmly.

However, that hoarse, deep voice seemed to contain some invisible power, echoing clearly, steadily, and with great penetrating power in every corner of the auditorium.

The message was delivered precisely to everyone's ears, so that even the outermost attendants could hear it perfectly.

This is not about the volume of sound, but rather the exquisite control of energy and sound waves, a manifestation of the strength of a fourth-tier fully-formed powerhouse.

Below the stage, the crowd was seated according to strict hierarchy and power, in perfect order and complete silence.

At the very front, in the area adjacent to the high platform, were the highest-ranking spectators.

Here are over fifty fourth-tier fully-formed powerhouses from all corners of the kingdom, most of whom appear as decaying skeletons.

But everyone had a solemn expression and a restrained aura like a mountain, yet their eyes, which occasionally opened and closed, revealed a glint of light, showing that they had a life level and perception far beyond that of ordinary people.

Slightly further back in the central area was the royal delegation led by Julia and Louis.

They were dressed in matching royal attire, all wearing black coats, and their demeanor exuded the elegance and restraint characteristic of royalty.

To the sides and behind the royal area were the delegations of the three dukes, as well as representatives of the thirty-six marquesses.

They were arranged according to their family strength and historical background, forming the main participants in the audience.

The outermost, expansive area is occupied by seats for hundreds of earls, hundreds of viscounts, and thousands of barons.

Lords and nobles were not allowed to enter here. They crowded the hall outside the auditorium in a dense, dark mass.

Buck's eulogy was not ornate, but every word was profound, and it finally came to an end.

Just like an inscription carved on a stone tablet:

"We gather here not merely to bid farewell to a mere body. We remember the life of a duke. We are forged in the name of August, a banner that will never fall in the northern snows..."

"His wisdom guided the family, and his courage defended the kingdom's borders. His departure is the loss of the kingdom's brightest star, leaving a void that words cannot fill..."

Buck traced Birmingham's achievements and character during his lifetime.

Loyalty to his family, dedication to his duties, protection of his knights, and a deep and silent devotion to this land.

He praised the duke for governing the North with both an iron fist and a benevolent heart, maintaining order and prosperity during turbulent times; he lauded the spiritual legacy he left as a subject and leader, which was far more valuable than his power.

But the cause of Birmingham's death was never mentioned, as if something was being deliberately concealed.

It was as if some dense black curtain, like a giant sword tilting to the sky, was pressing down on every fourth-tier fully-formed expert present.

These powerful and influential figures, brimming with vitality, clenched their fists, their eyes blazing with fury...

As for ordinary people? They naturally wouldn't feel this atmosphere.

But in this situation, even their breathing was deliberately suppressed.