Daily News: Insect Girls' Heavy Dependence

Half a month later, Richard finally returned to the world inside the walls.

Upon returning this time, I was filled with an indescribable sense of disorientation, as if I had returned from another world.

The convoy slowly emerged from the tunnel exit of the Wallguard's camp. It proceeded along the smooth road towards the city of Umbria.

The carriage moved smoothly forward, and Richard lifted a corner of the curtain to look at the plantation by the roadside in the grey snow season.

A biting north wind swept across the fields, and countless figures dressed in coarse cloth were busy in the fields... preparing for the sowing season two months later.

Richard saw no sign of life on their faces, only numbness...

Were they all slaves?

Inside the carriage, Yekalin carefully applied makeup in front of the vanity mirror and spoke in a calm tone.

"They weren't all slaves; there were also some poor people."

The Duchess's voice was cool and indifferent, revealing no particular interest whatsoever; it was merely a casual chat with Richard.

Richard didn't say much; he certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to discuss ideas of equality with Yekaterin.

Catherine grew up in a top-tier powerful family and was a member of the royal family. She was at the top of the social class from birth, so how could she empathize with commoners?

Richard tactfully changed the subject:

"I've never been to Umbria before. Are you going straight home, or are you going to explore the city a bit?"

Yekalin pursed her lips, then transmitted her voice through dream insects:

"Fool, Umbria is just a border city. The August family's headquarters aren't here; they're in the warmer south. We'll meet that old geezer in Umbria later, and then we'll go to New Rome..."

Umbria, Rome.

Richard murmured the two names, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind.

These two cities share the exact same names as two cities in Italy on Earth.

Is the naming of this world influenced by Earth's culture?

He didn't dwell on it further; these were just trivial details at the moment.

The most urgent task is to meet with that old geezer I spoke with last night.

He held Yekaterin's shoulders and back with both hands:

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

Yekalin turned her head slightly, her reflection in the mirror showing her refined, made-up face. She gently shook her head.

"You'd better try to keep to yourself; the etiquette of the upper nobility is too complicated. Just stay cool and stand next to me, and don't bother with those annoying guys..."

"Alright."

Richard responded very decisively.

For him, playing a cool, expressionless handsome guy is an easy thing to do. That's just who he is.

Before long, the carriage gradually slowed down.

We've entered the city of Umbria!

Looking out at the city.

The central avenue was paved with brown bricks and was wide enough to allow ten carriages to travel side by side.

The avenue is lined with Victorian-style apartments, just like those in Yekaterin's dream world.

Compared to Stormwind, Umbria is obviously much larger.

The citizens on the streets were scattered in twos and threes; they clearly had more free time than the residents of Stormwind.

They stood there, watching the massive convoy of two thousand people. Their eyes were filled with undisguised curiosity and envy.

Richard thought to himself that the living conditions of these city dwellers were probably no better than those of the slaves and poor people outside the city.

The convoy traveled smoothly all the way and finally entered the square in the city center.

Behind the square stands a row of imposing municipal buildings.

Although it is called a municipal building, it is actually the private property of the August family.

Umbria was originally a city that belonged exclusively to the August family.

The city's politicians, judges, civil servants, and other administrators all come from there.

People were already waiting in front of the main entrance of the city hall building.

Even though Yekaterin's relationship with the Walled Family was distant, the political games among nobles always involved necessary procedures and pomp.

These people were waiting not so much to welcome Yekaterin.

It was more like a show for the citizens in the square, to demonstrate the majesty of the August family.

Those waiting were all female members of the August family, dressed in well-tailored winter dresses and fur cloaks.

When the carriage came to a stop, several older, elegant, and mature women stepped forward first.

They walked gracefully. Upon reaching the carriage, they slightly curtsied, performing a standard aristocratic curtsy, their movements elegant and proper.

Yekalin clearly had no interest in catching up with these unfamiliar aunts and cousins.

Richard pulled open the car door and got out first.

His tall and straight figure blocked all the prying glances from the noble ladies.

"A black-haired nobleman?"

"who is he?"

"The royal family?"

"So handsome!"

Whispers drifted on the wind.

Yekaterin gently placed her hand on Richard's fingertips... completely ignoring the noble ladies, the two of them didn't linger for a moment. They then strode towards the city hall.

The reception hall on the first floor of the city hall.

Richard noticed that the August family's reception hall had a very nice interior atrium layout; he looked up and counted eighteen floors below.

The layout of the first-floor reception hall is, of course, very similar to that of the reception hall in Stormwind.

The hall was lavishly decorated with precious porcelain, paintings, and various handicrafts, all showcasing the wealth and heritage of the ducal family.

This also adds a lot of artistic and high-society atmosphere to this building full of blond hair.

Richard could tell at a glance that, in terms of rarity, the items here could not compare to those in the reception hall of Duke Yekaterin's mansion.

There are at least no heads of fourth-tier insect beasts here, let alone furniture made from the bodies of super-giant insect beasts.

A blond waiter approached carrying a tray with several steaming cups of tea. Richard reached out to take them.

"Forget tea, just go find that old man!" Yekalin's voice suddenly rang in his mind, tinged with impatience. Richard had no choice but to return.

Yekalin took Richard's arm and, amidst the curious gazes of those around them, walked toward the large, openwork hanging basket in the center of the hall.

This gondola is similar to an elevator on Earth, except that it is not driven by electric machinery, but by human power.

More than the stares from the blond men and women around him, Richard was curious about where the person controlling the hoisting basket was hiding.

Before he could find the answer, the gondola had already ascended steadily and rapidly, reaching the top floor of the municipal building.

Almost being pulled by Yekalin, Richard quickly stepped out of the basket.

A long corridor came into view.

Thick fur carpets covered the floor. Portraits of Augustus' ancestors hung on the walls along the corridor.

Walk through those winding corridors.

With the help of numerous gatekeepers, the two passed through gate after gate without any hindrance. There wasn't a single pause in the entire process.

We stopped in front of the two most magnificent gates.

The gatekeeper knocked on the doorframe, signaling to the important figure inside: The distinguished guest has arrived...

"Don't say anything later, just act cool..." Yekalin transmitted in her mind.