Present were Aldrich, Ariel, and Amos from the Romann family, Bishop Zane from the Frosac family, as well as Byrne and Chris from the Fischer family, a total of six individuals.
Chris calmly took a corner position, an act that would be considered very rude by others, but most of the people present were entirely accustomed to it.
Zane hugged the youthfully restored Byrne with glee and said, "It looks like I won't have to attend your funeral after all, Byrne. This is the only good news in recent times."
"Congratulations, Byrne!"
Aldrich sincerely reached out his hand, smiling as he shook Byrne's hand, happily saying, "You've successfully ascended to Monarch without leaving us so easily."
Ariel nodded slightly, speaking indifferently, "Good, you're a man of your word."
"Yes, I've survived, and now I can carry out the plan we agreed upon a long time ago."
Byrne smiled at Amos, the once haughty genius who had looked down on socializing with inferiors, now bowing and nodding respectfully to him as a strong man.
"Let me thank you in advance, Your Excellency Byrne. If I manage to break through to the Monarch Level, I will remember your kindness for a lifetime," Amos said with sincere tone and humble attitude.
Byrne could understand the other man's thoughts, knowing well that breaking through to the Monarch Level was the dream of every Extraordinary Exponent, and thus his aid was indeed something they yearned for in their dreams.
Aldrich suddenly spoke up, "Amos must break through as soon as possible, the situation with the Romann family is not too good right now."
Byrne immediately inquired, "What do you mean?"
Aldrich said calmly, "Just two days ago, I received news that the 'Fog Wayfarer' Abernathy family and the 'Flaming Blood Proud Dragon' Castleton family have already started to move against us in many of our industries..."
"So soon?" Ariel was taken aback.
She was about to formally inherit the position of the head of the Romann family and the duke's title, yet many things she still learned only after Aldrich did.
Byrne sighed, shaking his head, "The funeral of the duke has not yet concluded, and those people are already impatient."
He thought back to the head of the Castletons, Marquis Vlad Castleton.
The man's way of doing things was indeed very domineering and extreme; acting swiftly after the death of Duke Black Iron was thoroughly unsurprising.
As for the "Fog Wayfarer" Abernathy family, being allies with the "Flaming Blood Proud Dragon" Castleton family, they would of course act jointly in many decisions.
Aldrich continued, "Between the 'Flaming Blood Proud Dragon' and 'Fog Wayfarer' families, both heads are mid-level Monarchs, second in strength only to the Cyart King."
"Combined, their power far surpasses the Romann family as it stands today."
"While for now it's only some of our industries that have been taken by those two families, and we are far from a full-scale confrontation, if internal strife within Cyart worsens over the next decade or so, even erupting into a civil war, then the Romann family must have the power to strike back."
Byrne also agreed with Aldrich's viewpoint, believing the most important thing wasn't necessarily initiating a battle but always having the strength to join one.
Classes, order, etiquette—all of these have shown tendencies of gradually breaking down over the decades without the gods issuing any divine mandates.
The most significant changes, in fact, stemmed from the True Gods Church's increasing corruption and worldly involvement.
Both Byrne and Aldrich could faintly sense that an era of immense chaos was approaching.
Even the late Duke Black Iron had already perceived this terrifying matter.
Aldrich nodded with a smile, "Byrne, with the opportunity of your assistance, we will be able to quickly overcome this period of weakness. Actually, the most challenging part will be the next twenty years. As long as I can reach the level of a mid-level Monarch within these twenty years, the Romann family can return to its former glory."
Ariel sighed, the so-called former glory had not been gone long, just a few months, and the future glory of the Romann family seemed to have nothing to do with her.
Although she had finally obtained the position of family head, she couldn't deny that she was only the head in name; that man Aldrich, whether in terms of strength or wisdom, was completely superior to her.
Moreover, his talent in the power of the Bloodline seemed to be slightly better than hers as well.
Ariel felt crushed in every aspect, her inner discontent still lingered, but she also knew that, in reality, this was a good thing for the Romann family.
At that moment, Aldrich received intelligence delivered by a subordinate and immediately relayed it to everyone present.
"The Cyart King has entered the city."
The funeral officially began.
The person presiding over the funeral of Duke Black Iron was the Cardinal of the Salvation Church in Cyart, the "Silver Hermit."
She was an aged woman with white hair, clad in silver clothes and seldom seen by the public. The last time she had appeared had been during the Rhea war.
Within the Salvation Church, aside from the Pope, who was regarded as an 'Earthly Divine Being,' there were four powerful Cardinals, and the "Silver Hermit" was one of them.
In the past, she had led the Cyart people to settle in this land, fulfilling the oracle of the Lord of Salvation, and had long been revered by the people.