10.

Opening the boxes and taking out the contents one by one, what lay in front of my eyes are magic items. A pair of bracelets and a pair of anklets. The instruction was inside the box as well. The magic items are simple to use and all I needed to do was to specify how strong the gravity it will emit by turning a knob in the magic item and pressing the button to start.

The only thing that disappointed me was that, it has a time limit. It will run out of mana after being used constantly for 2 hours, after that, you need to supply some mana for it to 'recharge' and become usable again.

"So only two hours of training huh." I said as I wore the magic items in my arms and ankle.

I then went to the training room built for me. I held the spear in my right hand and activated the magic items starting from my ankles.

My body immediately felt the heaviness and activated the ones in my arms. I only made it so that the gravity was only 1.5 times stronger and it already made me kneel. I toned it down to 1.3 so that I could adapt first, going all hardcore for the first time is not beneficial.

I slowly stood up and picked up my spear, and started doing the Imperial army's spear stances slowly. By the time that the magic items ran out of mana, I can at least make a stance properly.

I never really trained with gravity in the past run because I don't have any money to commission the magic tower to make it for me and I don't have time to train because I have to learn about subjects related to running the territory. After I got older and entered the academy, I have no time for it as well since I have to research my magic and other spells to nullify them entirely, disasters are left and right plus we have to run to shadow worlds and training with gravity slipped in my mind and forgot about it.

Now that its still early, I want to make use of the chance to train not just my magic but my body as well. In the previous run, I trained myself harshly and reached the perfect control of my body after 14 years. It took me a long time just to reach it but the result of that 14 years was astonishing. With perfect control of the body, twisting in the air like a cat to prevent fall damage was possible. You can forcibly use it to close a wound with just pure muscle movement.

The sooner I reach that control, the better, as it will increase the odds of my survival. I removed the magic items and started doing my 'regular' training.

*

Time passed by so quickly and two months have gone away like the wind. I became 6 years old by this world's time. At this point in time, birthdays weren't anything special since it was just another day for a person. It was a You lived for one more year, good for you, kind of thing.

I only made so little progress in training but I was not disheartened at all. Training is a slow repetitive process. I can finally move freely under 1.3 times gravity and it was enough for me.

Not a lot of things happened in the territory for two months. Because my subjects were happy, not a lot of people were swayed by the words of the revolutionaries. They were treated well, they had money to buy food and other necessities, they were able to live a better life than other people from other territories, why should they ruin that just to go back and return to the bottom?

Although not a lot of things happened in the territory, a massive change occurred in other territories. The manhunt became bigger with the Nipheleka family at the helm. They made huge contributions for the Empire by catching and executing revolutionaries but a lot of innocent lives were lost as well.

*

I was in my room reading the financial graph of the territory when Wilhelm calmly walked in and called for me.

"Young Lord. They are here." Wilhelm said and I nodded.

Who else could they be but those who started the manhunt.

I wore my clothes and with Wilhelm in the lead, he brought me to the meeting room inside the manor. Inside it were nobles who wore grand clothes and gold accessories.

"Ah, welcome, Duke Blackwood." The person stood up and greeted me with a bow. I returned the gesture with a nod. Also, I know this person because Wilhelm informed me of the important people who participated in the manhunt and the family they came from or pledged to.

This man is the second son of one of the five Duke family in the Empire, the Britra family.

"Let's get straight to the point. State your reason for coming here." I said looking at the person who spoke to me.

"My name is Vadim, Second son of the Britra family. The reason we wanted to see the Duke we ask for cooperation and to inspect the populace of Blackwood Dukedom and capture those that may be affiliated with the Revolutionary army." Vadin said to me with a slight bow but I could feel that he was smugly smiling under the bow.

"I apologize for wasting your time by coming here but your request is denied." I said flatly. Their carefree attitude changed into surprise and shock.

"Surprised? Shocked? Sorry but I clean my territory properly and those revolutionary army you speak off doesn't have any influence in this region." I continued making Vadim's face complicated.

Vadim was about to say something when someone interjected in our conversation.

"Why are you declining? Are you scared that we will find a revolutionary army base here?" The man said while I stared at him.

"Third son of Baron Judeus, Mikhail, I'll remember you, thanks to you, I finally have a valid reason to invade and wipe your Family's Territory considering you just disrespected a duke and threatened me. As for revolutionary army base? In my territory? Don't make me laugh." I said coldly and Mikhail started sweating buckets.

"I apologize for my subordinates' action Duke Blackwood, I ask that you spare him. But Duke Blackwood, it is not wise for you to decline the cooperation. We were tasked by the Emperor to end the Civil War and only by killing the Revolutionary army will we be able to achieve peace. We ask that you consider our offer. We'll be leaving. Thank you for your time, Duke Blackwood." Vadim said and was about to leave when Wilhelm blocked their path.

"Did I say you can leave?" I asked Vadim who seemed to be displeased about it.

"May I know, what is the meaning of this, Duke Blackwood?" Vadim asked.

"You want to leave just because you want to? You want me to spare him just because you want to?" I said my words slowly.

"It is not wise for me to not cooperate with you? Or what? You'll use force to capture my subjects? Who do you think you are?" I said as I paused and looked at them.

"Its true that the Emperor tasked you to end the Civil war. But who do you really think started all of this Civil war? Is it because of the commoner students of the Academy who rebelled because they had enough? Or the idiots who pushed them past their bottom line? There's no need to rethink about considering your offer, I refuse." I said as I signaled Wilhelm and they made way. Another person was about to make a comment but Vadim was fast enough to pull him back and drag him.

Seeing them leave with their luxurious carriage, I looked at him and he immediately understood my intent.

'Prepare for battle.'

I returned to my room and continued doing my job as if nothing happened.