33.

Seasons have passed and 3 years have gone by in a blink of an eye. I just became 12 and I'm currently chilling in my room.

These past 3 years, we've managed to turn my territory back to its former glory and even more. In these 3 years, I've created a separate force that will supervise the safety of the citizens from local threats, basically, a local police.

Those who are scarred from the previous war chose to enter the police force because they still can't get over the loss of their friends or comrades right in front of their eyes but they can't find a proper job outside of the army because they cause trouble with their trauma.

I can't do anything to help those who have PTSD because I'm not a trained psychologist and I don't know how I will train one either. Its one of the things I'll look up after using the 'Shadow Path' that Lucifer gave me.

The skill has been in my arsenal for a long time now but the reason why I didn't use it even after getting Vasavi Shakti is because I know that the time to use it is not yet right.

I'm just a strong spearman who had an almost perfect body control and was able to tap on Vasavi Shakti's strength, that's all. I haven't polished my magic and I haven't started using aura. Its just pure arrogance to go into a random world with such meager strength. What if the world I managed to get into is so dangerous and I won't be able to come back? I can only blame myself if that happens. Caution and patience will stop me from overestimating myself.

Training myself was essential but because I have to manage everything, I don't have time at first. With that in mind, I passed all the work to Uncle Wilhelm and had him distribute it to other departments. I only asked Uncle Wilhelm to pass the things that need my immediate attention, besides that, I'm free to do what I want.

Because I had time for myself, I buried myself in the training room, I would come out for 3 separate days to relax my muscles since over working is bad and my body needs rest. Its because of this repeated cycle and the help of the training equipments, that my body control managed to improve to the point that I'm nearing perfection. I could actually close a wound with just a thought now. My body also became tempered because of the gravity training and could perform well under 2.3x gravity training.

The Magic tower also managed to finish the weighted training gear that I asked them to make a year after leaving the Royal Capital. It increases the weight by a huge amount and I don't need to recharge it with mana because it constantly sucks mana in the air. I know that the concept of the magic cannon was used differently by the magic tower or more precisely the tower master because they are studying the magic cannons I provided for Uncle Gilltian.

Speaking of the magic tower, we managed to convince them to build a branch in our territory by funding the building of the tower. That's the most we could give them and Tower Master, Joad Exarion(A/N: Or Zod Exarion from the wiki if you want to call him that.) accepted the terms and said that he will pay for the teleportation array as thanks for bringing the magic cannon for research.

Although we only talked through a virtual screen call, a new popular invention by the tower master, we understood that Joad was busy with his experiments so we weren't bothered by making a deal through 'video call'.

In 2 years time, the Magic tower, Blackwood branch, was built. Only a few researchers and mages joined our branch because it was just built recently and had no reputation yet. Fortunately for those who joined the tower, I gave them funds to start any kind of research they wanted as long as they finished the Teleportation array as soon as possible.

With the funds on the line, they immediately put all their time to finish the teleportation array as fast as they can and after a long time of wait, they notified me that the teleportation array is going to be finished and I'm only waiting for Uncle Wilhelm to call me about it.

I am reading a history book when a knock took my attention away from the book.

"Aegis. Its time." I could hear Wilhelm's voice coming from the other side. I changed my clothes into a neat and comfortable one before opening the door.

"Let's go." I said and Wilhelm nodded.

Wilhelm got a lot stronger after the years go by. I was shocked to see Aura covering his entire body. I never know or heard of whats after a King Class Aura user, this is the first time that I'm seeing someone surpass the King Class Aura. Unfortunately, Uncle Wilhelm said that he's still lacking something and can't touch what's outside the barrier of the King Class Aura.

In the past run, I've never seen Uncle Wilhelm reach this strength. The future is slowly changing and I'm currently threading on an unknown territory. I surmised that Felicia, being healthy and free of the illness, made Uncle Wilhelm let go of his worries and because of that, he may have received some kind of enlightenment.

We would spar and Uncle Wilhelm would use the same strength as mine but he would always get the better of me. I could almost touch the barriers of my limit once more and would need some kind of pressure to break through my limits. The thing that came to my mind was the Shadow Path skill but I shook my head because I know that I'm still not ready. Just going in forward without a plan or any kind of preparation in my mind is only going to get me killed.

We soon reached the building where the teleportation array is drawn and the people inside saw us.

"Duke Blackwood!" One of the researchers that I funded came to me.

"Yes, Mr. Jon. I came after Wilhelm notified me. Is it finally done?" I asked Jon who is slightly excited to show it to me.

"Yes. We're finally done, we only need to power it up with the Mana Gatherer and it'll be good to go." Jon said with an excited face as he awaits for the order to power up the Mana Gatherer.

Mana Gatherer

Its an invention that the magic tower have and its my first time hearing and seen this one. Mana Gatherer wasn't a thing even in the past run and now such a thing is right in front of my eyes. Future is changing right in front of my eyes and I can't help but worry that my knowledge of the past run is going to be useless.

"Power it up, Mr. Jon." I said and Jon nodded and pressed the switch of the mana gatherer.

Mana in the air is slowly being sucked by the Mana Gatherer. The Mana Gatherer then uses the mana it sucks up in the air and powering the array that's drawn in the ground with runes. The runes slowly lit up and runes started swimming around the array.

"Its fully powered, Duke Blackwood." Jon said and I gave him a satisfied nod.

"Let's return and share the news, Uncle Wilhelm." I said to Wilhelm and we both returned to the manor to contact Uncle Gilltian.

I had Uncle Wilhelm set up the Virtual Screen and called Uncle Gilltian. The Virtual screen replaced the need for writing letters and the passing of information became faster and smooth. Sadly, only a few is being produced every year because of the rarity of the materials and some materials are only accessible to the Shadow worlds. We are one of the first batch who managed to get one since I understood the value of such an invention. I am currently wishing everyday before I sleep for the Magic Tower to invent a handheld phone.

As the Royal Family, Uncle Gilltian got the priority for such an invention and he too understood the value of the invention. The tower master said that its still in the initial phase so they haven't named the invention yet.

With the Virtual Screen Calls, Adjest would sometimes use this invention to call me and Felicia.

Anyway, I had Uncle Wilhelm call Uncle Gilltian. I don't know how the call would be transferred since there's no such thing as phone lines, its just that the Tower Master just did it because the man is the greatest mage of this era, no explanations needed. His knowledge about magic is unparalleled and he would use this knowledge to mix it with engineering to create new inventions that would revolutionize the way of living of the people.

The call got connected and Uncle Gilltian is sitting on the throne looking at the screen.

"Is it not an appropriate time to call?" I asked Uncle Gilltian and he shook his head.

"Go on, what are you going to say?" Gilltian asked a little curious about what I'm about to say.

"The Teleportation array is finally open and we're going to need your permission to connect our teleportation array with yours." I said and Gilltian had a smile on his face.

"Looks like you'll be taking the spot of the most prosperous city from Dresden. *Sigh* I can't compete with you, since you've basically stolen all the talented people from others. With those talents at hand, its only a matter of time before they bloom and realize their talent and contribute to the territory they work at." Gilltian said with a helpless face.

Because of the growing discrimination between nobles and commoners, my territory became the safe haven of those commoners who fled from their homes because of oppression. They have heard of rumors about people entering my place with a malnourished body and become a healthy looking person a few months after living in my territory. Even if they were to face dangers on their way, they will hold on to the hope that their life will change after reaching my territory.

"Its an investment and now its paying off. All those money used to improve the territory is now going back to my coffers and would be distributed to other towns or cities to further develop them and increase its ability to take in more people who want to take refuge in my territory." I said with a light chuckle.

"Anyway, I've already informed the Court mage about your request and they would like to connect it now." Gilltian smiled wryly.

"Whoa, hold on there, what's the rush? I thought your guys would take at least a week before they approve it." I asked in surprise.

"The court mages heard that you are funding mages' researches and they would like to ask you for funds for their own research." Gilltian said with a sigh.

"I'll see what I can do." I replied with a wry smile. What benefit will they give me if I fund them? Glory as part of their research? Am I in need of glory? I'm a Duke for heaven's sake.

'Am I going to be a sugar daddy now? F*ckin hell.' I cursed but I need that teleportation array connected to the Royal Capital and my allies' territory.

"Alright I'll take a look as well." Gilltian closed the call and I did the same before facing Uncle Wilhelm.

"Looks like we need to go back as soon as possible." I said while Wilhelm just had a light smile on his face.

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Back from helping a friend of mine surprise his girl for engagement. Maaaaaaan, seeing my friend proposing and sh*t made me realize that I'm slowly getting older. Fckin hell. My back is nearing 60 ffs.