Chapter 619: Talent Score - 619
The King of the Ergen Kingdom was the first to break the silence. "What was his score?"
The Imperial Scholar responded instantly. "Adjusted for age, 83."
"And the talent score?" The Emperor asked.
The Imperial Scholar smiled. "Out of 100, 97."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
"Did you not say that there was a margin of error of five points?" The King of the Ergen Kingdom asked.
"Of course. So either he could be a little worse, which is still incredible, or he could be even better."
The test taken at the noble gathering was not only to compete in intelligence, but for first timers, to test their mental talents.
Intelligence could be obscure and in many different forms. Someone considered a genius may not learn things the fastest, but their speed of understanding could be terrifying if in the right situation.
A score of 97, though with a margin of error of 5, had never once been seen before since the test was developed 400 years ago.
The current Imperial Scholar, Fei Luzi, had set the record at 96. This was also with a margin of error of five. However, Skymender had even surpassed that.
"So what do you think should be done?" The Emperor asked the Imperial Scholar.
The Imperial Scholar only thought for a moment before responding. "I won't be around forever. If nothing goes wrong, perhaps you'll have a new Imperial Scholar."
Him saying these words would be shocking to anyone who heard them. He had never genuinely praised a person's intelligence before, much less suggesting a successor.
"Then should he be let in on the plans?" The King of the Ergen Kingdom asked.
"No. Not yet. It is unknown where his loyalties truly lie as of now. Besides, he does not need to know such a thing for now." The Emperor said without hesitation.
The room fell into a silent agreement.
Sword Master Shang broke it. "And what if he is not deemed fit to be the Imperial Scholar."
He understood that with Skymender's talent score, they would not let him live freely.
"If he simply has no interest in involving himself with politics and focuses solely on something such as research, or perhaps wastes his talent, then he can live freely while monitored."
Sword Master Shang did not need to ask a follow up question. Nor did anyone else
If he were to show signs of betraying the Empire or even just leaving it, his fate would not be a good one.
The only variable was his sister, a potential Sword Master.
However, as long as Sword Master Shang took action, even the sun and moon would pale in comparison.
Skymender left the throne room looking at the card. There seemed to be nothing special about it. It was pure white with only a few words written on it.
"Scholar Ticket."
Whatever this was supposed to mean, he did not understand it.
Skymender soon returned to the ballroom. It was slowly emptying, but Li Youcai and his aunt's family were waiting for him.
Li Youcai bowed upon seeing him.
"Congratulations, Master Skymender."
Servants had not been a big part of the noble gathering, only showing up in between events.
At other times, they simply stood off to the side, patiently waiting.
"Thank you." Skymender responded.
He then received congratulations from his aunt and her family.
Afterwards, people came up and congratulated him further. Skymender gave a polite thank you to everyone. By the time 11 pm rolled around, he was back in his carriage and on the way back.
Upon returning, he entered his room and fell asleep.
The next morning, he woke up refreshed.
Instead of relaxing all day, he took Li Youcai and returned to the research institute.
Now that the noble gathering had passed, his reputation had soared. It would be difficult to grow it any further at his current age.
There was no future event to wait for, and it was not necessary to take actions around the Imperial Capital.
He had firmly planted his feet within these grounds.
Skymender knocked on the door and the old man from before answered.
Seeing Skymender, he was surprised. "Welcome back Young Master Skymender. Congratulations on your victory in the intelligence test, as well as your showing in the Sword event."
Skymender thanked him.
"I'll go see old Lee now." Skymender said.
The old man nodded and let Skymender in.
Skymender did not need to be accompanied, soon returning to the familiar division of research.
Old Lee and his apprentice, Tara, were still here, doing the same thing as always.
Hearing footsteps, they turned around and were equally surprised at Skymender's presence.
They bowed and spoke words similar to the old man's. Skymender did not care about their praise and soon found himself in the basement, reading books. He studied and studied, and the day soon passed.
He found enjoyment in studying, though he was not sure why.
Perhaps seeing his results on the intelligence test had made him appreciate his own talent more. It would be a pity to see it wasted.
Between the hours of studying, he would also continue to read fantasy books, his still favorite form of entertainment.
As night fell, he returned to his aunt's house and slept.
Upon waking, he planned to once again return to the research institute, but found that his aunt had a letter for him.
He looked at it, and saw it signed by the Crown Prince of the Ergen Kingdom.
He sighed, wondering if he was going to have to deal with annoyances after besting the Crown Prince.
He opened up the letter and read it.
"Hello, Skymender. Meeting you has caused me to be interested in hearing more about you. Tomorrow, I invite you to attend a small gathering with some of my fellow nobles. Please, feel free to come or not. Signed, Crown Prince of the Ergen Kingdom."
Although giving room for refusal, the fact that it was signed by the title of the Crown Prince, instead of his name, showed that he was more or less required to attend.
It was a distraction, but perhaps not that bad of one.
Chapter 620: It Is Still Fate - 620
The date of the small gathering was set for the next day. Skymender did not have to prepare in advance or anything. After all, he was only meeting a Crown Prince and his friends, not an Emperor or a King.
As for who his friends were, Skymender did not know. He went out with Li Youcai and returned to the research institute. He returned around 3 pm. He began to relax and rest in preparation for the next day.
Before going to sleep, he was given a strict cleaning by the servants of the house.
He fell asleep early and woke up early.
The gathering was set for noon. After taking care of various things, Skymender made his way towards the Imperial Palace.
Where else would a Crown Prince hold a gathering?
He set out a bit early, scheduled to be there at 11:30.
However, Li Youcai suggested a detour.
Skymender questioned him. Li Youcai explained.
"That girl you found on the road, Hope, has been training and been through a background check. She came from a wealthy commoner family, but went missing. She has lost a portion of her memory, but everything checks out as it should."
"What does that have to do with me?" Skymender asked.
"She has been training to become a servant, and her results have been excellent. I believe that we should bring her with us."
Skymender wasn't sure. "You want me to bring an untested servant to a gathering with the Crown Prince?"
Li Youcai spoke seriously. "I can attest to the fact that she is just as good as me, with even more potential."
Skymender, hearing Li Youcai's recommendation, reluctantly agreed. They took a slight detour to the commoner district, no more of a detour than 10 minutes in total.
Skymender waited in the carriage for a moment before Hope entered. She looked similar to before, just cleaner and wearing better clothes.
She bowed to Skymender as soon as she entered the carriage.
"Let's go. We don't have that much time."
Hope nodded and entered. The carriage immediately set off once again.
They returned to the route and arrived at the Imperial Palace at 11:45.
They did not need to go through many checks as they were not coming to meet the Emperor.
After everything took place, Skymender arrived at the gathering location at exactly 12.
He did not need to knock on the door, it was opened by a servant.
Looking inside, Skymender saw a lavish room decorated with luxurious furnishings and filled with large windows.
It seemed more like a lounge than a noble gathering place.
Skymender also saw five nobles, as well as some servants. One was naturally the Crown Prince of the Ergen Kingdom himself.
However, the remaining people were equally surprising, if not more so. Three others were also Crown Prince's. In other words, all of the Crown Prince's, save for the Imperial Crown Prince, were in this room.
The only person Skymender did not recognize was an elegant woman, but from the flower embroidered on her clothes, she was clearly from the Flower Kingdom.
She looked at Skymender, and he felt a similar feeling to when he looked at his sister.
The Crown Prince of the Ergen Kingdom looked at Skymender and spoke with a smile.
"Come join us, Skymender. Potential Sword Master Daisy was telling us about one of her travels."
The Crown Prince of the Ergen Kingdom's words confirmed Skymender's suspicions. This was a potential Sword Master, just like his sister.
She hardly reacted to his entrance, merely glancing over. She then turned away and continued to speak in a calm voice with no expression on her face.
Skymender came over and sat down.
The whole thing seemed suspiciously casual.
Everyone was sitting on beanbags, lounging around.
Skymender sat on a beanbag as well, but kept the proper posture.
He listened as the potential Sword Master, Daisy, continued to speak.
She spoke of a journey to an ancient mountain, before she was ever a potential Sword Master. There, she met an old man at the end of his life.
He sat on a rock in the middle of a lake with nothing but a sword across his lap.
Daisy had come through a clearing, instantly able to tell that he was nearing his last breath.
As she became visible, the man looked at her. Although at the edge of death, his eyes were brighter than the sun.
He spoke a few simple words. "Though we only met at the end of my life, it still counts as fate. You are my first and last disciple."
He then stood up, raised his sword, and the story stopped there.
Daisy explained that she would never reveal what happened afterwards, even if she was tortured for a thousand years, or even if all the world's Kings and Emperors tried to force her.
Skymender, like everyone who had ever heard this story, was extremely curious. However, she clearly had no intention to share, as she had said.
After she finished speaking, another Crown Prince began to speak. They all shared stories, until it reached Skymender.
Skymender spoke of his time saving the daughter of the Duchess, a story more interesting than most of the others told.
After he spoke, more conversation went on. Skymender wasn't sure what the goal of this gathering was, but he didn't really care to think too much. The sun soon began to fall. They ate and spoke some more before the Crown Princes all stood up.
"It has been great seeing you all, but it is time to go."
"Likewise."
Everyone dispersed quickly, so fast Skymender was surprised.
Before he realized it, he was leaving the room. Only Daisy remained behind. Suddenly, she spoke.
"Your name. Is it truly Skymender?" She asked.
Skymender turned around and looked at her with confusion. "Of course."
She looked at him deeply before sighing. "Would you like to hear the rest of my story?"
Skymender was surprised, and he did not dare refuse. He walked back over and sat down across from her.
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
121 Power
stone 
Paragraph comment