Chapter 665: Make My Own Money - 665
He got straight to the point immediately.
"Father told me many things about the current affairs of not only the territory, the Kingdom, and the Empire, but also our very house. I know that you study poison. I am not Father, and I believe that you can do whatever you want, just don't endanger anyone else." He said.
Skymender nodded.
"Also, I've found that you've spent a lot of the Barony's money on these studies. As much as I hate to do it, I can't allow you to continue spending that much, especially during this time of change. Of course, you are still a member of the Sky Barony and can essentially spend as much money as you want, but within a reasonable limit. Otherwise, get your own money, alright."
Skymender nodded. It was reasonable.
After all, the money he had spent came from the Sky Barony's earnings, but did not contribute to the Sky Barony in any way whatsoever.
Seeing Skymender agree, Baron Sky thanked him and left to conduct more business.
Truth be told, Skymender had not spent as much of the Sky Barony's money as before. His current expenses should be considered reasonable, so for the time being, nothing should really change.
However, it was indeed true that he needed to make his own money at some point. He instantly thought about his specialty, poison.
With poison, there were only a few things he could do. As of now, it was yardwork and assassination.
He had experience involving himself in the criminal world, such as when he had completely orchestrated the kidnapping of a Duchess's daughter. Skymender had a few ideas on how to get started. First, he needed a few loyal and skilled followers. This could be solved simply.
Skymender had a mask custom designed for him through a somewhat hidden channel. It was different from his old mask, in that this one covered his entire face and left nothing to see besides his eyes.
He went out into the city a few times. With the changes in place due to the new Baron Sky, the police were cracking down on criminal's. However, they would never be able to solve all of it.
For the first few nights, Skymender gathered information. This was always the first step, and its importance could not be underestimated.
Skymender's desired target's needed to check off a few requirements.
First, they must care about others, best if they have a specific person they care greatly about. Second, they have to be smart and strong. Third, they must be willing to get their hands dirty.
Preferably, they would be in some sort of trouble already, but worst case scenario, Skymender could create some for them.
He eventually found three people who fit the criteria. Although it seemed like a small amount, in such a small city, he was lucky to have even found three.
Skymender approached, the first, which would be the easiest target.
As the sun fell and the moon rose, three thugs knocked on the door of a house. The house was only slightly above poor class. A man opened it. He was clearly a bit strong, but he could only take on one of the thugs at most.
One of the three thugs spoke. "It is time to pay up. You've been stalling for a long time, and the boss is getting impatient."
The man who opened the door spoke. He tried to act calm, but was clearly a bit worried. "Just a few more weeks. My Mother is still sick, and everything I make is being used to maintain her health. However, I have a few job interviews lined up for better positions. Once I get paid some more, you will naturally get all of your money back and more. But even if you take everything here, it would barely allow you to break even."
His reasoning was so good that it made even the three thugs hesitate, but they quickly shook their heads and snapped out of their thoughts.
"Good reasoning indeed, but you've been saying that for more than two months. You better hand us the money right now, or be made an example."
The man gritted his teeth. He was in a hopeless situation.
"What if I join you all? I can work off my debt, just as long as my Mother is able to survive."
Without another word, the three forced their way into the house. From outside the small yard, Skymender finally moved. He quietly moved, appearing behind the three thugs. With a single swipe, a head flew off. Another followed it. Just as the third reacted, another fell.
The man stood stunned, looking at the three headless thugs. He had never seen such a scene in his life.
He then looked at Skymender, who stood short and wore a mask. But the feeling he gave off was something unbelievable.
After all, he had just killed three men.
"Who are you?" The man asked, doing his best to keep his composure.
"The person who just saved you and your Mother's lives."
The man spoke with hesitation. "Thank you, sir. How can I repay you?"
Skymender had been waiting for that. "You said you were willing to work for the group behind those men earlier. Why don't you extend your offer to me?"
The man clearly did not want to agree. He wanted to leave the life of the slums and join the middle class. But like this, even if he wanted to disagree…
"Of course, sir. What will I do to repay you?"
Skymender explained. "You just wait until I give you something to do. Every month, the expenses you need for you and your Mother will be delivered. You can even work a job to earn more. As for your hiring bonus, that will come soon."
The man was surprised at his words. "Yes sir. But what about the three thugs? If it is found out that they died in my house…"
He did not need to finish his sentence.
"That is what your hiring bonus involves. Just live the life of a normal person from now on, blending in. As for the events of today… for the sake of you and your Mother, I wouldn't spread any information."
The man shuddered as Skymender left. He had lept out of the dragon's mouth, only to end up falling down into a pit of lava.
Chapter 666: Dark Sky Gang - 666
As he left the first person's house, Skymender made his way to the next person.
Luckily, each of the three people had some sort of trouble or issue with the same group of thugs. It was one of the bigger groups, though it was impossible to say whether or not they were the biggest.
Skymender was unable to get that much information.
The next two people, though they were not in any sort of immediate trouble like the last two, were still feeling the ill effects of the group of thugs.
This one in specific had to pay an unreasonably high "Protection Fee", though this fee was simply put in place to prevent them from stealing from him or hurting him.
He already struggled to pay it, and they increased the fee often, as this was the best way to extort a person.
When Skymender knocked on his door, it was not him who answered, but his daughter. Even though Skymender was merely 11 years old, this girl was half his size. With his mask on, he looked quite intimidating.
She stumbled out words. "H-hello."
Skymender spoke nicely. "I'm here to speak to your father."
The girl nodded and ran into the house. Soon after, her father came. He was skinny, clearly overworked, but Skymender knew that he had a surprising amount of strength for his weak looking build.
He looked at Skymender warily. It was late at night, and Skymender was wearing an unusual mask.
"Let's talk. Mind stepping outside?"
The man cautiously stepped outside. Though he was wary, he had been dealing with thugs all of his life.
"What do you want from me?" He asked.
"I heard that you are constantly being extorted for money by a group of thugs. I can help you."
"No need." The man said bluntly.
He could not afford to take such a risk.
"Do you really want to raise your daughter in such a dangerous place?"
Although the man lived in one of the nicer homes in this area, it only made him stand out as a target.
The man paused. "Who are you?"
"Someone who can help. Agree, and nobody will mess with you from now on. In addition, you will get paid. Disagree, and I leave, allowing you and your daughter to be extorted until they take everything from you."
The man still hesitated. "What exactly do you want from me?"
"Work for me. There won't be one constant task, but various ones. You simply need to blend in and be willing to do just about anything."
"Like what? Stealing, killing? I do draw a line." He said seriously.
"I won't make you hurt anyone innocent unless you are willing to."
Looking deeply at Skymender's eyes, the man agreed. A normal person may not even after all of that, trapped by fear, which was why Skymender had sought out intelligent people who could leap at an opportunity.
"We'll be in contact. Just don't consider betrayal. I know where you and your daughter live. As for the thugs, they'll be dealt with soon."
Only one person remained. He had an entire family, not just one person, who worked hard to survive and pay a protection fee. They were extremely close to each other, and for now, were in a stable situation. However, recently, some of the thugs had been eyeing his sister. She was abnormally good looking in such an area.
It had gotten worse and worse, until it was clear that the thugs would soon do something, robbing them dry and doing whatever to their family, be it murder or kidnapping.
But at night, Skymender arrived.
He was met by not just the man, but by everyone in the family considered an adult. There were seven in total, including the man.
"So what do you want?" The man asked.
"I want you to work for me. Just you, not the rest of these people."
Skymender explained some specific things to the whole family, but did not reveal nearly as much information as he had for the other two.
He only knew that Skymender would give him a job, he would not be able to mention it to his family, he would get paid well, and the thugs would be dealt with. Skymender also did not forget to remind them that he knew where they lived as he left, which really was a great threat.
The next morning, life went on as usual. Skymender went to school and studied. But after school, he entered the city. The school was in a prosperous and rich area. The slums only encompassed around ten percent of the city, though it contained 50% of the population.
It didn't take him long to enter the slums, and the sun soon fell, leaving only the moon behind.
Skymender walked through the streets with the same mask as before, heading towards a specific location. He wore a cloak, and under it were the items he would be using today. A sword, and a few different poison's of his.
There was no need to bring another person, he alone was more than enough. It was finally time to display the power of his poisons.
The farther he walked, the more people he saw. Some were leaning against walls, and some were laying on the sidewalk.
Eventually, he saw a lit up building, surrounded by nearly a hundred people hanging out. A few had weapons and looked stronger than others, though most of the hundred were weak individuals.
Skymender did not blend in, but he did not overly stand out. Inside the building were surely more people.
This was the home base of the group of thugs, simply known as the Dark Sky Gang. Their very name was an insult to Sky city, as well as the Sky Barony.
Skymender walked up to one of the few people with weapons. He did not hide his approach, and the man soon saw him.
"You. Stop right there!" He said loudly and commandingly.
Skymender flung open his robe, and a sword flew out, piercing the man's heart.
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
121 Power
stone 
Paragraph comment