Chapter 684: Last Year - 684
The main reason why Skymender didn't bother to lie was because he knew that if they wanted to find out, they would be able to. It wouldn't be difficult, especially if all they wanted to know was whether or not he was the Skygod.
Just watching him would suffice. Either he would slip up and show that he is Skygod, or the Skygod would suddenly stop taking action while Skymender was being watched, which was enough proof.
Regardless, he had another pardon badge.
The Emperor spoke. "As long as you don't kill a noble or anything, you're good to continue. I'll just act as though I never heard you."
Skymender nodded, thanking him.
"Alright, you can go."
Skymender left the throne room, and began to travel back to the Sky Barony.
As he did so, Sword Master Shang turned to the Emperor. "Is it time?"
The Emperor nodded solemnly. "Just about. Are you sure you don't want to bring Skymender?"
Sword Master Shang nodded. "He may be a powerful asset, but he isn't prepared for the battlefield. Any mistake can lead to death, and his death is something the Empire cannot afford."
The Emperor understood. "Don't die out there."
Sword Master Shang turned around and left through an exit. "I could never lose."
After ten days, Skymender arrived back at the Sky Barony. He had not seen his sister since she stormed out of the throne room.
Skymender sighed. Both of them had grown older, and being away for so long had caused their emotions for each other to grow thin.
This was especially so for Skymender, who had been affected by the Deprivation poison.
He continued as always, studying. Even though his schooling had been interrupted multiple times recently, he had long surpassed anything they could teach.
Without a single word that he could be Skygod, Skymender's life continued steadily.
Soon, summer came. Skymender did not do anything special. He simply studied and assassinated. His pockets had become so deep that he wasn't even sure how much money he had.
All he knew was that the money he used to take from the Sky Barony's reserves were nothing in comparison to the money he had now.
The same went for Western Guardian, Third Moon, and Violet. They had become extremely wealthy, though nobody around them knew it.
They kept most of their money in an underground bank. They would most likely never use it, simply passing it on to their children or someone else after they passed away.
They kept a low profile, staying in the same houses as always.
Skymender had not only changed their lives, but even Sky City in general had been assisted by him.
More than half of the people he assassinated were criminals, and that kept the streets cleaner and safer than before. In fact, seeing the rate at which criminals died, most people avoided committing any crimes, no matter the circumstances.
This made Sky City one of the safest cities in the entire Empire.
That only contributed further to its growth.
Skymender returned home. It had been silent for a long time.
He was the youngest child, and all of his brothers and sisters had either moved out, whether temporarily or permanently, or stayed in their rooms all day. Skymerge had left to join the Imperial School a while ago.
Others had joined the Royal school or left to simply make a life for themselves.
Even during the summer, they only occasionally returned.
Skymender was the last to leave the house, and he only had a year or so left.
As things continued, his last year of school commenced. After this, he could either join the Imperial school, Royal school, some other school, or never join a school again. Naturally, he had long planned to enter the Imperial School.
It wasn't even a question. He would probably be exempt from any test necessary to enter, simply because his intelligence was so high.
He wasn't even excited for the Imperial school. He felt that there was nothing it could possibly teach him. Even the number one graduates of each year may not know as much as him. It would be a formality, but perhaps Charles would be there. If so, then as long as he had also grown, it may be interesting.
The last year of school passed by quickly.
Skymender turned 14, the age required to enter the Imperial school, though he had to finish the school year.
All resistance to his assassination organization was quelled. The police no longer officially worked with him, but he could tell that they occasionally requested tasks.
If he wanted to, he could completely take over the underground of Sky city, and perhaps even the entirety of the city itself. That would never be allowed to happen by the Empire, but if they were to, for some reason, not interfere, then he definitely could.
Around the start of the new year, his brother called him into his office. He seemed a bit exhausted, but his eyes were as bright as ever.
"As you know, my goal is to expand Sky city, and make it even greater than it already is. I cannot do that alone. Therefore, I wanted to ask you to advise me. I know of your intelligence, as you have long surpassed the knowledge of the academy level." Baron Sky said.
Though he said this, Skymender understood what he was really asking. He wanted to work with Skymender, or rather, Skygod, to expand the city.
"I can help you, brother." Skymender said.
Baron Sky nodded.
"Though I want to expand the city, it costs a lot of money. I can tax and tax, but at some point, people get dissatisfied. Therefore, I have considered working with the one known as Skygod to tax the underground. Doing so would benefit everyone. What do you think about this idea?"
Skymender nodded. "It makes sense. I'm sure as long as you could show proof of what the money would be going towards, this Skygod person would be willing to help tax the underground."
Baron Sky nodded. "I will send him a formal letter then. In addition…"
Baron Sky began to talk about many ideas for cooperation with the one known as Skygod.
Some, Skymender advised he did not go through with, and some he suggested he did.
Chapter 685: New Skygod - 685
Their meeting ended with Baron Sky drafting a long letter to the Skygod, and sending it to the Informant. Naturally, it would be impossible for him to send it to Skygod himself.
Skymender left, satisfied. He hadn't agreed to anything that wouldn't benefit him. Of course, it was impossible for everyone to benefit from this. Since both he and Baron Sky benefited, then there had to be at least some people that did not.
In this situation, it was everyone in Sky city. For the criminals, they would have to start paying something akin to taxes. For the common people, criminals would most likely get laxer treatment since they were paying taxes.
Of course, they would still be arrested if they committed crimes, but leniency in the punishment could be expected.
Overall, their agreements would increase the size of Sky city. This naturally benefitted Baron Sky, as Sky city was his, and it also benefited Skymender, as more people meant more assassination targets and more people willing to pay the price.
Also, assassination insurance would be purchased more.
Sky city seemed to be going in a completely unique direction, one which had never been seen before.
With both the light of Sky city and the Darkness working together, unprecedented growth could be achieved.
The next day, Skygod received the letter from the Informant and read it. He agreed with everything inside, and a cooperation began.
The underground was initially not happy to hear the news that Skymender intentionally spread, but they soon realized that all of this could somewhat benefit them. After all, no matter what, the growth of Sky city benefited everyone living inside of it.
Rapid growth ensued.
Over the next few months, Sky city expanded greatly. More and more people came to visit, and more and more people came to stay. Rich, wealthy commoners were no longer a rare sight. There would only ever be one noble family, but the amount of commoner families could infinitely grow alongside Sky city.
Skymender almost considered getting another assassin, but everything was still manageable with four. After all, assassination was a hefty action taken rarely, and the price made sure that it was not some sort of common action. In addition, many possible targets had purchased assassination insurance.
Skymender made more from assassination insurance than he did from actually assassinating others.
After all, the fear of being targeted by assassins with nearly a one hundred percent success rate was widespread.
Time passed, with Skymender's profits rapidly increasing, until he finally graduated from the academy. Naturally, he was first in his class, though it felt as though it was unnecessary to mention. Summer came, and it was once again time for Skymender to head to the Imperial Capital. At the end of the summer, he would begin his journey at the Imperial school.
He expected that he would be able to easily run through it, but who knows? Perhaps there are some incredible geniuses out there that have hidden away until now.
Skymender's parents watched him leave reluctantly. Though even they were convinced that he was the Skygod, he was still their son. He looked nearly grown now, as he was 14 years old and matured faster than most. His height was already the size of an average adult's, and muscle made up most of his body.
Surprisingly, it wouldn't show unless he flexed. In his passive state, he seemed fit, but not muscular. This was the look of a future scholar.
Also worth mentioning was Melly.
Although she was considered a year older than Skymender, it was actually only by a few months. Due to birthday cutoffs, and most likely a few strings being pulled by her parents, she would start her first year at the Imperial school with Skymender.
She had never stopped going to the academy, though Skymender seemed to see less of her. He wasn't sure whether or not he should feel bad, considering she was engaged to him and he had paid nearly no attention to her.
He normally wouldn't feel a thing, but she gave off an air of darkness, as though she was some ignored wife.
Thinking back, it had actually been a month or two since they had spoken at all.
Skymender left for the Imperial Capital, Melly with him. He did not bring anyone else, even Li Youcai. However, everyone else was under the impression that Li Youcai was going with him.
This was because Skymender had a very important task for him.
Until Skymender returned, he would become Skygod.
Skymender had actually carefully planned this long ago.
Li Youcai was not someone that he completely trusted, but it was rather out there that he was Skygod either way. Besides, Li Youcai had never given Skymender a reason to distrust him.
It had taken months of training and explanation, but Li Youcai finally took over. His assassins were informed, but nobody else was. Some may pick up on some clues, but most would not know the difference.
Li Youcai had actually been very willing, as though it was an honor. He wouldn't do much assassination, he was just a figurehead.
Therefore, only he, Melly, and the carriage driver took this journey.
The carriage driver just so happened to be Hope, who Skymender had picked up long ago. She would keep her mouth shut about Li Youcai not being there, though she would not serve as a servant.
Melly has also heard about the suspicions of him being Skygod, but had never mentioned them.
Skymender did not feel the need to explain anything.
As ten days passed, and the city wall neared, Skymender spoke to Melly. "For the next four years, you must stay with me."
Hearing this, Melly's eyes brightened, and seemed to gain clarity. Looking at her eyes, Skymender had a realization.
It made a lot of sense now, though it logically made none at all.
Melly had not been depressed or felt ignored, but had been in some sort of dormant state. Skymender's words had awoken her, and for the first time in a while, it felt as though she had returned to her body.
Skymender had to reassess her completely. Were her emotions really so deep?
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
121 Power
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