Killian, Ink Duelist; Target "Creature"

Question

Something I wondered about Killian, Ink Duelist was how this card's cost-reduction ability interacted with spells that interact with creature cards or spells and not creature permanents.

Spells like Empyrial Armor and Crib Swap can both target a creature permanent on the battlefield which allows these spells to cost less to cast if Killian is on the battlefield under your control while casting and targeting a creature with those spells.

However, something like Animate Dead targets a "creature card in a graveyard," so is it implied that with Killian on the battlefield under your control, Animate Dead costs less to cast because it targets a "creature" anyway?

How would Killian interact with Venser, Shaper Savant regarding returning a target spell to its owner's hand if the spell targeted is a creature spell?

Does a spell targeting a creature not have to be a permanent on the battlefield for the spell to cost less with Killian out?

Answer 1

Killian's ability only affects spells targeting creature permanents.

Rule 109.2 says

If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn’t include the word “card,” “spell,” “source,” or “scheme,” it means a permanent of that card type or subtype on the battlefield.

Killian's ability refers to "creatures", which is a card type, without using any of the specified words, so it means creature permanents.