The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 175

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Civil Servant Who Hides His Strength Is Exceptionally Good at Possession – Episode 175

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Imalra was no ordinary “hand.”
Most notably, this hand possessed what seemed like a sense of self—which was decidedly unusual for a mere appendage.
I want the gloves to be blue.
“I’ll get them for you.”
As Imalra walked beside me through the underground corridor beneath the Government Office, she wiggled her fingers and extended her pinky toward me.
With an odd sense of discomfort, I linked my pinky with Imalra’s.
The fact that she seemed to understand my words was equally peculiar.
‘Where are her ears?’
When I possessed that hand before, it definitely had no ears or eyes.
‘Could something have emerged during the separation process with the monster?’
If that were the case, then I might be… some kind of variable?
Perhaps because of me, the memories and sensations between the “hand” and its original body became connected, allowing the hand to perceive the world.
‘I’ve created quite the headache.’
While it had proven useful in the end, now I was raising not just Kang Si-bang but Imalra as well!
As for why Imalra’s name became “Malra,” the reason was simple.
‘Because she was so thin. Incredibly thin.’
The moment I encountered the security guard stationed in the underground corridor, I felt Imalra burrow into my jacket, and I shuddered.
“Here’s my pass.”
“Are you here for the hearing?”
“Yes.”
“Then you need to go that way, not this way.”
“Ah, I see. Yes… understood.”
As I spoke, Imalra crawled down from my jacket and naturally attached herself to the guard.
While the guard turned and walked away, Imalra showed me a note written in crooked handwriting.
Blue
Sigh… I hadn’t meant to teach her Korean.
But there was no point in regretting it now.
With that thought, I walked toward the hearing chamber.
That’s when it happened.
Someone approached me with a bright smile.
“Investigator Lee Yu-ji.”
Separating himself from the group in black suits, the man who approached me was a face I knew well.
‘Gu Jae-yong.’
The Blue House Chief Secretary I’d seen that time when he was seduced by homemade burgers.
“It’s been a while.”
Every time I see this man, I feel it—there’s something peculiar about him.
He acts overly familiar and good-natured while subtly probing people, like he’s constantly testing them.
“You brought your congressional pass.”
Look at him now.
He’s acting like he’s done me some great favor by handing over that pass.
For the record, Gu Jae-yong slipped me this congressional pass directly.
Pee So-won wanted to proceed with this without going through Captain Hong, which left me no way to enter the hearing room—that’s when I remembered Gu Jae-yong.
Of course, there were other methods… I could have submitted evidence from the Heonsu Bureau, for instance, but this approach was far cleaner.
‘It’ll look more natural if I don’t appear at the hearing myself.’
So I used the business card I’d obtained from Gu Jae-yong at Sangchun Jae.
[A congressional pass, you say… Haha, what are you planning to do this time? I’m quite curious.]
Gu Jae-yong didn’t say whether it was possible or impossible—he simply probed me.
‘Would it be impossible?’
I gave him an indirect answer suggesting it was difficult.
From that alone, Gu Jae-yong seemed to understand everything.
[So you want me to bypass all the procedures. Skip the director and number one both.]
Civil servants, really.
The more seniority they gain, the sharper their instincts become.
[If I do this for you, I wonder what you’ll show me, Inspector Lee. You’re always so varied—I have high expectations!]
Of course, any deal required give and take.
[Could I ask you directly for a favor later? When the moment comes?]
How could I refuse?
Think about how many ranks higher you are than me!
I swallowed what I wanted to say and simply agreed.
And this is the result.
“You’ll be taking the underground passage, I presume?”
Gu Jae-yong smiled and gently turned me toward the passage.
Then he naturally walked alongside me through the underground corridor.
The security guard who’d been blocking my entry now cleared the way.
Throughout it all, Gu Jae-yong never stopped conversing with me.
“It’s audit season now, so I find myself visiting the National Assembly quite often. There are many political matters to discuss. Especially since the Guild lobby is the hot-button issue this time, isn’t it?”
“Ah… yes.”
Wow. The Chief Secretary’s power is truly formidable.
With that thought, I walked through the underground passage where congressmen typically came and went.
“What do you think about the fact that Guild Master Choi Jun-gu is coming today?”
And as we climbed the stairs and entered a less crowded corridor.
Gu Jae-yong asked me.
His eyes gleamed with that characteristic sharpness.
I realized something from that gaze.
He knows my coming here today is connected to Choi Jun-gu.
“…I think he’s simply arriving far too late to a place he should have come to long ago.”
At my answer, Gu Jae-yong’s expression became subtle.
“If a crime was committed, or if there’s suspicion of one, then whether they’re a Hunter or an ordinary person, they should face punishment.”
“I see… Then would it be alright if I asked just one more question?”
“You’re going to ask it anyway, aren’t you?”
Gu Jae-yong laughed at my question.
“Haha. You’re quite an amusing person.”
…He said he wouldn’t ask, but here he is.
“Well then… Do you think that Inspector Lee Yu-ji and Hunters fundamentally have no difference from ordinary people?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly as I said.”
Gu Jae-yong gazed toward the main entrance of the National Assembly.
Reporters had already gathered in droves near the revolving and glass doors, photographing a man entering the hearing chamber.
I naturally followed Gu Jae-yong’s gaze.
There stood a large man who appeared to be roughly the same height as Ik-seong.
A face I’d seen hundreds of times while living as Lee Yu-ji in this world.
A name that came to mind instantly upon seeing that face.
And the modifier that always preceded that name.
Hero Choi Jun-gu.
I watched Choi Jun-gu enter with a stern expression, leaning on a cane.
Seeing him in person…
‘He’s just a person, really.’
A strange feeling washed over me.
The human who appeared in the novel as the world’s villain, a massive antagonist, the very axis of all evil—was simply just human.
This person would also die if pierced through, would suffer injury, would feel sorrow and pain.
It was like that first time I sparred with my instructor.
When my instructor, who had only taught me forms, became my sparring partner.
When my instructor’s legs and torso grazed the tips of my feet.
I felt it clearly then.
This person is human too.
The person I strike, the person who strikes me—they’re all human.
“Hunters possess tremendous power and form collectives called Guilds capable of accumulating vast wealth. Yet you believe that Awakened individuals can be born equal to ordinary people from the start?”
That’s when Gu Jae-yong spoke.
I furrowed my brow watching Choi Jun-gu bow his head humbly before the reporters.
“That wouldn’t be the case. However…”
Looking at Choi Jun-gu’s profile, I briefly recalled Choi Woo-jin.
The novel had described them as quite similar, but that was a lie.
They weren’t similar at all.
Their expressions, the muscles they used—everything was different.
“Even among Awakened individuals, some understand the weight of their own power, while others overlook it. I believe that as an investigator, regardless of what power someone possesses, we should only judge them by their actions. We’re the last line defending our society. That’s what we’re protecting.”
After finishing those words, I looked at Gu Jae-yong.
Gu Jae-yong spoke with an unreadable expression.
“You’re saying something similar to what Investigator Kwon Ik-seong mentioned. Working in the same department, it seems you two are growing alike.”
“Well… that’s…”
Isn’t that just natural?
Any investigator would think the same way.
“But the world doesn’t always work that way. In any case, don’t forget the debt you owe me. I’ve added another one today, haven’t I?”
“Pardon?”
What. Is he talking about letting me use the underground passage?
But Gu Jae-yong’s answer was different from what I expected.
He pointed to Choi Jun-gu, who was being guided up the stairs, and spoke.
“Choi Jun-gu. You were frustrated with him, weren’t you? From here, you can see it clearly. What expression the witness makes behind the photo line.”
I looked at Choi Jun-gu’s face as he turned away from the reporters.
It wasn’t the rigid, stiff expression from before.
The corners of his mouth were raised, and his jaw was tense.
Only then did I notice the resemblance between Choi Woo-jin and Choi Jun-gu.
‘So that’s how he smiles. When he’s angry.’
“I thought you’d want to see that face.”
I couldn’t refute Gu Jae-yong’s words.
Because it was true.
I wanted to see it.
The human despair of the man who killed my parents.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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