The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 186

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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 186

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Inside the rectangular frame was a family photograph of my mother, father, me, and Yu Gyeom.
And this time, chrysanthemums made of artificial flowers had been added there as well.
“I never would have thought of something like this. Thank you.”
I bowed my head to Kwon Ik-seong, who had brought the chrysanthemums.
He looked at me in my uniform and spoke.
“It suits you well. It’s similar to a police uniform.”
“Yes. Well.”
The work I do isn’t much different from being a police officer anyway.
I greeted my mother and father awkwardly alongside Yu Gyeom, Pee So-won, and Kwon Ik-seong.
Only in my heart.
‘From now on, everything will change completely. The Heonsu Bureau will be fighting against this world.’
I turned over Baek Hee-ryeong’s words in my mind as I gazed quietly at my mother’s face and my father’s face.
‘Can I really do this?’
Fighting against the world, no less.
I’d never thought about anything so grand.
I’d generally lost my fights against the world.
In my previous life, I lost to citizens’ complaints, and in this life, I didn’t even get to fight before I was separated from taekwondo, the world I loved.
Without ever landing a single proper kick.
‘That’s just how the world is made, so what.’
I’d always lived thinking that was the civil servant’s mindset, that it was a good thing, constantly bending my body to fit the world.
But this time, I couldn’t do that.
If I bent, then other people would—
I looked at Kwon Ik-seong’s composed face, Yu Gyeom’s bloodshot eyes, and Pee So-won’s short hair.
These people would end up crushed.
Beyond any possibility of recovery.
I spoke to my mother and father with reddened eyes.
“I’ll do well. Just trust me once.”
At my words, Yu Gyeom turned his head.
Seeing that, Pee So-won quietly wrapped her arm around Yu Gyeom’s shoulder.
Yu Gyeom sobbed and then collapsed onto the ground.
Yu Gyeom’s crying face looked like he’d finally found his age again after such a long time… appearing young and innocent.
“Noona… I miss Mom. I miss Dad.”
At Yu Gyeom’s words, I let the tears I’d been holding back spill over and crouched down in front of him.
“It’s okay.”
To finally say what I should have said at my mother and father’s funeral.
“From now on, I’m your mom and your dad.”
With the hands that should have comforted that young child, I now wiped away Yu Gyeom’s tears.
“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll always be by your side.”
Yu Gyeom exhaled a relieved breath at my words and leaned against me.
We sat on the cold marble floor, cried for a while, then breathed deeply for a long time.
To start something anew.

* * *
We soon moved to a restaurant next to the columbarium.
I changed out of my uniform and back into a black suit.
“But why did you really come?”
When I asked, Kwon Ik-seong answered.
“I came to pay my respects. I usually visit the victims of cases.”
Ah. Now that I think about it, my mother and father were victims of a case for these people.
“Being an investigator is quite an extreme profession. I haven’t taken on a case with confirmed victims yet, so maybe that’s why.”
At my words, Pee So-won leaned back and spoke.
“Well, you handled the Yeo Hyeong-se case.”
“That was…”
That guy’s death didn’t feel particularly sorrowful.
How many people nearly died because of that bastard?
“You saved several people in the bus terror incident too.”
Then Lee Yu-gyeom glanced at me and spoke.
What. Were you taking my side?
I found this warm atmosphere difficult to bear, so I cracked a joke.
“So you must have been really proud of your older sister, huh?”
I draped my arm over Lee Yu-gyeom’s neck and ruffled his hair roughly.
I naturally expected Lee Yu-gyeom to shake me off in annoyance, but he stayed still.
“Of course?”
“…Huh?”
“You saved so many people, so of course I’m proud.”
Older sister?
It had been quite a while since I’d heard that term.
Occasionally he used it as a form of address, but mostly I was accustomed to being called “hey” or “you.”
But—
“I’m going to get more water. Do you want some, older sister?”
“Huh? Um…”
Lee Yu-gyeom stood up and naturally called me older sister.
‘He called me older sister…’
Should I be moved by something like this?
While I was at a loss, Pee So-won pulled out a white stick from her pocket and asked.
“Hey? What are you doing in front of a child?”
At those words, Pee So-won held the white stick at an angle in her mouth and spoke.
“It’s just a vitamin stick. I’m going out for a bit.”
An addict, through and through.
I watched Pee So-won head outside, then followed her out.
“I need to use the restroom.”
Pee So-won irreverently began smoking a vitamin stick behind the massive Buddha statue.
“…Something seems off about this, but there’s nothing wrong with it.”
Even Buddha would probably recommend vitamin intake.
At my words, Pee So-won let out a scoff as if exasperated.
“What are you talking about? Why did you follow me out? Do you have separation anxiety or something?”
“That would be Team Leader Han. He’s been trailing after me all day too.”
“You’re the one who followed me, aren’t you?”
Pee So-won furrowed her brow sharply as she spoke.
“Then what is it? Hehehehe.”
As Pee So-won blew smoke in my direction, I waved my hand dismissively.
Tsk.
“…I came to apologize to your parents.”
“Apologize for what?”
“Just. When that senior met his end, I wish I’d examined the case more carefully. If I had, your parents wouldn’t have had to suffer like that. So.”
I detected a subtle nuance in those words.
The connection between that senior and my parents’ deaths.
Did she know about it?
I hesitated for a moment before speaking.
‘I decided not to hide it anyway.’
“Do you know anything about the Busan Port incident?”
At my question, Pee So-won’s eyes narrowed.
“Do you know something?”
“Yes.”
I spoke without evasion.
“Team Leader Han obtained information about Choi Jun-gu’s illegal dealings in methamphetamine, became his target because of it, Team Leader Han passed away, and Director Hong covered it up.”
“…!”
Pee So-won’s eyes widened.
“You found out through possession?”
“No. I learned it from the Blue House.”
“You don’t mean… Baek Hee-ryeong told you directly?”
Pee So-won spoke as if in disbelief.
“Yes.”
“She’s got some nerve.”
I listened to Pee So-won’s words and reflected.
Pee So-won was angry.
Which meant—
“Even with just circumstantial evidence, the investigation should have been conducted properly. And if they’d investigated back then and uncovered the truth, your parents…!”
Pee So-won clenched her teeth.
As expected.
She didn’t know.
About Team Leader Han’s file.
Captain Hong hadn’t mentioned it.
Well, if she learned about that file too, things would get far too complicated.
‘I’ll investigate that further on my end before saying anything.’
Since my parents came from the same orphanage, there should be a way to find out through them.
“So what did you say in response?”
At Pee So-won’s question, I bit my lip.
“…I asked them to allow me to investigate the Busan Port incident. In exchange, I promised not to touch upon the collusion between Director Hong Jae-gyeol and President Baek Hee-ryeong.”
“You….”
Pee So-won spoke in an angry tone.
“So you’re going to expose this? You’re going to say Director Hong Jae-gyeol and President Baek Hee-ryeong are criminals? Director Hong Jae-gyeol knows everything about this, and there’s a reason he went to Baek Hee-ryeong.”
Pee So-won’s eyes wavered.
“If you expose it now, the people already desperate to bring down the Heonsu Bureau won’t stay quiet. Both Baek Hee-ryeong and Director Hong Jae-gyeol will fall. Then there’s no more… chance to uncover the truth about Team Leader Han’s death. We don’t have a single piece of direct evidence yet. We need to find solid evidence first before anything can be done. The investigation into Yulia Kim hasn’t even finished, so we’re not even sure if we can firmly apprehend Choi Jun-gu.”
At my words, Pee So-won put the vitamin stick back in her pocket and turned away.
Pee So-won kicked at the Buddha statue and snorted.
It was a deeply irreverent sight, but I couldn’t stop her.
She must be furious.
Team Leader Han was her weakness, a past she still couldn’t forget.
But then it happened.
With her back still turned, Pee So-won spoke.
“Are you… really okay with this?”
Pee So-won turned around immediately.
Her expression, filled with concern, became fully visible to me.
“Team Leader Han’s case and your parents’ case are connected. You’re covering it up. Do you understand what that means?”
“I’m only covering up the collusion, the investigation—”
“Can you forgive Baek Hee-ryeong and Hong Jae-gyeol?”
At those words, I hesitated for a moment.
I’d never thought that my parents’ deaths were because of those two people’s wrongdoing.
This was clearly Choi Jun-gu’s fault.
But when asked like that, I could only answer this way.
“What about you, Team Leader?”
At my question, Pee So-won took a moment to steady her rough breathing before answering.
“I won’t forgive them.”
Despite the pause, her answer was unhesitating.
I nodded.
“Neither will I.”
No matter how much I examined Team Leader Han’s files, a mistake was still a mistake.
And yet—
“I’m just doing what needs to be done. For now. True forgiveness isn’t my burden to bear—”
I gazed toward the columbarium where my parents rested.
“It belongs to Team Leader Han and 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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