The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 188
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
A Civil Servant Who Hides His Strength Is Exceptionally Good at Possession – Episode 188
* * *
Inside the item department store operated by ENC.
“It’s nice to meet you, Choi Woo-jin.”
Among the gathered members of the Choi family, including Madam Min, Jeon Hwan-su was also present—brazenly holding the hand of Choi Eun-mi, Choi Woo-jin’s cousin.
“Ah, should I call you Woo-jin now? Since you’re Cousin Eun-mi’s younger brother, after all.”
Choi Woo-jin made an effort not to let out a hollow laugh as he picked up a champagne glass from the tray held by a staff member and sat on the sofa.
“Call me whatever you like, Hunter Jeon Hwan-su.”
At the title “Hunter,” both Jeon Hwan-su and Choi Eun-mi’s expressions hardened.
Choi Eun-mi spoke to Choi Woo-jin in a sharp voice.
“Don’t you think you should use proper titles? We’re going to announce our engagement soon.”
The sight of her linking arms with Jeon Hwan-su while pretending to be close was pathetic.
It couldn’t be helped.
No matter how S-rank Jeon Hwan-su was, there was no way Choi Eun-mi could genuinely love him.
Just yesterday, she seemed to have called over some man and spent the whole time playing around at a hotel.
Choi Eun-mi wasn’t interested in Jeon Hwan-su himself, but rather in the status she would gain through him.
Among her parents and outstanding ability users like Choi Se-a and Kevin Choi, Choi Eun-mi wasn’t a particularly standout character.
Her ability was C-rank.
The rank itself wasn’t bad for an ordinary hunter, but in this family that possessed multiple A-rank abilities, she was treated like an ugly duckling.
So in my previous life, I had felt a certain sympathy for Choi Eun-mi—
“Then what should I call you?”
“You should call me brother-in-law.”
Seeing that arrogant, haughty face made me laugh at myself for ever harboring such cheap pity.
This wasn’t the time for that.
Choi Woo-jin recalled the dinosaur figurine that Lee Yu-ji had given him.
Captain Han Seong-ye’s voice still echoed clearly in his ears.
‘Lee Yu-ji. That’s my daughter’s name. Please remember it.’
I had come this far through the deaths of my parents, Lee Yu-ji’s parents, and countless others.
I couldn’t afford to miss the many opportunities I had lost in my previous life during this one.
Yet here I was, swept up in such cheap sympathy.
I was pathetic.
“Very well. I’ll call you brother-in-law then. But when are you planning to announce the engagement?”
Choi Woo-jin spoke while sipping his champagne.
“I’m thinking of announcing it right before the hunt next week. There will be reporters swarming when we board the private jet.”
That was when it happened.
From behind him, Madam Min Bo-hee, who had been selecting a jacket, answered Choi Woo-jin’s words.
Min Bo-hee looked down at Choi Woo-jin with a cold expression.
His grandmother gazed at him with that look every time.
‘Are you pleased to be the sole survivor?’
In my previous life, I had wandered about like a criminal, helpless before my grandmother’s anger, but in this life, I finally understood.
The source of Min Bo-hee’s rage was Choi Jun-gu.
She had directed her fury at me—the anger toward Choi Jun-gu, who killed his own child and walked around unscathed.
It was as if my guilt was walking around alive.
Because I had died, she wished I would simply disappear from sight.
“Shouldn’t you have told your family first before registering as a Hunter?”
Min Bo-hee shot the words at me with an irritated tone.
“Your older brother, your aunt, your grandfather—they’re all caught up in that damned Hunter Association, and the family atmosphere is already gloomy. Did you really have to act on your own like this? And S-rank? Is there something wrong with your awakening?”
At Min Bo-hee’s sharp words, Jeon Hwan-su rose from his seat with a composed demeanor and tried to soothe her.
“Please don’t be like that. I’ve confirmed it. My younger brother Woo-jin is indeed S-rank, and his ranking will likely be updated soon. It’s good news, isn’t it? Now Dae-yeong has four S-rankers.”
One of them is in prison, though.
As if swallowing those unspoken words, Min Bo-hee’s voice became slightly softer.
“Ranking update? What does the Association say? Seventh place?”
“We’re still looking into that….”
That was when it happened.
A woman who had just entered through the door answered matter-of-factly.
“First place.”
Mo Jun-mi.
I gazed quietly at her eyes, which had grown withered like a fading flower at some point.
“I just confirmed it. Choi Woo-jin, you’ve been recorded as South Korea’s top-ranked Hunter. The world ranking isn’t finalized yet, but you’re guaranteed to be in the top twenty.”
Mo Jun-mi didn’t even flinch as she looked at Choi Eun-mi, whose hand she was still holding, and Jeon Hwan-su, her long-time lover.
‘That’s very strange.’
I recalled Lee Yu-ji’s words.
‘From now on, go to family gatherings and gather all the information. Not what your eyes and ears tell you—confirm with your real eyes and ears what they’re scheming.’
My real eyes and ears.
Even as I looked at Mo Jun-mi’s face, I couldn’t understand.
If it were Kwon Ik-seong, who was more sensitive to others’ emotions than anyone.
If it were Lee Yu-ji, who trusted and understood complete strangers.
Could they have read that emotion?
Then am I a broken human being, unable to read their emotions?
It was at that moment I thought this.
Min Bo-hee dropped the champagne glass she was holding.
“So Woo-jin has a higher rank than the Guild Master? You don’t mean…?”
Min Bo-hee stepped on the broken glass shards and glared alternately at me and Mo Jun-mi.
Even before that gaze, Mo Jun-mi answered without the slightest hesitation.
“That’s right.”
I really don’t understand.
Thinking this, I spoke to the employee standing beside me.
“I’ll take that one.”
Pointing to the hunting long leather jacket that had been hanging on the rack all this time.
Then he stood up and laughed at Min Bo-hee, who trembled with fury.
“It’s unfortunate. I have too many interviews and I’m quite busy to stay here long. Anyway, congratulations on our brother-in-law’s engagement. See you all at the hunt.”
“You…! You…!”
At Min Bo-hee’s loud voice, Choi Woo-jin playfully covered his ears and laughed.
“Grandmother! You have such a strong voice. It’s wonderful. You don’t look old at all!”
* * *
I had anticipated that Yulia Kim wouldn’t let the ledger leave her body.
But—
“The ledger was literally attached to her body.”
Yulia Kim had written transaction records with all the major clients she’d dealt with on her entire body using invisible ink.
And she confessed it directly.
‘I didn’t just trade with Choi Jun-gu at Busan Port. The subspace transactions happened at Incheon Port. My body is the evidence.’
Even showing me the method to reveal the ledgers hidden in every corner of her body.
‘If you illuminate it with the magic stones that came out of the underground dungeon, the ledger becomes visible.’
In a place without Byeon Gu-do, I confirmed her ledger, which was densely covered with numbers and names across her entire body.
She glared at me while naked and spoke.
‘What happens to my mother?’
‘…What do you mean what happens.’
‘Don’t play games!’
Yulia Kim cornered me against the wall.
A suffocating pain shot through me involuntarily.
Why did I keep meeting women so desperate to kill me every single time.
‘She’s already been safely repatriated to Korea. She should be with a special unit by now. Once she changes her name in Korea and settles down, if you want to see her sometimes, you can write letters from prison.’
I touched the phoenix sticker inside my smartwatch.
The phoenix that had lost its golden luster and turned black.
I used the single opportunity Baek Hee-ryeong gave me for Yulia Kim’s mother.
It wasn’t because I forgave Yulia Kim, or because I pitied her.
I’m someone who has to save civilians.
That’s the right thing to do.
‘Somehow I’m starting to say things like Ik-seong would—’
‘So—’
I lowered Yulia Kim’s hand that gripped my shoulder and spoke.
‘Stop worrying about your mother and worry about yourself instead. From now on, you’re going to prison side by side with Choi Jun-gu.’
At my words, Yulia Kim exhaled roughly and stepped back.
Looking at her bloodshot eyes, I turned my shoulder away.
That was yesterday.
And today.
Finally, an arrest warrant was issued for Choi Jun-gu, who had been in emergency detention.
“You did it again. Lee Yu-ji. And with something really big this time.”
I stood before Captain Hong and accepted the arrest warrant.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————