The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 19

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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 019
“I’m not sure what you mean by ‘take it easy’…”
That’s definitely Kwon Ik-seong standing before me, right? Not Pee So-won.
“Exactly as I said. Pressure is coming from above. It seems the Great Empire Guild wants to manage things so that Choi Woo-jin doesn’t appear in the media.”
“But Choi Woo-jin was at an illegal weapons trafficking scene.”
Somehow the situation feels reversed.
Usually in the original story, Kwon Ik-seong was the one making statements about ‘principles and rules’ like this, while the other person tried to placate him with talk of moderation.
“But Choi Woo-jin is a civilian. Not a Hunter.”
Ah, that’s right.
At this point, Choi Woo-jin was disguising himself as an Awakened One.
There had been several close calls, but thanks to his excellent connections and deception skills, he’d gotten through them. Even when he attacked the Subspace that day, he deliberately used expensive items that even an Awakened One could use.
Just in case he didn’t want to leave any traces.
“If you try too hard to take down Choi Woo-jin, he’ll likely strike back instead.”
Kwon Ik-seong’s eyebrows furrowed.
The original Kwon Ik-seong had a backstory.
Five years ago, Kwon Ik-seong worked in a secret information management team under the Hunter Administration Office, digging into the Great Empire Guild’s corruption. When things went wrong, he was dispatched to the Hunter Investigation Unit.
It was a form of demotion.
Kwon Ik-seong looked at me with an expression as if those past events were resurfacing.
“…I heard you caught a terrorist.”
“Well, that was just a coincidence…”
“I also heard you arrested Chairman Jeong.”
“That was… more like it wasn’t entirely my doing…”
More like an achievement that happened to follow along?
That’s what I wanted to say, but thinking about how our team’s record went from zero to two achievements because of that incident, the Chairman’s arrest was indeed part of our accomplishments.
“Team Leader Pee also had a time when he was filled with a sense of duty, just like Investigator Lee Yu-ji.”
Had they known each other since way back?
As I questioned the subtle nuance in his words, Kwon Ik-seong continued.
“I believe that investigators with a sense of duty should be able to work long in this organization. That’s why the first principle of the Hunter Investigation Unit investigator’s code of conduct exists.”
Principles.
His words brought back the code of conduct I’d recited during training.
The first principle of that code of conduct was—
An investigator cherishes their own life above all else.
…!
Did that mean touching the Great Empire Guild was that dangerous?
Before I could even ask, he handed me the file folder in front of him and stood up from his seat.
“Investigator Lee Yu-ji is already an investigator being watched from above. Take it easy. The part about not taking it easy—I’ll handle that.”
Wait, why would those above be watching me…
More than that, is he really looking out for me right now?
“We’re not even on the same team… Why are you looking out for me like this?”
As I asked, standing before the investigation office, Kwon Ik-seong quietly looked down at me.
‘…He’s handsome.’
This was the problem with my conversation with Choi Woo-jin.
The moment I saw his face, every question in my mind scattered like white dust, leaving only the impression that he was handsome.
“Did I not just tell you? I want organization members with a sense of mission to remain in the organization for a long time.”
His answer was bland, yet there was something warm about it.
The version of Choi Woo-jin that I adored, exactly as he was.
“First, we survive. That’s how we win.”
But the shadow that crossed his face when he spoke those next words was something I had never encountered in any written text.
“Ask only the questions in the file, and don’t engage in any other conversation. Absolutely not.”
He opened the investigation room door for me, then entered through another door himself.
The moment I stepped into the investigation room, I saw a man sitting at an angle, waiting to greet me.
“It’s nice to see you here like this, Investigator. Back then, it was kind of….”
A sly smile curling upward at the corners of his mouth.
Eyes that didn’t smile at all in contrast.
Light brown eyes that gleamed like a fox’s.
“…You were out of it, weren’t you?”
‘Don’t engage in any other conversation. Absolutely not.’
I recalled Kwon Ik-seong’s words and swallowed hard.
The presence of the camera behind me suddenly became conspicuous.
The CCTVs everywhere.
Somewhere beyond that glass, Kwon Ik-seong would be watching this conversation.
And now I was about to begin a conversation with the protagonist of this novel—a regressor—as a possessor!
‘Damn it.’
It was a total disaster.

* * *
However, keeping my word proved far more difficult than I anticipated.
“Your name.”
“My name is Lee Yu-ji, isn’t it?”
….
The first question was already an obstacle.
Choi Woo-jin, the hidden S-rank Hunter, possessed numerous abilities, but the most terrifying among them was his extraordinarily high intelligence stat.
Thanks to that, Choi Woo-jin knew how to manipulate people not only as a Hunter but by leveraging knowledge from various fields.
It was for this reason that he could engage in hacking activities under the alias “Gamer.”
“Since your personal information is already in the documents, let’s verify it that way.”
“Ah, so Team Leader Kwon told you not to answer my questions? Just follow what’s written exactly?”
Choi Woo-jin, with both arms resting on the desk and his upper body leaning back, wore a playful smile.
From his pouting lips came words beyond imagination.
“That’s disappointing. I wanted to get closer to you.”
Why would you want to get closer to me! I don’t like you!
You didn’t have to come here, but you deliberately did.
With a grandfather who was a first-generation Hunter of South Korea, you still insisted on coming!
‘In this life, so many things have gone wrong because of you.’
That strangely ominous remark echoed in my mind, sending chills down my spine.
If Choi Woo-jin remembers the previous “Lee Yu-ji,” he might discover what differs between that person and who I am now.
I remained tense, eyes fixed on the documents before me.
“Were you aware that the Subspace you entered was a site where illegal weapons trafficking was occurring?”
As I asked in a clipped tone, Choi Woo-jin leaned back slightly.
He seemed to be thinking about something, then opened his mouth with a condescending attitude, as if accommodating me.
“No. I didn’t know.”
My first answer!
I jotted down a brief note in the documents. Though everything would be recorded anyway, there was no real need to write.
Regarding the interior of the collapsed Subspace, he’d already stated that he “accidentally touched an item wrong,” so there was no particular reason to ask about that—
‘Of course, it’s a complete lie.’
“Then how did you obtain the item used to enter the Subspace?”
“I have a close club DJ friend.”
It was an answer that reeked of delinquency, but….
‘That was all a mask too.’
“Did that DJ directly….”
“That DJ said Kevin hyung left it behind and gave it to me.”
Thud.
My hand holding the pen stopped.
I looked up at Choi Woo-jin.
“Kevin, you say…”
“His Korean name is Kevin. He’s our cousin.”
Sigh.
Without thinking, I shifted my gaze between Choi Woo-jin and the camera capturing us.
What is this?
I was told never to get entangled with the Great Empire Guild….
‘And yet you’re handing me incredibly incriminating material. Choi Woo-jin.’
Kevin was the grandson of Great Empire Guild Master Choi Jun-gu and an A-rank Hunter.
He was a figure garnering attention as the next power broker of the Great Empire Guild, with rumors quietly circulating that Choi Jun-gu considered him his successor.
‘In the novel, he committed some truly horrific acts.’
He was the real “reckless” grandson of Choi Jun-gu.
“It seems you bought something there… Did Kevin come too? Oh, he’s in America right now, so he couldn’t make it?”
I stared at Choi Woo-jin without managing any response.
I couldn’t tell whether I should swallow the candy he kept feeding me and become a fish hooked on his line, or follow what Kwon Ik-seong said instead.
It was while my head was about to explode from the deliberation.
Choi Woo-jin spoke.
“But aren’t you really curious? Why I want to get close to you, Investigator?”
“…That’s….”
Oops.
I almost answered without thinking before closing my mouth.
But Choi Woo-jin’s eyes gleamed as if he already knew I was hooked.
“I got a feeling the moment I saw you.”
Whatever that feeling was, could you just ignore it?
…
“I have a feeling that Investigator Lee Yu-ji will become a major character in my life.”
He said it with a chuckle.
And at that same moment, a window appeared before my eyes.
Abnormal Status ‘Unnamed Extras in Crime Novels Always Die’ Activated!
Quest ‘Expose Kevin’s Crime! (A)’
-Completion Reward: 7,000 Gold
-Failure: Death by dismemberment
-Time Limit: 7 days
A major character, my foot!

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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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