The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 237

—————
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 237
Cheon Hee-tae.
As a Special Forces lieutenant, he had recently found himself often unable to discern the true intentions of his superior, Number One—Baek Hee-ryeong, the supreme military commander.
Soldiers, by nature, were not those who questioned their superiors’ orders, but those who followed them.
He understood his place well enough—
“As you’re well aware, Lieutenant Cheon, the Special Forces will take the lead on this matter. Discreetly. Which means there’s no need for Investigator Lee Yu-ji to become deeply involved.”
…At times like these, he simply couldn’t fathom what Number One was truly thinking.
“But didn’t you assign this task to Investigator Lee Yu-ji?”
“Yes, I did.”
Baek Hee-ryeong, her expression composed, turned back the video footage that Lieutenant Cheon had brought.
In it was Lee Yu-ji demonstrating taekwondo on stage.
Baek Hee-ryeong spoke while watching Lee Yu-ji in that footage.
“Lieutenant Cheon.”
Baek Hee-ryeong addressed Lieutenant Cheon Hee-tae.
“Would it be beneficial for national security if the existence of the Special Forces became publicly known?”
Baek Hee-ryeong’s gaze shifted toward Cheon Hee-tae. Her eyes narrowed.
“Are you growing weary of operating in the shadows?”
Her words carried weight. The moment he heard them, Cheon Hee-tae tensed immediately.
The Special Forces had to operate in darkness at all times.
Failure to do so risked not just national security or military duty, but his very life.
Baek Hee-ryeong had struck at that nerve.
“For the sake of your comrades, it would be wise to exercise caution. To achieve that, it’s better if it appears on the surface that the Heonsu Bureau is handling the matter.”
Of course.
Number One always had a plan.
Cheon Hee-tae felt a moment of admiration and renewed his resolve to fulfill his duty.
Then she said something subtle.
“For that to work, I need Investigator Lee Yu-ji. And it’s important that she doesn’t get hurt. That she doesn’t lose her life, or—”
Baek Hee-ryeong spoke while looking at Cheon Hee-tae’s blood-stained hand.
“…that nothing gets severed.”
“What do you mean by—”
But before Cheon Hee-tae could ask further, Baek Hee-ryeong posed her own question.
“So Investigator Kwon stepped in? To rescue Investigator Lee Yu-ji?”
“It appears so. If the two of them had maintained communication, they likely wouldn’t have resorted to such extreme measures.”
Cheon Hee-tae recalled the gun barrel that had been aimed at the center of his forehead.
To be honest, it was the first time he’d seen Kwon Ik-seong lose his composure like that.
Though he hadn’t known him for very long either.
“It seems there are complications within the Heonsu Bureau as well.”
Baek Hee-ryeong said this with a faint smile.
Her expression suggested she was considering multiple possibilities.
“There are no issues with continuing as a Black operative, correct?”
Baek Hee-ryeong’s question was answered swiftly by Cheon Hee-tae.
“I haven’t done anything to raise suspicion. Communication with Sa Gong-seong has been smooth.”
“What about Seol Ok-gyun? Are you certain he’s in America?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but… we haven’t confirmed any contact with the Kremlin yet.”
The Kremlin. That was a reference to the Russian military.
Currently, the Magical Stone wasn’t merely serving as a money-making tool for the Hunter’s Guild.
It had become a threat to international stability.
A Magical Stone capable of creating Dungeons.
To anyone’s ears, it was an object with nuclear-weapon-level danger.
And the prospect of such an object falling into the Kremlin’s hands was America’s greatest fear and point of fury.
That was also why Baek Hee-ryeong had visited Russia not long ago.
“What evidence do you have that contact hasn’t occurred?”
“…That’s still…”
“Whether contact has or hasn’t happened, bring me concrete evidence.”
Baek Hee-ryeong had a conversation with America scheduled soon.
With solid information, she could navigate through this delicate period.
“Without fail.”
This sensitive moment when the world might be swept into a third world war.
And one more thing.
Baek Hee-ryeong desperately wanted Lee Yu-ji to become a hero during this sensitive period.
Not a nameless supporting character, but one who would definitely play an active role.
If not—
‘The protagonist of this world itself.’
So Lee Yu-ji couldn’t die, couldn’t be injured, and simply needed to accept the cases she spoon-fed her from that exact position.

* * *
Sa Gong-seong’s tablet and laptop were, naturally, password-protected.
Seven digits total.
I naturally turned to look at Kwon Ik-seong sitting beside me.
With a face that said, ‘You’ll handle this for me, won’t you?’
What choice did I have?
Where else would I find an investigator as sharp at deduction as Ik-seong?
Ik-seong seemed to sense that look in my eyes and spoke.
“There aren’t many clues necessary for deduction.”
“I just need you to provide them, right?”
I looked at Ik-seong with bright, sparkling eyes as I spoke.
At that, Ik-seong let out a soft laugh.
‘Guilty as charged.’
You shouldn’t smile like that with such a handsome face, my favorite person.
I have urgent places to be because of the world’s impending destruction.
And on top of that…
‘Fragment of Twisted Causality 2’—will you accept it?
That damned status window is driving me crazy.
I’m going to receive it again?
Then I’ll have to leave immediately, and if I’m in America, I’ll have to take a plane.
“Is your head alright?”
Ik-seong carefully pointed to my forehead.
“Oh, yes. I put on that healing patch…”
I had forgotten and reached for the bandage on my wound, trying to remove it.
No, I tried to remove it, but it wouldn’t come off properly, so I furrowed my brow and Ik-seong asked.
“May I remove it for you?”
“Huh? Yes, sure.”
Ik-seong said that and removed my bandage with an expressionless face.
Then he quietly examined my forehead before his gaze settled on my eyes.
As if he had discovered something within them, for a very long time.
“?”
Then, looking down at the removed bandage, he spoke.
“From now on, it would be better if you said you’d remove it yourself.”
“Huh?”
Kwon Ik-seong looked at me with a composed expression.
“There might be things I do that don’t help with your investigation, wouldn’t you say?”
“Well…”
What does removing my bandage have to do with whether Ik-seong would hinder my investigation?
And more than anything—
“Manager Kwon, would there ever be anything you do that hinders my investigation? You’re always only helpful.”
“I’m not sure.”
Kwon Ik-seong averted his gaze from me.
As if he were deliberately avoiding my eyes.
“You always lie, Inspector Lee Yu-ji.”
“What?”
“I used to think it was for the sake of justice, but my perspective has changed at some point.”
“Um…”
What is he saying right now—
“It feels like I’m being chased by something. As if I’m being coerced by someone—”
He looked at me.
For a moment, my heart seemed to shrivel, as if all my blood rushed to my chest and pounded there.
“As if there’s another force pulling Inspector Lee Yu-ji’s strings.”
…!
My face.
Is it under control right now?
I kept every muscle in my body tense to give Ik-seong no hint whatsoever.
But I knew all too well that this very tension itself would become a hint.
“I suppose it’s creepy of me to say such things.”
“What do you—”
“Most people don’t like those who see right through them. Everyone has secrets they want to hide, and I have mine too. But I can easily uncover others’ secrets without revealing my own.”
I looked up at Ik-seong’s face, which seemed somewhat bitter.
I had never once thought him creepy.
For the first time, seeing his wounded expression, I found myself at a loss for words.
It was like witnessing the soft side of someone who always appeared so hardened.
“I once exposed my father’s infidelity. That incident ended the relationship between my parents. I don’t know what kind of relationship my father had with that woman. According to him, he was going to end it soon anyway. He said nothing would have happened if it weren’t for me. I don’t believe that. But because of that incident, I lost my parents.”
Kwon Ik-seong gradually wiped the bitter expression from his face.
As if out of habit, his true face retreated back into its familiar hard shell.
“I no longer want to lose you, Inspector Lee Yu-ji.”
Kwon Ik-seong placed the band-aid he had removed onto the interrogation room desk as he spoke.
“So it would be better if you gave me no hope whatsoever. Besides, I acted recklessly to save you, and I nearly ruined this investigation. Even knowing that fact, I still decided that confirming whether you were alive or dead and going to rescue you was the most important thing. That is clearly—”
His lake-like eyes rippled with emotion.
“An abuse of authority.”

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