The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 31

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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 031

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The following evening.
Investigation Team Meeting Room.
“…That concludes Kevin Choi’s statement. Most of the statement content has been fact-checked, and we’re currently contacting the bereaved families. However, we still need to secure the identities of several VIPs, so we’re focusing our investigation on that aspect.”
Kwon Ik-seong finished his report in the meeting room where Investigation Team Leader Captain Hong, Investigation Team 5 member Pee So-won, and several investigators from Investigation Team 1 had gathered.
This was a briefing meeting for a task force that Investigation Teams 1 and 5 had created by collaborating on the Geumho-dong illegal weapons trafficking case, the Subspace illegal trading case, and Kevin Choi’s illegal fighting arena operation case as one large investigation.
“Well. We can proceed with that…. Why isn’t the main person in this case here?”
Captain Hong nodded, then pointed to the empty seat next to Pee So-won.
“Your partner.”
Pee So-won raised one eyebrow at the word “partner.”
Captain Hong deliberately pretended not to notice Pee So-won’s sensitive reaction and tilted his head up.
“Investigator Lee Yu-ji deserves the most credit in this investigation. It’s problematic to keep excluding her from duties.”
“It’s not exclusion from duties—she sustained many injuries, so I told her to rest for a while. She’ll return starting tomorrow.”
Despite Pee So-won’s response, Captain Hong still looked displeased, but Pee So-won equally ignored his expression.
“Why aren’t any of your other team members showing their faces?”
“As you know, our team only has four members, so we’re always short on investigative personnel and don’t have the capacity to attend briefing meetings.”
“Then should we expand your team and increase your case assignments?”
“….”
Pee So-won clamped her mouth shut with the expression of someone who had dug her own grave.
‘That temperament.’
Captain Hong clicked his tongue and told Kwon Ik-seong, who was still standing, to return to his seat.
“Good work. I hear Kevin Choi is spending 10 billion won on legal fees—that law firm looks like they’ll make a fortune. Well then, let’s end the meeting here. Team leaders stay, everyone else is dismissed.”
“The meeting’s over, so why do the team leaders need to stay?”
As Captain Hong sent out the Team 1 members, Pee So-won grumbled with a tired expression.
When the Team 1 members filed out, Captain Hong tossed a pen at Pee So-won.
“You bastard. What’s with that attitude during the meeting?”
Pee So-won caught the pen lightly, stuck it behind her ear, and answered casually.
“Old-fashioned…”
“I can hear you, you know?”
“I’m saying it so you’ll hear. Maybe listen to what your subordinates say for once.”
While Pee So-won was being cheeky, Captain Hong glanced at Kwon Ik-seong, who remained unmoved, and asked.
“What’s with you? Got a problem?”
At Captain Hong’s question, Pee So-won looked at Kwon Ik-seong.
As always, his face showed not the slightest disturbance, and he wore a neatly pressed shirt without anyone asking him to.
Pee So-won found it odd that Captain Hong would ask such a thing of Kwon Ik-seong, who was as immovable as a stone wall.
“…My condition isn’t quite good.”
“Your condition? You?”
Pee So-won looked at Kwon Ik-seong.
Kwon Ik-seong appeared perfectly fine.
But internally, his concentration was significantly scattered.
The reason was—
‘Is something the matter?’
It was because of what happened yesterday.
When he came to work yesterday, he was handling his duties as usual. He organized statements and materials, and reviewed the contents to report to the higher-ups.
Everything was no different from any other day. He spent his time buried in paperwork, and his morning routine—coming in an hour earlier than his colleagues—was about to end with lunchtime.
At 12:30 PM, when all the other colleagues had gone out to lunch.
To be precise, 12:29 PM.
He was planning to go out as usual to buy a sandwich for a quick meal, but the moment he stood up from his desk, he froze in place.
So coldly that a team member who had knocked and entered with a cup of coffee for him asked if something was wrong.
‘No. It’s nothing. Thank you for the coffee. But I’d prefer you didn’t bring any in the future.’
As always, his gentle and stiff response made the team member leave with an awkward smile, and Kwon Ik-seong, left alone, stared intently at ‘it’.
On his meticulously organized desk, a single blue ballpoint pen.
A blue pen was wedged into the wooden holder where only a black pen should be inserted.
Though it had a black cap on the outside, he knew. A blue ink refill was loaded inside, producing blue ink.
“There’s a dispatch early tomorrow morning, right? Will you be okay? It’s 4 AM, so it might be a bit tricky.”
Captain Hong asked, observing Kwon Ik-seong, who appeared to be thinking about something again.
Having observed Kwon Ik-seong for a long time, Captain Hong had noticed that he was subtly different from his usual self.
At that question, Kwon Ik-seong returned to his characteristically stiff expression and answered.
“No problem. It’s a personal matter.”
‘A personal matter?’
Pee So-won spoke in a low voice as if bewildered.
As if finding it remarkable that the legendary Kwon Ik-seong had personal matters.
Then Captain Hong asked Pee So-won.
“And about your team’s youngest member…”
“Why are you so interested in our team’s youngest…”
“Some strange posts have been popping up online. We’ve handled it on our end, but shouldn’t we keep an eye on it?”
At the mention of strange posts, Pee So-won’s expression became serious.
That’s how public opinion works.
Kwon Ik-seong was once called the ace of the Hunter Investigation Unit and a national treasure of a face, even getting a fan cafe, but the moment the Kevin Choi summons investigation began, short-form videos dug up Kwon Ik-seong’s interviews and nitpicked everything.
And now public opinion was reversing again.
It was the same with Lee Yu-ji.
Ever since the CCTV footage of her beating down that terrorist was leaked and people started reacting with ‘Taekwondo Girl,’ Pee So-won had been displeased.
It’s easy to lift someone up to the heavens and then drop them to ruin.
“That’s why I’m asking how the internal CCTV management is being handled in the first place…”
Just as Pee So-won was about to raise a serious objection, Captain Hong cut in first.
“Posts keep coming up saying Lee Yu-ji was disqualified as an athlete for assaulting a fellow athlete back then. I know we’ve done a thorough background check on our end and it’s not a big issue, but…”
Captain Hong smacked his lips and spoke to Pee So-won.
“Don’t just look after your partner’s body—take care of her mental state too. Either keep her off YouTube for a while.”
At those words, Pee So-won’s face hardened like stone.
She had heard about Lee Yu-ji’s past from Captain Hong, and she’d also picked up stories at the athlete training center.
[She’s a bit like that. How do I put it… to be blunt, she’s kind of cocky.]
Pee So-won furrowed her brow, recalling what she’d heard from a former athlete she used to know.
For the past few days, she kept thinking of Lee Yu-ji watching strange videos on her computer.
‘…Was that not an animal farm?’
Captain Hong patted the dazed Pee So-won’s shoulder and left the meeting room with Kwon Ik-seong.
In the hallway, Kwon Ik-seong asked Captain Hong a question.
“Is there an issue with Investigator Lee Yu-ji’s record?”
“No. It’s not an issue, it’s just…”
Captain Hong started to say something, then his eyes sparkled.
“Why. Are you sweet on Lee Yu-ji too? Other team leaders have been asking about her a lot lately.”
“…”
“Forget it. I’m planning to keep Lee Yu-ji anchored to Team 5 for a while. Unless she asks to transfer herself.”
“I was simply asking about the investigator’s record.”
“You’re the type to be curious about other people’s team members’ records?”
Captain Hong let out a small laugh.
‘As if.’
“Well… there’s no issue. It’s just that public opinion is complicated. The Hunter Investigation Unit has been in the spotlight lately. And that photo Lee Yu-ji took with Kevin Choi.”
Captain Hong mimicked Lee Yu-ji’s expression—making a V-sign with a bright smile.
It was a recreation of the photo of Lee Yu-ji that had become a meme circulating online recently with the caption “I smile even when my nose bleeds.”
“It keeps going up and down.”
“Ah. Yes.”
“So you’re clocking out now?”
“No, sir.”
Kwon Ik-seong answered and lowered his head, walking ahead first. Watching him go, Captain Hong shook his head.
“He’s not normal either.”
Leaving Captain Hong’s words behind, Kwon Ik-seong soon arrived at the records room on the second floor.
Kwon Ik-seong burst in on Park Min-bae, a man with turtle neck posture, and thrust his ID forward with his characteristic expressionless face.
“I’m the Investigation Team 1 Leader. Let me check the CCTV in my office.”

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And the next morning at 6 AM.
I sat at the Bus Stop, surrounded by people heading to work with exhausted faces.
It was a typical long-distance commute bus departing from Gyeonggi Province to Seoul, so everyone looked worn out.
And I was no different.
Why?
‘Because I failed to discover who the insider in Team 1 was!’
Damn it. I even possessed Kwon Ik-seong, but I didn’t find much.
‘It’s not like I gained nothing, though….’
In the end, only one method remained.
I sighed while staring at the digital display Under the Sign.
Bus arriving soon: 316
I had decided to board the same bus the Terrorist would take.

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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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