The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 101

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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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Chapter 101
In the darkness of night, within the Underground Prison.
“I-I-I swear! I truly did it all for the Empire!”
The Minister of Education’s screams echoed through the chamber.
“Namia Loapi—that woman would surely ruin the Crown Prince! I have evidence!”
His voice grew so desperate that the prison walls themselves seemed to vibrate.
It was then.
“Could that evidence possibly be this scroll, Minister of Education?”
The Emperor approached with an elegant gait and spoke in a measured tone before the Minister of Education.
“The one you hid so carefully in your home’s safe.”
The Saint Cairo Banquet had concluded successfully, and the Ravens had already searched the Minister of Education’s residence thoroughly.
Kiaros, who had orchestrated all of this, left only a note saying he had more urgent matters to attend to and entrusted the rest to the Emperor.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
The Emperor unrolled the scroll containing Namia’s words before the Minister of Education’s eyes and read its contents in a dignified, solemn voice.
【Namia Loapi: He told me, “Our cute, clever, and lovely little one can do whatever she wants. Your dragon brother will protect you. Just marry me. I’ve even secretly prepared the wedding ceremony.” That’s what he said.】
At the Emperor’s recitation, all the Ravens surrounding the Minister of Education stifled their laughter with muffled snorts.
“Look, Your Majesty! Namia Loapi—that damned woman manipulated the Crown Prince and then behind his back—”
“Hardly worse than a minister who tried to slaughter all the Ministry of Education’s civil servants, wouldn’t you say?”
The Emperor spoke with leisurely ease.
“Not an inaccurate assessment, either.”
The Ravens murmured among themselves: “So she really did secretly prepare the wedding ceremony,” and “She went a bit too far on her own.” Beside them, the Aide nodded with a sorrowful expression.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education’s face had gone ashen. He had never imagined the Emperor would regard the matter so lightly.
With a sharp creak, the iron bars behind the Emperor bent. The Emperor seized the Minister of Education’s jaw and locked eyes with him.
“Well then, shall we not waste our time and have you speak truthfully?”
“Gah—cough!”
“About the Gaejo Faction behind you.”
The Ravens trembled at the overwhelming presence of Yongin.
“I-I d-don’t know much! B-but!”
The Minister of Education gasped out his words desperately.
“They knew the future!”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. Once, Kiaros had said, “They behaved as though they knew a dark period was coming for me.”
“Of c-course, not all of that future came to pass, but still—”
Indeed, had all the futures they knew come true, the Minister of Education wouldn’t have been captured like this.
While the Emperor fell into thought, the Minister of Education wept openly as he spoke.
“As if this entire world were nothing but a single book with all its contents already written—”
* * *
The next morning at dawn.
A person dressed in black, appearing to be one of the Ravens, guided me before Kiaros.
“I heard the general situation from that New Intern named Kibon.”
I never imagined I would be able to meet him at such an early hour.
Kiaros settled into his seat with elegant poise, his voice carrying that familiar ease.
“So you weren’t ensnared at the banquet, and now you’re anxious that the Gaejo Faction will come after you directly? That’s why you want to stay at the Imperial Palace? And in the process, you thought you might leverage my name a little?”
For words spoken so casually, they came at a remarkably rapid pace. I blinked blankly before nodding.
“Yes…”
“That’s welcome to hear.”
Kiaros folded his arms and nodded.
“I’ll arrange quarters for you at the Imperial Palace at once. My court physician is standing by, so you’ll receive an examination. And don’t report to the Scroll Department for the time being.”
“An examination from the court physician? But why would I need one?”
“Kibon said you needed medical attention.”
I was momentarily stunned.
He was actually granting even such a request from a new intern?
It had been only hours since Kibon said he’d contact the Imperial Palace. Yet if I could meet Kiaros directly this quickly…
‘Kibon is clearly no ordinary intern.’
That must be why he never seemed intimidated despite his intern status!
“But why shouldn’t I report to work?”
“You’re unwell, aren’t you? While you’re staying as a guest of the court physician, it would be good to rest properly for a few days. Besides, there don’t seem to be any urgent matters in the Scroll Department.”
I nodded readily.
“I’ll do as you suggest. Thank you for your consideration.”
In truth, I had been planning to take sick leave or vacation days anyway.
Given how things had unfolded, I wanted to catch the spy quickly while I was away from my post.
“And, well, ahem, the fact that you need my name… it seems you’re planning to set another trap for the Gaejo Faction.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I had been suspecting whether the Temple might be cooperating with the Gaejo Faction.
So to investigate that, I was planning to use the spy remaining in the Scroll Department.
Conveniently, the High Priest and his group were staying at the Imperial Palace, so it was advantageous for me to stay there as well. It was a bonus that my safety would be secured, given how often I’d thwarted the Gaejo Faction’s schemes.
“Even if nothing happened at the banquet, the spy in the Scroll Department will likely act as usual. If they go into hiding, it’s as good as being exposed.”
“That’s true.”
“If I set a trap for that spy and observe who they contact, I might be able to identify other collaborators of the Gaejo Faction.”
“Other collaborators…”
Kiaros fell silent for a moment, then spoke quietly.
“I heard you’re not in good health. Why don’t you rest for a while? The spy has already been identified anyway, so you can leave the rest to me.”
“I appreciate your consideration. But since this is ultimately a matter of the Scroll Department, I’d like to take responsibility for the spy investigation to the end.”
That was my genuine feeling.
There were ways to arrest everyone and interrogate them, or make them stop. But I was troubled by the thought of innocent people.
I wanted to protect those without suspicion as much as possible. After all, they were employees of my department.
“I want to do everything I can, and I also want to meet my father as soon as possible…”
As I trailed off hesitantly, Kiaros spoke slowly.
“Then I’ll permit it.”
And he added in a low voice:
“I apologize regarding Cedric Loapi. I promised to arrange a meeting soon.”
“No, that’s not it!”
I shook my head vigorously in response to Kiaros’s sincere apology.
“It’s because of childhood memories from the Southern Region… Regarding my father, I knew I was being stubborn, but I couldn’t let go of those feelings.”
“Well, it seems you only suffered in the Southern Region.”
“That’s true. You’re right about that too.”
I laughed softly as I spoke.
“When the Crown Prince told me to come to Count Kalto’s Residence, I should have just gone without listening to my father. If I had, he wouldn’t have had to sell himself to the Gaejo Faction.”
“It was Cedric Loapi’s choice.”
“Yes. He said that a few coins wouldn’t change anything anyway.”
Thinking back to that time, I laughed again despite myself.
“But now that I think about it, even if I’d asked him to take money, he would have refused.”
“Why?”
“He would have said you shouldn’t expect compensation for saving a life. That’s just… the kind of person he was. It was frustrating and wonderful at the same time.”
Such an upright, stubborn man… loved me so much that he ended up working with those shadowy figures for my sake.
Just thinking about it, it was an immense love. Though there was a problem in that he never asked for my opinion.
“I see.”
Kiaros spoke while resting his chin on his hand.
“If you had come to Count Kalto’s Residence… many things could have been different.”
“Yes. Since the Crown Prince thought he could even marry me, he might have paid off all those debts and arranged for me to attend the Academy.”
I giggled at the thought.
“Or I might have ended up at the Magic Tower…”
“I don’t like that scenario.”
Kiaros interjected in a languid voice.
“If you entered the Magic Tower in your mid-teens, you wouldn’t come out for twenty years.”
“I would have been fine with it.”
“I wouldn’t have been.”

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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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