The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 105

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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 105
Three days had passed since then.
Kibon and I frequented the Production Workshop at all hours, day and night, conducting various experiments and filling scroll paper with countless attempts.
“Let’s go, Kibon.”
In truth, Kibon had nothing to do, but he insisted he couldn’t move about alone.
As we continued our experiments, the Scroll Department Team Leaders occasionally came and went as well.
“Wow, is this the Magic Tower?”
Victor, who sometimes entered the Production Workshop to handle his duties, would occasionally crack jokes.
“Is the Scroll Department planning to change in this direction going forward? It’s remarkably research-oriented.”
Victor acted as though the incident at the Saint Cairo Banquet had never occurred.
I appreciated his casual and lighthearted approach. In return, I refrained from making those subtle remarks that crossed the line. I too behaved naturally, as if that day had never happened.
“I’m trying to create defense scrolls using Yongin blood. Wouldn’t that be more effective? Last time, I nearly died making 166 scrolls all at once…”
“So, is the research progressing well?”
“No. Actually, I’m still failing continuously.”
I laughed wryly as I replied.
Anastasia occasionally brought me a cup of coffee while subtly observing my work. Since I often received her coffee whenever I came to the office, it felt natural.
“I-is this really… Yongin blood? D-did the Minister of Education really ask for it, s-so you gave it…?”
The Manufacturing Facility contained a beaker full of blood mixed with preservative solution.
I took a sip of coffee while working with the blood to create scrolls, then nodded.
“Yes. It seems genuine, doesn’t it? He even gave me blood… I’m thinking I should open my heart a bit more.”
“W-well, I suppose…”
Anastasia murmured in a serious voice.
“Blood… that much… well, it’s not as if it costs money or anything…”
In any case, I spent those three days that way.
Of course, no matter what I tried with Yongin blood, the scrolls never functioned. Still, I simply pretended to work diligently.
After filling those three days completely.
“Kibon.”
That afternoon, as I left the Manufacturing Facility, I spoke with resolve.
“Tell the Crown Prince that I wish to meet him tonight.”
The time had come.
* * *
Yongin blood.
An irresistibly attractive bait for the Gaejo Faction.
I filled a beaker with that bait and used it liberally under the guise of experimentation. The amount decreased noticeably with each of my visits.
‘From an observer’s perspective, they must have regretted it more with each passing day.’
The experiments continued to fail regardless.
Whether I created various scrolls using Yongin blood instead of ink, nothing ever functioned.
‘How desperately they must have coveted it.’
Of course, it wasn’t actually Kiaros’s blood.
It was transfusion blood that the Medical and Health Department always kept in stock—something I had requested from Luca.
[Luca, I need something from you as a Medical and Health Department employee.]
[This isn’t an official situation right now, so feel free to speak casually, yes? Then I’ll just get to the point. You’re not my superior, and you can’t give me orders….]
[It’s an order from the Crown Prince. A secret imperial decree. You can’t even tell your Minister of Education about this.]
[Please, go ahead and tell me.]
Luca had immediately prostrated himself and spoken.
[Good heavens, I chose a rival well… and now I suddenly have a connection that reaches the Crown Prince….]
And so I asked Luca for two things.
One was to obtain blood, and the other was….
[Is there any way to immediately detect if someone ingests a small amount of a drug that causes mild illness?]
[There isn’t.]
[But there has to be.]
[There’s no way. Really, unless you come to me the moment you drink that drug.]
[Is that so? Then take a leave of absence and stand by.]
[Why would you make me use my vacation….]
[It’s an order from the Crown Prince.]
[I understand. What type of leave should I take? Would it be acceptable to file it as special leave?]
[Do you want to advertise that you have a secret mission? Just file it as annual leave, saying your parents in the Provincial Area have birthdays and you’re leaving the Capital. Once the work is finished, I’ll convert it to special leave.]
If I were a spy for the Gaejo Faction and desperately wanted Yongin’s blood, how would I act?
Obviously, I’d switch it out. Whether it’s that blood or human blood, the scroll won’t activate either way, so I wouldn’t even notice.
But since I come and go day and night, it would be difficult to find an opportunity. So I needed to think of a way to keep myself confined.
‘Poisoning won’t work. If I caused something that serious, the investigation net would tighten. If it were me, I’d just cause a simple illness that could be overlooked—something like diarrhea or a cold—to keep my feet bound for just one night.’
And that method was simple.
‘I drink Anastasia’s coffee habitually every day.’
Anastasia always made coffee for me.
But that didn’t mean I was certain Anastasia was the culprit.
I had my own personal cup, which I always washed and left in the Break Room. If someone wanted to drug me, they could simply apply a thin layer of gel-based drug inside my cup.
‘That’s why I only took small sips.’
I deliberately chose times when Anastasia or Victor were present, took a small sip of coffee, and secretly poured the rest down the drain bit by bit.
And I always left the empty cup in the office, saying “Thank you for the coffee, Anastasia.”
Then I immediately called Luca to check whether I had ingested the drug or not.
[You’re in perfect health. Though you seem to have gained a bit of weight.]
Staying at the Imperial Palace meant three meals a day were served so well….
Kibon, who was behind me, reacted to those words.
[That’s pleasant to hear.]
Kibon had strongly opposed this operation, but I had suppressed him with my authority.
Yet every time I took a sip of coffee, he suffered alone, as if watching someone drink poison.
But today, finally.
“Oh my, it’s a small amount, but… you’ve ingested a drug that causes dizziness. And there’s a sleeping agent mixed in too. It’s not harmful to the human body. It’s not even a strong sleeping drug.”
Luca spoke seriously.
It was clear they intended to make me dizzy and put me into a deep sleep for tonight. I was at least relieved they hadn’t used anything harmful to my body.
“I can detoxify it right away, but it’s difficult to completely expel the sedative components from your body. You might feel a bit drowsy.”
“Surely not so much that I can’t stay conscious?”
“It’s only a trace amount, so it won’t be that bad… It’ll be similar to staying up all night. You’ll probably yawn a lot.”
“Then it’s fine.”
I’d pulled all-nighters countless times before, so a little fatigue was nothing to worry about. What was exhaustion, really?
In any case, the spy would be certain I wouldn’t come to the Manufacturing Facility today. Now was the time to move.
The Scroll Department staff would all have left by 6 PM, so that’s when we’d act. And now I had to move alongside Kiaros.
* * *
I met Kiaros inside the Scroll Department Office.
We had to pass through the Scroll Department Office to reach the Manufacturing Facility.
“You don’t expect us to stake out while pressed right up against each other, do you? I’d prefer to keep some distance.”
Kiaros declared this to me with grim determination. I nodded in agreement.
“Of course.”
The darkened Scroll Department Office was spacious. There was no need to stay close together.
Besides, there were already an enormous number of Ravens waiting outside the office. We wouldn’t need to be involved from start to finish.
I simply wanted Kiaros to witness it himself, and as for me….
‘I want to see it with my own eyes. Who the spy is.’
The thought that everything would be settled today, one way or another, weighed heavily on my heart.
Meanwhile, the lingering effects of the sedative kept making me yawn repeatedly. It was a separate matter from having a clear mind.
While I was lost in thought like this.
“Namia.”
A low whisper reached me. It was Kiaros’s voice, quietly watching outside from the darkness.

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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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