The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 110

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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 110
Seeing how exhausted I was, Kiaros entered the room with me.
Not long after, a Raven Servant who had followed the man carrying the vial came to report.
“He entered the Temple within Imperial Palace. The very temple where the High Priest and other Priests are currently staying.”
Just as I thought!
I quietly let my eyes gleam with satisfaction.
“It appears he is one of the Priests the High Priest brought with him.”
The High Priest was currently staying in the Temple within Imperial Palace with several Priests.
The Raven Servant glanced at Kiaros before speaking.
“Should we strike now and arrest them all immediately?”
“Hmm.”
Kiaros folded his arms and fell into thought for a moment. Then he spoke quietly.
“If we do, they’ll likely claim it was the Priest’s individual action and cut off the tail. But the High Priest might be involved too, so overturning the entire Temple with this much evidence doesn’t seem like a wise decision.”
The High Priest might be a collaborator—I never expected to hear such words from Kiaros!
I glanced at Kiaros and asked carefully.
“Are you suspicious of the High Priest?”
Then Kiaros spoke slowly.
“Since the First Emperor founded the Empire, peace has lasted long, and the Temple has gradually declined. If the Dragonkin face problems and chaos spreads across the Continent, the Temple would gain power again.”
He was absolutely right.
I knew the future, so it made sense for me, but I was amazed that Kiaros could deduce this much without knowing it. He truly was a worthy ruler for the Empire’s future.
As my eyes widened, Kiaros added slowly.
“Of course, I can’t be certain yet….”
Of course, from Kiaros’s perspective, that was true. But I was inwardly certain.
‘The High Priest is definitely involved.’
In the original story, the moment Jayden left the Imperial Palace, he discovers that the Priests show unconditional loyalty to the High Priest.
‘Even to young Jayden’s eyes, the Priests appeared fanatical, as if devoid of self. Moreover, they were handpicked by the High Priest. There’s no way they would act independently.’
And there was one more thing I mustn’t forget.
Using Dragonkin blood as bait was something I did alone. The High Priest’s plan to enter the Imperial Palace had been arranged long before that.
‘In the original story, the High Priest never stayed in the Imperial Palace at this point in time.’
That meant the High Priest had a different purpose unrelated to the Dragonkin blood.
‘Diverging from the original story, the reason he would come to the Imperial Palace directly is….’
I glanced at Kiaros.
The Gaejofa Faction had most wanted to eliminate him, yet unlike in the original story, they had ultimately failed to assassinate him. He was right beside me.
In any case, Kiaros was still in his dark period, and the High Priest, being of the Gaejofa Faction, would know that….
‘Could he have come to kill Kiaros directly?’
Victor had certainly warned me to be careful earlier. Even though I was staying in the Imperial Palace under Kiaros’s protection.
That meant there was someone within the Imperial Palace who could take my life regardless of any guard unit….
‘The High Priest is an experimental subject.’
According to the original story, the High Priest would continue to maintain the appearance of a man in his forties.
‘Could the High Priest himself possess transcendent power? Enough to kill someone like me in an instant….’
Against Kiaros, I would need to exercise some caution, but I suspected I could be disposed of in an instant.
‘I can’t tell Kiaros all of this… and if I did, I’d have to reveal that I know the future, which would be even more suspicious.’
As I fell into thought, Kiaros spoke.
“I was supposed to see you off on your last day leaving the Imperial Palace, but I suppose I’ll need to cancel that.”
At those words, I lifted my eyes to meet Kiaros’s gaze.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“Hmm?”
“What if I tried to approach the High Priest myself?”
It was an ambitious proposal, but his answer came swiftly.
“Absolutely not.”
Kiaros shook his head immediately.
“I’m concerned that Namia might be put in danger. I’m not comfortable with it.”
“I’ll always bring Kibon with me. The moment things become even slightly dangerous, I won’t hesitate to use him as a shield.”
Now that I understood my enemies could target me directly, I couldn’t simply sit idle.
“To catch a tiger, you must first enter its den.”
My eyes gleamed as I began to explain my plan for what lay ahead.
* * *
In the dead of night, within the Temple of the Imperial Palace.
The High Priest let out a sinister laugh as he received a beaker of blood from a Priest.
“This is Dragonkin blood…”
Dragonkin blood was an excellent experimental material.
He had been disappointed that he’d used it all up.
It couldn’t be helped. Fifteen years ago, he had managed to collect a small amount of blood that the current Emperor had shed in the Southern Region. Since it hadn’t been deliberately extracted, the quantity was limited.
Yet the results of that experiment had been remarkable.
‘I could see the future.’
It was hazy, but certain. The first test subject had predicted Kiaros’s second period of darkness.
Namia Loapi, who belonged to the Guard Unit, had prevented the assassination, but in that moment, Kiaros had displayed a deeply flustered expression. The darkness period was confirmed.
After that, he had gathered the remaining Emperor’s blood and attempted once more. However, that experiment had failed.
It was difficult to determine whether it was due to the limited quantity or a problem with the test subject itself. The sample size had been far too small.
‘Well… that test subject itself had some issues. They volunteered, so it couldn’t be helped…’
But if he could obtain Kiaros’s blood, another opportunity to glimpse the future would present itself.
Dragonkin blood was that extraordinarily appealing.
‘It’s thanks to Victor Awin.’
He was an excellent young man, yet profoundly deficient. His unfortunate family circumstances contrasted sharply with his exceptional personal abilities.
That gregarious nature of his, which made him friendly with everyone, also stemmed from that very deficiency.
The Gaejo Faction had always recruited those with such deficiencies.
However, Victor had seized the opportunity of becoming the heir to Marquis Awin and left the Gaejo Faction.
‘But usually, those types come back.’
That was why he hadn’t killed him outright at the time.
Fundamental deficiency cannot be filled from without. Ultimately, unless one’s heart changes, it returns in another form.
In the end, Victor came back on his own two feet. He said he wanted to destroy Namia Loapi.
And he said he wanted to eliminate Kiaros Polariud, who coveted Namia Loapi.
‘There will be more uses for him in the future.’
Since he had already left once, I couldn’t use him for anything critical, but it was still worthwhile to keep someone of his caliber around.
In a year or two, he might even actively participate in the experiments.
After all, hadn’t I myself grown this powerful through such means?
“In any case, it’s an unexpected windfall. Fortune smiles upon me.”
His original purpose for entering the Imperial Palace had been something else entirely.
Once I achieved that purpose and left the Imperial Palace, I would finally be able to plunge the Empire into chaos.
‘And when chaos comes, the Temple’s renaissance will surely follow.’
He smiled thinly and stroked his beard.
* * *
That night, Kiaros listened to my plan and nodded reluctantly.
[If that’s what you want, give it a try.]
[Then… would it be alright to use the Crown Prince’s name again this time?]
[What an odd question. Do you still have more to sell?]
He even laughed playfully at that. However, for safety’s sake, he insisted that Kibon must accompany me.
So the next afternoon, I finished all my preparations and pulled the bell cord.
Not long after, Kibon arrived. I spoke with enthusiasm.
“You heard from the Crown Prince, right? Let’s go quickly.”
“Yes? Where to?”
“The chapel.”
In other words, to the Temple within the Imperial Palace.
“But would you mind waiting outside for a moment? I need to change clothes and do my makeup. The Empress sent me so many outfits before—let me pick one from those.”
“Ah… yes.”
And when I changed into the outfit I had picked out since yesterday and left confidently with a few scrolls in hand.
Kibon let out a startled cry.
“What on earth is this appearance?”
I blinked and answered.
“A good appearance?”

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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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