The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 117

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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 117
There was no way to refute it.
Kiaros anxiously gnawed at his lower lip before he couldn’t help himself and asked his Aide again.
“The other person prefers A more. But A’s true identity is B. So should I confess in B’s form, or in A’s form?”
“Ah, so it was a romance problem after all. Just a moment.”
The Aide lacked some perceptiveness, but he was nonetheless an excellent talent. He hadn’t risen to that position by breaking through such fierce competition for nothing.
Having long been troubled by the Crown Prince’s unrequited love, he had been preparing for this very situation.
After hearing rumors of a romance theory expert in the Scroll Department, he had already gathered all their advice and compiled it into a report.
He opened the thick report and found the chapter classified as “Confessions.”
“Hmm, there’s no advice for such a case. However, it does state that one should not attempt a confession.”
Kiaros had already witnessed the results of attempting a confession twice with his own eyes.
Victor had challenged Namia twice, and both times he was rejected miserably.
“This is called a ‘confession attack,’ and typically the recipient suffers extreme damage from such an attack, becoming extremely cautious never to be noticed by the confessor again,” the Aide explained.
“….”
“Oh, here’s an application of it. ‘The ultimate method recommended when nothing else works and your heart is in pain: a confession.'”
The Aide continued in a bright tone.
“‘I actually liked you a lot. But now I’m trying to forget. I just wanted to express my feelings one last time, so don’t worry about it and just live well,’ and then you coolly leave.”
“What? Leave?”
“Yes. That’s why it’s the ultimate method, isn’t it? If the other person had even a little interest in you, they say you’d drive them almost mad.”
“That won’t work.”
Kiaros said it flatly.
“Absolutely not.”
Thinking the Aide’s report wasn’t very helpful, he waved his hand dismissively.
Forget? Leave? What kind of nonsense was that? He couldn’t even say such things in jest.
When he should be coaxing, soothing, pleading—doing everything to keep her by his side.
“The expert says that before a confession, there must be ‘signs of affection.’ That would mean flirting or making advances, wouldn’t it?”
Kiaros slowly rested his chin on his hand.
The truth was, approaching Namia in the Crown Prince’s form felt like deception somehow, so he hadn’t dared to flirt or make advances openly.
But the same was true for Kibon. Even in Kibon’s form, he hadn’t been able to express himself freely.
“By the way… let’s go back to the A and B problem for a moment.”
The Aide spoke carefully while Kiaros was lost in thought.
“It seems you’re corresponding with Namia Loapi while hiding your identity, and if that’s the case, the gap between A and B seems far too large.”
“Did you realize the other person is Namia?”
“Yes. I apologize, but I do have that much perceptiveness.”
The Aide answered faithfully.
“Perhaps you should give hints gradually?”
“Hints….”
He looked down at the note he’d been fiddling with once more.
All the traps are complete, and we’re about to catch the spy soon. Would you be able to join us?
In truth, he already knew the answer.
Yongin’s special ability was a secret even from family.
So I couldn’t reveal that Kibon was Kiaros, and after saying Kibon had left far away, I had to approach as Kiaros instead. No matter how close Kibon and Namia were.
Then Namia would never feel betrayed in her entire life. But…
[Ah, that bench is pretty. So nature-friendly. Let’s definitely sit there together before leaving the Imperial Palace.]
Would Namia’s first date request then disappear?
I didn’t like that.
In the meantime, the Aide continued speaking.
“If there are too many things to confess, wouldn’t it be better to leak the less critical ones bit by bit?”
Kiaros folded his arms. It seemed like quite a good idea.
He imagined confessing everything in this situation right now.
[Actually, I haven’t been able to trust Namia Loapi.]
[Ah, yes. I understand.]
[So I was watching in Kibon’s form.]
From here, Namia would show a surprised expression once, then immediately close the doors of her heart.
I knew Namia well, and the situation afterward was clear.
[You understand? I’m Kibon.]
[Ah, yes.]
[But I genuinely like you.]
[Ah, yes.]
[How do you feel about me, Namia?]
[Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly a wonderful person, but…]
It would probably be a rejection calculated down to the evasion.
And she’d be thinking something like ‘How inconvenient to be entangled with my superior like this’…
[You didn’t like Kibon?]
[Yes, but since he was gone, I had to erase my feelings too.]
And Namia seemed like she could actually erase those feelings.
Just imagining it made me groan.
‘I need to close the emotional distance at least a little before that happens.’
I needed to get a bit closer even in Kiaros’s form.
It seemed Namia was planning to set things up so the High Priest would attack her tomorrow.
If successful, things between them would change drastically starting tomorrow.
That’s what I intended to make happen.
‘Maybe I should leak something ahead of time after all.’
That’s when it happened. Ding-ding, a clear bell chimed.
It was Namia calling for Kibon. Kiaros stood up abruptly without realizing it.
“Go on out.”
“Yes.”
The Aide bowed respectfully and left.
I didn’t know what that bell was, but I’d noticed that whenever it rang, Kiaros would tense up and send everyone out.
Left alone, Kiaros quickly changed his appearance and even switched his clothes.
‘I’ll leak a few of my secrets—just a tiny bit, mind you—and then…’
I was determined to employ the technique called ‘manipulation,’ which the master had recommended as a preliminary step before confession.
‘Of course, it won’t be easy. Namia is quite unique, after all. She’ll definitely respond in ways I can’t predict, but I mustn’t get swept up in that. I need to handle it well.’
It would undoubtedly be a difficult path. Kiaros steeled his resolve.
* * *
Gaejo Faction Headquarters.
The executive meeting had just concluded, and people were dispersing.
Bibeurus Awin, the leader of the Gaejo Faction, spoke in a low voice.
“Aran, stay for a moment.”
A slender woman with black hair pinned up and blue eyes—Aran—nodded and sat back down. Thus, only two people remained in the conference room.
Bibeurus gazed at Aran and slowly opened his mouth.
“I haven’t told the other executives yet, but the High Priest has apparently secured Yongin’s blood from the Imperial Palace. He’ll bring it right after killing Kiaros.”
The Gaejo Faction had taken root in various places across the Continent. However, there was one condition to become an executive.
One had to undergo the experiment.
It was also an ideological verification of active agreement with the Gaejo Faction’s principles.
Even the High Priest, who had healed and harbored the remnants of the Gaejo Faction, was no exception. He too had undergone the experiment before becoming an executive.
“The High Priest will probably skip this experiment. That man is obsessed only with the blood experiments of Otom.”
The blood of the monster Otom not only prevented aging but also granted tremendous strength in an instant.
However, since the effect didn’t last long, one had to undergo the experiment again once a year.
The pain was so excruciating that even executives rarely volunteered willingly. Yet, driven solely by his desire for youth, the High Priest underwent the experiment once every year.
“But Aran.”
Bibeurus continued speaking to Aran, who offered no response.
“Neither the Tower Master’s blood nor Yongin’s blood had any effect on you.”
Aran’s position within the Gaejo Faction was ambiguous.
There was only a very small amount of Yongin’s blood and the Tower Master’s blood. Unlike the relatively abundant blood of monsters.
However, Aran was able to undergo experiments using both Yongin’s blood and the Tower Master’s blood. It was a privilege for having brought the Tower Master’s blood.
Yet she still possessed no abilities.
“When Yongin’s blood arrives, will you volunteer for the experiment again this time?”

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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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