The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 95

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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 95
“So it seems she made a deal with the Gaejo Faction and forced the experiments upon herself. It probably started as a transaction, but she became deeply entangled in it.”
Good heavens.
So that’s why the Tower Master looked ten years older whenever he spoke of his daughter.
“The Tower Master finally realized he couldn’t suppress this alone, so he sent over all the records of tracking the Gaejo Faction.”
“I see…”
Kiaros fell silent. He had no intention of saying anything more.
Though honestly, the fact that he’d shared this much was remarkable. Kiaros had once said he didn’t even trust me.
It seemed he was only willing to speak this openly because my father was being held by the Gaejo Faction.
I had promised to find my father, but I was failing to keep that promise.
“That’s fortunate. With the Tower Master’s help, the investigation should progress considerably.”
I didn’t press further and smoothly changed the subject.
“Now that I think about it, the Crown Prince mentioned last time that he had also secured experimental specimens. How is that progressing?”
Kiaros cleared his throat with a soft sound. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke.
“We stopped right there. But the mother who underwent the experiments showed no changes, while the newborn offspring displayed unusual traits—when we administered the drug to the mother, the offspring reacted.”
“My goodness.”
That was both unsettling and fascinating. I blinked and asked.
“What happened to those creatures?”
“We killed them.”
Kiaros spoke without a moment’s hesitation.
“They were beings that defied the natural order of the world. Leaving them alive posed too great a risk.”
“I… yes, of course…”
His tone was calm but resolute, and somehow it felt chilling.
It was a moment that made me truly understand what it meant to be Yongin without mercy.
As I awkwardly averted my gaze, Kiaros noticed the wine glass in my hand and asked.
“Did you drink?”
“Oh, no.”
I sheepishly set the glass down on the railing.
“I haven’t drunk anything. Victor and I were just playing a drinking game using the railing…”
At that moment, the railing snapped with a crack.
‘Ah, the railing too?’
I looked at Kiaros with a serious expression and spoke earnestly.
“Your Highness, please investigate the safety inspection checklist verifiers in the Administrative Support Department. I lack the authority to investigate employees from other departments. I believe the final inspector was Marianne Carosa… That’s strange. She’s usually very thorough.”
“…You memorized that?”
“Yes.”
I had always reviewed all publicly released official documents daily and memorized them all.
In any case, Kiaros seemed taken aback by the railing breaking. I laughed awkwardly.
“Shall we head back inside?”
“You said you wanted to get some air. Is it alright to go in?”
“Well… I suppose this is enough. Besides, getting some air wasn’t going to solve anything anyway…”
I had forgotten the reason I came to the Balcony in the first place, distracted by the two men.
My stomach, which had been unsettled for days, continued to churn uneasily.
Whenever nausea washed over me, something peculiar came to mind.
All those digestive aids that had once cluttered my Desk, which I had grudgingly carried to my Room.
‘Kibon… Could he really be a spy?’
Even knowing it might not be true, I remained deeply troubled. His absence today weighed on my mind.
The Kibon I knew would never simply leave a note saying he was ill and stand me up at the last moment—unless he had deliberately avoided coming, knowing the explosion would occur.
I could not dismiss the Empress’s habitual words: ‘This bastard has bad instincts. He’s deceiving you.’
‘Could Kibon really be a spy?’
The thought struck me again, and my emotions surged uncontrollably.
The gleam in his eyes when we dined together, his broad back instinctively shielding me when Riedan attacked, the resolute tone in his voice when he told Victor, ‘If it were me, I would never lend something like this’….
‘Ah.’
My stomach churned again, and the digestive aids swam before my vision once more.
Even his neat handwriting, advising me to see a doctor if it became serious.
‘One of Victor Awin, Anastasia, or Kibon is the spy… so why can I only think of Kibon?’
I bit my lower lip hard. Tears had welled up without my noticing, blurring my vision slightly.
“Ah, there.”
As I wiped away the tears with my fingertips, Kiaros visibly panicked.
“Why, why are you crying… Um, what should I, what should I do in this situation….”
Watching the usually composed man fluster so helplessly, my tears suddenly vanished.
He seemed like the type who would politely excuse himself if anyone wept.
‘What is this. Why is it endearing?’
He fumbled uncertainly before belatedly producing a handkerchief and offering it. It was clearly his first time doing something like this.
“Um, are you hurt somewhere? If I call the Imperial Palace’s physician right now….”
“Ah… No, it’s not that. It’s just… thinking that among those three people, there’s a spy who maliciously altered the Scroll makes me feel helpless. All three of them were people I trusted quite a bit….”
If an actual accident had occurred, many people would have died and been injured.
Among the casualties, I could have been one of them, and even if I had evacuated safely, I would not have escaped severe punishment.
No, before severe punishment, I would never have forgiven myself….
“Ah, is it perhaps because of Victor Awin?”
I had actually been crying while thinking of Kibon, but Kiaros seemed to have misunderstood.
“I overheard him earlier saying something about how it shines, how he wants it, and all sorts of nonsense like that.”
Hmm… Could Kiaros really be someone who spoke so crudely?
I laughed awkwardly and waved my hand.
“It seems you didn’t hear what I said. It was a complete rejection.”
I had no intention of recounting old stories in tedious detail to Kiaros. We weren’t that close anyway.
So I wrapped it up cleanly.
“Still, it feels refreshing. It was a relationship I hadn’t even bothered to touch because it was so bothersome, but at least it’s been resolved now. It feels like I can finally make a completely fresh start….”
I smiled brightly. Kiaros stared at me blankly.
Just then, as the Banquet Hall was beginning in earnest, soft music began to drift through the air.
“Shall we head back in? We need to catch the opening remarks before the first dance begins….”
“Praise?”
“Yes. You did brilliantly at that event. You should go get the attention and hear the accolades while the iron’s hot. Strike while the opportunity presents itself—you should hurry and discuss joint ventures with the other ministers too….”
As I explained enthusiastically, Kiaros let out a soft laugh.
“Yes, go on then.”
Then he gazed at me and spoke tenderly.
“Go show everyone Namia’s brilliance.”
* * *
When I re-entered the Banquet Hall, as expected, many people swarmed toward me.
“Minister, that was truly remarkable. Impressive indeed. The Civil Engineering and Construction Department will be sending over an official document soon—please take a look at it.”
Not only did proposals come from places that hadn’t even treated us as a proper department before, but requests for cooperation as well.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting a reception for the Imoat Kingdom delegation this time. It would be an honor if the Scroll Department could cooperate with us.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful!”
At the Minister of Foreign Affairs’s words, I exclaimed with genuine delight.
“Actually, the New Intern who works as my secretary is from the Imoat Kingdom! I’m sure we can do an excellent job!”
I answered with a bright smile, but then suddenly came to my senses and hesitated.
‘What am I doing, Namia? If Kibon is a spy, why am I getting so excited the moment Imoat Kingdom is mentioned….’
My mood plummeted in an instant. My unconscious joy had been so genuine that the emotional crash was severe.
I concealed my newfound sadness and continued speaking with a composed smile.
“I’m quite knowledgeable about Imoat Kingdom’s culture. Just leave it to me. Their greetings are rather unique—I’ll create an excellent scroll using that as the concept.”
“Cough!”
Kiaros suddenly coughed beside me.

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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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