The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success Chapter 104

“But still!”

The aide, who had somehow gotten so emotionally involved that he was now wiping away tears, continued indignantly.

“If there was a good enough reason!”

“Hmm…”

“I mean, who knows? It would have to be a very good reason, of course.”

“…What if the reason was ‘I did it because I didn’t trust you’? How’s that?”

“Oh, heavens…”

In the end, the aide began sobbing outright.

“So you didn’t trust me? How can you say you love someone when you don’t even trust them? How is that love? I could never believe that!”

“…Sorry. I’m sorry, I really am. I’ve committed an unforgivable crime.”

Kiaros pressed a hand to his forehead.

“But the time we spent together really was genuine. I did my best to move heaven and earth for you…”

“That only makes the betrayal worse! Because I would’ve trusted you that much more!”

The aide clutched his chest and let out a choked sob.

While the aide continued to cry dramatically, Kiaros wore a grim expression as he unfolded the letter Namia had given him.

[“Please deliver this letter to His Highness the Crown Prince on your way.”]

If Namia ever realized that she’d basically handed the letter directly to him…

His head grew more cluttered. He read the letter with even more agony on his face.

First of all, Keyvon Artes is one of your people, isn’t he?

From Namia’s perspective, it was a perfectly reasonable deduction.

Kiaros himself had said, “Keyvon can be trusted” and even remarked that “he’s probably better than most of the Ravens.”

Keyvon Artes is one of the Crown Prince’s people… In terms of affiliation, that was technically true.

‘Well, it’s not a lie…’

At the same time, his guilt deepened as he watched his aide weeping beside him.

Namia was obviously under a huge misconception.

Kiaros sighed once, then shifted his attention to the next part of Namia’s letter.

As for the trap planned for Victor and Anastasia, the following is the outline…

With the aide’s wailing practically serving as background music, Kiaros began reading Namia’s perfectly structured trap report in full detail.

***

For two straight days, I had Keyvon do the same task over and over: go to the Scroll Department and pressure the team leaders.

“Keyvon, did you go to the Scroll Department?”

“Yes. They still haven’t found the Research Report on Special Scrolls Made with Blood Instead of Scroll Ink…”

Of course they hadn’t. That report didn’t exist to begin with.

But by now, both Victor and Anastasia had surely memorized the title word for word.

“Go again tomorrow at the same time, okay?”

“Yes. But will I be doing the same thing tomorrow?”

“Not quite. Tomorrow, you’ll need to put on a different act.”

Anastasia Cayenne. Victor Arwin.

Neither name appeared in the original novel. Which only made things more confusing.

It was likely that neither of them were core members of the Reformist Faction.

Even so, the mole—whoever it was—had continued to work like nothing had happened, even though the Saint Cairo banquet ended without incident.

“What sort of act, exactly?”

“You’re going to act like you confessed your feelings to me and got rejected. So obviously, you’ll need to look depressed the whole time.”

“……”

Almost instantly, Keyvon’s face collapsed into a devastated expression, as if his world had ended. It was such a convincing performance, I almost applauded.

“Don’t start yet. Anyway, Anastasia will probably ask why you look like that, right? Then you’ll tell her I finally opened my heart to the Crown Prince.”

“……”

Maybe he really did stop acting, because his face suddenly brightened again.

“See? Look how fast your expression changed. You’ve got solid acting chops. Just keep it up like that.”

I gave him a thumbs-up.

“Next line: ‘Yesterday, the Minister said she was scared of the cold-blooded, tearless Dragonbloods, and His Highness the Crown Prince gave her both blood and tears. It seems like the two of them are finally together now.’ Got it memorized?”

“Uh… yes… Blood and tears…”

Keyvon mumbled reluctantly.

“So this is how you planned to drag His Highness into this…”

Well, considering the Crown Prince seemed like the type who hadn’t cried since birth, the “tears” part was probably more shocking than the fact that I’d received his “blood.”

In any case, Keyvon nodded as if he understood. I straightened my expression and continued.

“Then if anyone asks about the report, you’ll say, ‘It’s probably not necessary to find it anymore. The Minister seems to remember most of it, and she’s going to start the experiments in the fabrication room starting tomorrow,’ and then let your shoulders slump.”

I was planning to use Kiaros’s blood as bait.

I’d had the idea early on that the Reformist Faction might require special blood for their experiments—based on what the Tower Lord once said.

[‘One night, they stabbed me to collect blood and then stole my wallet before bolting out the door.’]

I hadn’t been sure then, but after hearing what Kiaros said, I became convinced it was good bait.

[‘That night in the South, His Majesty slaughtered all of them and injured his leg. He was bleeding heavily.’]

If special human blood was indeed required for the experiments, it would explain why no altered humans had shown up in the original story.

Special blood can’t be produced endlessly, after all.

If I’m right, then Kiaros’s blood would be an irresistibly tempting bait for them.

Especially because blood, when mixed with preservative fluids, lasts a long time without degrading and can easily be swapped out with fakes.

“You think you can do it, Keyvon?”

Also, only team leaders or higher had access to the fabrication room.

[‘During my leave, have the fabrication room reserved under my name. You probably can’t do it, since access is restricted to team leader level or above.’]

That meant the mole would have no choice but to make the move themselves.

When I looked Keyvon in the eye and asked, he nodded.

“Yes.”

“Good. Also…”

I’d been assigning other tasks to Keyvon over these three days, too.

“On your way back, swing by the palace temple as well.”

“Understood.”

Several priests, including the High Priest, were currently staying at the royal temple.

Up to now, all they’d done was pray in the sanctuary. They hadn’t even moved locations.

On the surface, there was nothing suspicious.

Still, I continued watching with a skeptical eye.

Based on the original story and my deductions, there’s definitely something off. More than anything…

The High Priest and I had the same symptoms. An upset stomach, vomiting blood, and then feeling fine again.

That detail made me deeply uneasy.

You could argue that maybe the High Priest was being targeted by the Reformist Faction like me—but my gut told me that wasn’t it.

While I was lost in thought, Keyvon asked,

“Are you… suspecting the High Priest?”

“Hm? Uh…”

I’d only told him to check things out, but his perception was sharp as ever. Since I wasn’t certain, I purposely dodged the question.

“Also, deliver this letter to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The contents of the letter were brief. I knew Kiaros still didn’t trust me completely.

‘Even when Prince Jaden manifested his special ability, I was acting suspicious. It’s understandable if he still doesn’t believe even the list of spies I handed over.’

That’s why I had to act alongside him and let him witness the operation firsthand.

As previously stated, the trap has been fully prepared, and we plan to capture the mole shortly. I’d like to ask if you could accompany us.