The Civil Servant Who Conceals Her Power Is Too Good at Possession Chapter 25

* * * 

 

“What is your position regarding the allegations of coercive investigation by the HIB?” 

 

“The Hunter Association has described this case as a desperate move by an HIB facing calls for abolition, in an attempt to pad its performance records. Do you have anything to say to that?” 

 

In front of the National Assembly.

 

Surrounded by a swarm of reporters, Kwon Ikseong quietly ascended the steps.

 

His expression, as always, was unreadable—impossible to discern what lay beneath.

 

“I heard you previously served under the Hunter Management Administration before transferring. Was it essentially a demotion?”

 

Even when a reporter threw out a question entirely unrelated to the issue at hand—one bordering on personal attack—Kwon Ikseong’s expression did not change.

 

He simply entered the hearing lobby, bowed briefly alongside HIB Chief Hong Jaegyeol, and took his seat.

 

The hearing began as soon as the two took their seats. 

 

Hong Jaegyeol muttered under his breath in a low voice.

 

“Is it that hard to say a single sentence, like ‘I will answer questions faithfully’?” 

 

He was blaming Kwon Ikseong for not uttering a word even at the makeshift photo line in the lobby, but Kwon Ikseong’s reply was simple. 

 

“I felt that I might not be able to answer faithfully.” 

 

“…”

 

This impeccably composed lunatic.

 

Hong Jaegyeol thought to himself as he managed a faint smile toward the assembly members. 

 

Of course, none of the members returned the greeting.

 

In the current political climate, both the ruling and opposition parties were deeply influenced by the Hunter Association.

 

It was inevitable. Since the appearance of hunters, monsters, and dungeons, the nation had entered a new era. 

 

Monster byproducts and mana stones brought in by hunters had replaced oil, and the number of skilled hunters a country possessed had become a measure of national defense.

 

Not to mention the sudden emergence of rogue dungeons that destroyed roads, railways, and infrastructure—it was a constant crisis.

 

The nation needed hunters more and more. Hunters had risen to the level of a new social class.

 

And the Hunter Association represented their interests.

 

It was within that context that the National Assembly had swiftly convened this hearing the moment Kwon Ikseong summoned Kevin Choi for questioning.

 

Choi Jun-gu, who had served as the Chairman of the Hunter Association for forty years, was the Guildmaster of the Daeyoung Guild, and Kevin Choi was his most cherished grandson. 

 

‘They look ready to tear him apart to prove their loyalty….’

 

Hong Jaegyeol felt a heavy discomfort as he scanned the assembly members’ faces. 

 

The powerful Hunter Association was the organization most at odds with the Hunter Investigation Bureau. 

 

One could call it a natural conflict of interest between those being investigated and the agency doing the investigating, but— 

 

‘Still, the playing field is far too tilted.’

 

As Hong Jaegyeol was thinking this, an assembly member who was usually the most vocal advocate for the abolition of the HIB grabbed the microphone. 

 

“I have a question for Investigator Kwon Ikseong.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I heard that during the investigation of the Geumho-dong illegal weapons trade case, Investigator Kwon arrested several suspects who utilized sub-dimensions. And among those arrested, there was a suspect who is still a minor?” 

 

“Rather than a suspect, we are leaning toward identifying them as a victim—”

 

“It is not your turn to speak, Investigator Kwon. It is my turn to speak. Do you understand?” 

 

It was the classic nitpicking style of interrogation.

 

Hong Jaegyeol’s brow furrowed.

 

But Kwon Ikseong said calmly, without altering his expression,

 

“Since you stated you wished to question me, I assumed it was a question. May I refrain from answering questions in the future as well?”

 

There it was.

 

That refined lunacy. 

 

A calm way of pointing out the opponent’s mistake without a hint of sarcasm, which made the tone all the more infuriating.

 

Hong Jaegyeol barely suppressed a dry laugh that threatened to escape at the sound of that blunt voice. 

 

The entire session was being broadcast live.

 

The assembly member, conscious of the cameras, briefly let his anger show before quickly fixing his expression. 

 

“You may answer after I have finished speaking.”

 

“….”

 

With a blank expression and straight posture, Kwon Ikseong listened as if in compliance.

 

The speech that followed was precisely what one would expect—an organized barrage of accusations targeting the Unit, and particularly Kwon Ikseong for summoning Kevin Choi.

 

Interrogation pressure, intimidation of a minor, forced investigation, chasing performance metrics.

 

Nevertheless, as if keeping his promise to wait until the speech was finished, Kwon Ikseong listened to every word without a change in expression.

 

And it was then.

 

Hong Jaegyeol’s smartwatch buzzed. He stood up and headed straight into the hallway. The chairperson stopped him.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“My apologies, Chairperson. Under civil service law, the HIB is required to respond to emergency calls under any circumstances.” 

 

The assembly members looked displeased at Hong Jaegyeol’s words. 

 

It didn’t matter.

 

Their real prey was Kwon Ikseong, not Hong Jaegyeol.

 

He was the investigator directly responsible for the case, and a man toward whom public opinion was usually favorable due to his high performance—making him the most popular investigator in the HIB. 

 

While Hong Jaegyeol was absent, they continued to attack Kwon Ikseong without allowing him a proper opportunity to respond.

 

“So! Isn’t it true that because Team 1’s performance seemed to be dropping lately, you touched a big shot just to conduct a sensational investigation?”

 

“I do not understand what you mean by the term…… ‘big shot.’” 

 

“Is there anyone here who doesn’t know Kevin Choi?”

 

“I did not realize that ‘celebrity’ was a synonym for ‘big shot,’ Member. I will check the dictionary.”

 

“…!”

 

Kwon Ikseong didn’t give way easily.

 

At that moment, the door opened, and Hong Jaegyeol returned.

 

With a somewhat flushed face, Hong Jaegyeol showed his phone screen to Kwon Ikseong under the desk.

 

A slight crack appeared in Kwon Ikseong’s expression as he viewed the screen. 

 

“Do you know how many hunter resources loyal to the state have left just this year? Large American guilds are busy poaching domestic talent for tens of billions of won, and yet you use an A-rank hunter like this just to boost civil servants’ records—” 

 

“Now, now, your time is up. Investigator Kwon Ikseong, please answer.” 

 

The Chairperson cut off the assemblyman mid-speech and activated Kwon Ikseong’s microphone.

 

Kwon opened his mouth.

 

“Honorable members of the Assembly. I have new information to share.”

 

“What does that have to do with this matter—”

 

The same assemblyman scoffed.

 

“It is relevant. A short while ago, new criminal facts regarding Kevin Choi…… no, Choi Min-cheol, were revealed.” 

 

“What?”

 

Murmurs erupted throughout the chamber.

 

“At the subspace discovered at the Geumho-dong weapons trade site, we have found evidence of illegal monster distribution and the operation of an underground gladiatorial arena involving recruited hunters—”

 

“Is there evidence? If you spread fake news in front of the entire nation on a live broadcast from the National Assembly……” 

 

In response to the member’s words, Kwon Ikseong held up his phone screen toward the camera broadcasting the National Assembly TV channel. 

 

On it was a photo of a woman and a man—Choi Min-cheol—who wore an enraged face while in handcuffs.

 

For the record, the woman in the photo was bleeding profusely from her nose and mouth.

 

“An HIB investigator has arrested him for a crime in progress, and he is currently under investigation. Decisive evidence has also been secured, and in the evidentiary video—” 

 

For once, an emotion surfaced on Kwon Ikseong’s face.

 

Disgust.

 

“—it has been revealed that at least fifteen hunters were killed during the illegal combat process. From this moment on, the status of Hunter Choi Mincheol has been converted from an associate in the Geumho-dong weapons trade case to a suspect in a murder case. All further details of the investigation will be briefed by the HIB.”

 

Having said that, Kwon Ikseong stood up from his seat. 

 

Hong Jaegyeol deliberately stood up a beat later with a somewhat haughty air, buttoning the front of his jacket. 

 

“W-Where are you going?”

 

At the chairperson’s question, Kwon Ikseong tilted his head slightly and replied. 

 

“As I just mentioned, under civil service law, an HIB investigator must respond to a call under any circumstances. A total call for all HIB personnel was just issued.” 

 

It was a blunt, obnoxious tone that seemed to ask, ‘Did you not know that?’ 

 

At that tone, all the assembly members wearing their badges failed to control their expressions.

 

The two men gave a slight nod to the chairperson and the members and left the hearing hall without delay.

 

And naturally, all of this was being broadcast on National Assembly TV, watched by the entire country.

 

The number of live comments exploded, and one comment in particular scrolled past quickly.

 

Comment

 

—Wait, is that woman in the photo just now ‘Taekwondo Girl’?