The Civil Servant Who Conceals Her Power Is Too Good at Possession Chapter 90

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“It’s steak today…?”

 

I stared at the steak and salad set out in the interrogation room, wondering if this was even a menu that could be ordered for takeout.

 

“Um… do you buy these from a nearby restaurant every time?”

 

Or is he getting them delivered?

 

At my question, Kwon Ikseong replied without a single change in his expression.

 

“Yes, that is correct.”

 

“In the future, you don’t have to go to such trouble….”

 

…Is what I started to say, but the piece of meat I had sliced and popped into my mouth was far too delicious.

 

“….Actually, you definitely need to keep doing this. Thank you.”

 

With the juices overflowing, it felt as though all the fatigue from my recent overtime was completely washing away. 

 

How could it possibly taste this good? 

 

Even the level of doneness was perfect.

 

“Which restaurant is this, exactly?” 

 

I asked Kwon Ikseong, who had offered a quick answer like an AI chatbot to my question. 

 

“Where do you even search for restaurants like this?”

 

I had no idea a place like this existed near work.

 

“I identify them based on various data points.”

 

Ah, I see.

 

He really… does have an AI-esque quality to him.

 

I knew in the first place that the skill ‘Focus’ itself was a skill that mobilized hyper-sensation and hyper-cognition, but to think it would feel this similar to an AI dealing with big data. 

 

It was right then. 

 

When Kwon Ikseong posed a creative question uncharacteristic of an AI. 

 

“Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“I have roughly identified how many people within the HIB are aware of our dating news. I also know specifically who has been tracking your movements, Investigator Lee Yuji.”

 

“…!”

 

Ah, right.

 

This dating thing started in order to find the Gamer who might be an ‘internal spy.’ 

 

But he’s already narrowed down the candidates?

 

I was momentarily flustered, wondering if Choi Woojin might be among those candidates. 

 

I—no, the Gamer—had to be caught by me first.

 

That was the only way to avoid a sudden death.

 

The deadline for the Sudden Death Quest was now about a month away.

 

And I was currently weighing the timing for when to strike.

 

‘I have to move within two weeks to see if this works.’

 

While I had been suffering like a dog because of Go Cheolwon over the past month, I had spent my spare time devising actions that the status window would count as completing the quest.

 

While at the same time finding a way to avoid revealing Choi Woojin’s identity to others. 

 

That was to catch him when I was alone with him.

 

By revealing that I knew he was a Gamer.

 

I judged that the status window wouldn’t interfere as long as I made a deal with him and let him go after that.

 

Of course, this was all just a hypothesis, so I had to implement it as quickly as possible.

 

But… Ikseong narrowed down the Gamer’s identity? Already?

 

I asked in a strained voice.

 

“May I ask who the candidates are?”

 

“No.”

 

“Got it.”

 

The answer came back quickly.

 

Dang it. 

 

“However….”

 

Kwon Ikseong set down the knife he was holding—come to think of it, I had no idea how he’d brought a knife like that in takeout—and spoke to me.

 

“….I can tell you that I am not ruling out the possibility that the Gamer is a woman.”

 

Oh.

 

An unbiased idea worthy of an AI chatbot.

 

That was a bit of a relief.

 

‘He’s barking up the wrong tree.’

 

Thinking that, I gave a soft smile.

 

“Haha… Then are you planning to make your final deduction based on observations while we date out in the open?”

 

“Yes, that is correct.”

 

“But what should I do? I have an appointment this evening.”

 

In truth, it wasn’t a major appointment.

 

It was just that Lee Yugyeom said he needed some documents for his college applications, so I was going to go get them for him.

 

My father’s certificate of death in the line of duty.

 

He mentioned it was needed to apply for the special admissions track. 

 

For the record, my father’s final post was in the Criminal Affairs Division, and he passed away in a car accident while chasing a criminal.

 

And my mother, who had gone out after receiving a request for backup from that same division, was caught in the accident at the scene and passed away alongside him.

 

It was a very coincidental death, but—

 

‘They were both the type of people to do that.’

 

Since both of them were people with deep pride and a sense of justice as police officers.

 

We accepted the deaths of those two, which felt like a prank of fate, with that mindset. 

 

[I told her I’m a lock for Korea University even with regular admissions, but my homeroom teacher said you never know. It’s true that special admissions are more advantageous.]

 

Listening to Lee Yugyeom’s voice on the phone, which was devoid of any emotion, I recalled the feelings of that time once more.

 

And now, a foreign substance had entered those feelings.

 

‘Choi Woojin.’

 

My mother, who had stood before that little five-year-old boy.

 

In other words, Choi Woojin was the very evidence of my late mother’s goodness.

 

That was why this quest was even more complicated.

 

Because I had to arrest a person like that. As a criminal.

 

“May I ask what is the matter?”

 

Kwon Ikseong asked, perhaps because my face had momentarily darkened.

 

At his cautious question, I nodded.

 

“Ah, yes. I’m going to apply for my parents to be recognized as persons of national merit. I’ve been putting it off, but I heard it’s better to apply. We already received support for funeral expenses and such, so I wasn’t really worried about it, but—”

 

I said sheepishly.

 

“Thinking about it, it seems like doing it quickly would have been better. There are a lot of documents to issue, so I’m taking half a day off……” 

 

At my words, Kwon Ikseong looked at me quietly.

 

I thought he might offer his condolences or some formal words of comfort—

 

“Is there anything you need?”

 

As expected, he really does have an AI-esque quality.

 

Thinking that, I gave an awkward smile.

 

“From the HIB’s perspective?”

 

“No, I am asking on a personal level.”

 

The response was unexpected.

 

As I thought, Ik-seong is different from an AI.

 

First of all, he’s handsome, he’s handsome, he’s handso….

 

‘Let’s stop there.’

 

Anyway, is this an opportunity?

 

My eyes sparkled.

 

Because there was something Ikseong could clearly help with.

 

“In that case, could you help me get off work exactly on time?”

 

At my question, Kwon Ik-seong spoke like a malfunctioning AI.

 

“Taking half a day off is a right not only for civil servants, but for all workers. If other investigators are making you self-conscious about it—” 

 

“A-Ah, no. It’s not like that.” 

 

I pointed toward the direction where the HIB main gate would be and said.

 

“As you know, the main gate is swarming with reporters right now, isn’t it?”

 

A few days ago, on the day the news of Go Cheolwon’s arrest investigation was made public.

 

I received a call from the Commissioner of the Hunter Management Agency.

 

[Investigator Lee Yuji~]

 

The way the end of his sentence curled up so sweetly was an ill omen.

 

And it was also not a very good sign that a call was coming to my personal phone. 

 

Thinking that, I quickly turned on the phone’s recording function.

 

[You played a big part in this, Investigator Lee Yuji~ You know that, right?]

 

‘Um… the entire Special Team worked on it together.’ 

 

For some reason, his voice sounded like he was about to dump all the credit—and the subsequent responsibility—onto me, so I answered quickly.

 

[But I heard you were the one who interrogated the witness, Investigator Lee Yuji? Hey! With that much, you can get a special promotion even without catching the Gamer!]

 

‘Then will you give it to me right away?’

 

[Well, I can’t do that.]

 

Then what! Why did you call! It’s not even working hours yet!

 

At the time, I had been on my way back with a takeout iced vanilla latte, after leaving a message for Choi Woojin telling him not to buy coffee since I was buying my own—fearing he would buy that damn coffee again.

 

I had no idea the Commissioner of the Hunter Management Agency had given a briefing or something since that morning.

 

[So, here’s the thing. How about you do an interview saying that Investigator Lee Yuji played a major role in the special team’s independent investigation?]

 

…Something feels off here.

 

I ran scenarios regarding a situation where a high-ranking civil servant of this level acted this kindly. 

 

Putting together my civil servant experience and my original work experience, right now, the Commissioner of the Hunter Management Agency— 

 

‘Planning to take the credit if this goes well, and blame the special team and me if it doesn’t.’

 

At the time, I didn’t know he’d already given a briefing, so I didn’t realize he was trying to dump the aftermath of that briefing on me, but I was able to deduce this much.

 

So, I responded just as sweetly.

 

‘I will ask the Team Leader and pass it along.’ 

 

How’s that? A civil servant’s ultimate move. The ‘Pass the Buck’ tactic.

 

It was right when I was unleashing my ultimate move.

 

In the distance, toward the HIB main gate, I saw people gathered like a swarm of bees.

 

What is that?

 

[If that’s the case, well…. The reporters will just have to handle it themselves. I’ll hang up now, bye~]

 

…?

 

I was knitting my brows, looking down at the screen of the phone that had cut off with those mysterious words.

 

‘Oh! There’s Investigator Lee Yuji!’

 

One of the swarm pointed at me and shouted.

 

And simultaneously, countless heads turned to face me.

 

“….?”

 

Only then did I realize what this man had done.

 

He leaked a source to the media! 

 

After realizing that, I froze for a moment, then looked for a place to escape as I saw the reporters charging like a pack of zombies.

 

Entry through the main gate was impossible.

 

In that case—

 

‘I’m going for the wall.’

 

I judged instantaneously and began to run, and naturally, those numerous civilians could not chase after my rear. 

 

Even if I was an F-rank, I was someone who had made it all the way to the national team. 

 

I thought that by jumping over the wall, I’d avoid heating up the internet as the ‘Taekwondo Girl’ again, but—

 

Moon

 

Video Link🔗

 

What on earth are you doing with your life?

 

…I got a Short with a weird title from Kang Wol-yeon, not even Kang Ilyeon.

 

When did this kid even get my number?

 

Full-sprint Taekwondo Girl. She even cleared the wall in one go LOLOLOLOL