The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 105

Three days passed after that.

Kibon and I came and went from the production room constantly, at all hours of the day and night. We went in and out whenever we felt like it, running all sorts of experiments while tearing through scroll paper.

“Let’s go, Kibon.”

Truthfully, there was nothing for Kibon to do there. But he insisted that I shouldn’t move around alone.

While we were conducting our so-called experiments, the Scroll Department team leaders would occasionally drop in as well.

“Wow, are we in the Magic Tower or what?”

Victor, stopping by the production room during work, would toss out casual jokes like that.

“Is this how the Scroll Department’s going to be from now on? You’re pretty research-focused these days.”

He acted like the banquet at Saint Cairo never happened.

And since he was so relaxed and friendly, I didn’t mind. At least he wasn’t saying anything that crossed the line anymore. I also behaved as if nothing had happened.

“I’m trying to make a defensive scroll using Dragonblood. I figure it might be more effective? Last time I thought I was going to die from making 166 all at once...”

“So how’s the research going?”

“Not great. Honestly, it keeps failing.”

I grinned as I answered.

Anastasia, too, would occasionally drop by with a cup of coffee and sneak a glance around. I often drank her coffee at the office, so it didn’t raise suspicion.

“Th-this... this is D-Dragonblood? R-really? His Highness gave it to you just because you asked?”

There was a full beaker in the production room, filled with blood preserved in a stabilizing solution.

I took a sip of coffee while working on a scroll with the blood, and nodded.

“Yeah. I guess he’s serious. I mean, he gave me his blood and everything. I’m starting to think I should open my heart to him a little too.”

“W-well...”

Anastasia muttered gravely.

“Blood... isn’t... well, it’s not like it costs money...”

And just like that, three days passed.

Of course, no matter what I did with the Dragonblood, the scrolls never activated. But I kept pretending to work hard.

Once the full three days had passed—

“Kibon.”

That afternoon, as we exited the production room, I spoke resolutely.

“Tell His Highness I want to meet him tonight.”

The time had come.

***

Dragonblood.

An irresistibly tempting lure for the Reformist Faction.

I filled an entire beaker with the bait and used it liberally under the pretense of conducting experiments. Every time I came in, a significant amount of it disappeared.

To anyone watching, it must’ve looked like a waste day after day.

Especially since the experiments kept failing.

I tried using Dragonblood in all sorts of scrolls, but nothing ever activated.

They must’ve been dying to get their hands on it.

Of course, it wasn’t Kiaros’s real blood.

It was stored blood from the Medical and Public Health Department—intended for transfusions. I had asked Luka to procure it.

[Luka, I need something from you, as a staff member in the Medical Department.]

[This isn’t an official situation, so can we drop the formal speech? I’ll get to the point. You’re not my superior and you can’t—]

[It’s an order from His Highness the Crown Prince. A secret decree. Don’t tell your boss either.]

[Understood. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) What do you need?]

Luka immediately lowered his voice and complied.

[Wow... I guess having a rival like you really paid off. Suddenly I’ve got a direct connection to the Crown Prince...]

I asked Luka for two things.

First: to obtain blood.

Second...

[Is there a way to detect if someone has ingested a trace amount of a mild toxin?]

[Nope.]

[But we need one.]

[There’s no method. Not unless you come to me right after drinking it.]

[Then go on standby. Take a vacation.]

[Why do you get to decide my—]

[Crown Prince’s orders.]

[...Understood. Can I list it as special leave?]

[Do you want to announce you’re on a secret mission? Say you’re visiting your parents out in the provinces. File it as regular leave. I’ll convert it to special leave afterward.]

If I were the mole in the Reformist Faction, desperate to get my hands on Dragonblood, what would I do?

Obviously, I’d swap it. Whether it was real blood or fake, the scrolls weren’t working anyway. I’d have no way to tell.

But I kept showing up day and night, making it hard for anyone to find the chance.

So they’d have to find a way to immobilize me.

Poison wouldn’t work. That would trigger a full-scale investigation. If it were me, I’d try something subtle—just enough to keep me out of the way for one night. Like a stomach bug or a cold.

And the method was simple.

I drink Anastasia’s coffee every day.

Anastasia always brewed coffee for me.

That didn’t mean I was convinced she was the culprit.

I used my own cup, which I always cleaned and left in the break room. If someone wanted to drug me, all they had to do was coat the inside with a thin gel-like substance.

That’s why I only ever took a single sip.

I intentionally drank a sip of coffee whenever Anastasia or Victor was nearby, then discreetly poured the rest down the drain.

I always left the empty cup behind and said, “Thanks for the coffee, Anastasia,” like I’d finished it.

Then I’d call Luka and have him check me.

[You’re perfectly fine. Though it looks like you’ve gained a bit of weight.]

Well, living at the palace meant three hearty meals a day...

Kibon, who was always nearby, reacted to that.

[That’s good to hear.]

He’d strongly opposed this plan from the start, but I overrode him with sheer authority.

Still, every time I took a sip, he looked like he was watching someone drink poison. He suffered alone, like he was dying inside.

But today—finally—

“Yikes... It’s a trace amount, but you’ve ingested a dizziness-inducing compound. Hmm, and there’s a mild sedative too. It’s not harmful to your body. Nothing too strong.”

Luka spoke with a serious expression.

It was obvious. The plan was to make me dizzy enough to knock me out for the night. At least they didn’t use anything actually dangerous.

“I’ll neutralize it right away, but I won’t be able to fully eliminate the sedative from your system. You might feel a bit sleepy.”

“Am I going to be too out of it to function?”

“It’s a tiny dose. You’ll be fine. It’s like pulling an all-nighter—just expect to yawn a lot.”

“That’s nothing.”

I’d pulled plenty of all-nighters before. A little drowsiness was nothing new.

In any case, the mole would be confident that I wouldn’t be coming to the production room tonight. That meant it was time to move.

They’d act after 6 PM, once all the Scroll Department staff had gone home. And now, I had to move with Kiaros.

***

I met Kiaros inside the Scroll Department office.

It was the only way to access the production room.

“We’re not doing a full stakeout side-by-side, right? It’d be better if we stayed apart.”

Kiaros declared gravely. I nodded.

“Yes.”

The darkened Scroll Department office was spacious. There was no need for us to stick together.

Besides, dozens of Ravens were already waiting outside. It wasn’t like we had to intervene directly from start to finish.

I just wanted Kiaros to see it for himself. And as for me—

I want to see it with my own eyes. Who the traitor really is.

Knowing tonight would bring resolution calmed my heart.

But the sedative still made me yawn nonstop. Even if I was alert, the drowsiness was something else.

While I was lost in thought—

“Namia.”

A soft whisper reached my ears. It was Kiaros, quietly watching from the shadows.