The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success-Chapter 86.1

"What are you talking about?"

"All your experiments on my mind failed, didn’t they? You said my mental strength was too great and my will too strong, that you couldn’t touch it."

Originally, the organization had planned to turn Cedric into a powerful human weapon.

Cedric was an excellent test subject.

He endured all kinds of pain without breaking. And whenever he was given instructions, he followed them to the letter.

That was how Cedric became stronger—but there was a problem. He didn’t move according to their desires.

[Come on, feel anger toward the world. Don’t you want to destroy everything? Every choice you’ve made has been the worst, hasn’t it?]

He was supposed to harbor rage against the world and align with them—but even that first step proved difficult.

[Listen carefully. Complaining about things that can’t be helped and can’t be achieved through effort doesn’t do anything for your life. Instead, it’s better to use that time to find alternative solutions that effort can accomplish. Understand? Steel your mind.]

[Hey! I’m talking about you! You have terrible instincts! Why are you preaching at me?!]

The final conclusion the organization’s lab came to about Cedric Roafi was this:

A righteous madman with clear eyes.

His values were so solid that even brainwashing didn’t take hold.

[Now, don’t think. Let go of your will. If you entrust everything to us, you’ll find peace...]

[You must never rely on comfort provided by others. Listen carefully. As long as you're human, you must not stop thinking. You must constantly reflect on living righteously in order to truly own your life.]

[There he goes again, preaching, this bastard! F*ck!] fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

[Don’t curse. Cursing doesn’t degrade your opponent—it degrades your own dignity. If there’s a conflict, you should try resolving it through conversation. Now rephrase that politely.]

In the end, the experiment team concluded:

[The subject is too exceptional. We tried to bring him over to our side like the other subjects, but... unless we tamper with his mind, it’s impossible. And even his mind is ridiculously resilient! Damn it!]

To tamper with Cedric Roafi’s mind, he would have to choose, of his own free will, to cooperate with them.

That was the supposed reason the woman in the mask had come to see him in person.

"Why are you so obsessed with my memories? Answer me."

"Why should I tell you that?"

"I’ve told you so much about my daughter all this time, haven’t I?"

"Did I ask you to?! You were the one rambling on your own!"

It was then that blood started to trickle down from Cedric’s mouth. A moment later, more of it gushed out in a thick cough.

"Don’t worry."

After spitting out the blood once, Cedric hurried to explain.

"It’s a side effect from the experiments. Sometimes my blood flows backward like this. It usually happens about a month after an experiment. I get a little ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) nauseous the day before, but once the blood comes out, I feel fine. It’s nothing serious. In fact, by coughing up the contaminated blood, I actually get stronger."

"What the hell are you saying? I wasn’t worried, okay?"

"Then instead of worrying, tell me something else."

Cedric called out desperately to the woman’s back as she turned to leave.

"Namia... Is Namia doing well?"

"How would I know that? Do you think I know how far the capital is from here?"

The woman answered irritably without turning around. Then she added, with equal annoyance:

"She’s probably doing just fine, whatever."

Her halted steps picked up speed again. She walked away from the cell. And then, just barely audible enough to avoid Cedric’s ears, she muttered under her breath—

"...Because I made it that way."

As the sound of her heels faded, Cedric was left alone again.

Only then did he let out a faint groan. The pain from the restraints burned hotly against his skin.

Fifteen years locked up in a small cell like a beast.

"Namia..."

He always felt like he was on the verge of losing his mind, but every time, he calmed himself down.

"I’m pretending not to notice, because if I act like I do, she’ll never come back again..."

Just like in the old days, when he used to gently talk his daughter through her day.

"Isn’t your mom so naive? Honestly, she thinks I won’t recognize her just because she’s wearing a mask. It’s been fifteen years already..."