Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant novel Chapter 263

Seo Gyo-won hadn’t been lying.

By the time Su-ho arrived at Cheongok Prison, the background checks on the individuals he’d requested were already complete.

He checked the data on his tablet and clicked his tongue quietly.

Tsk tsk. They say everyone’s got dirt if you dig deep enough...

Really, how many people in this world could be shaken down without revealing something dirty?

But honestly, Su-ho didn’t care.

In fact, working with people who did have dirt was often much easier.

When Su-ho approached the main gate and identified himself, Chief Guard Hwang Se-don, who happened to be on duty, rushed out in a panic.

“D-Division Chief? What brings you here at this hour...?”

“Been well? Let’s talk inside.”

Since Cheongok Prison was a subordinate organization under the Grand Hunter Association and fell under the jurisdiction of the Special Division, its staff were acutely sensitive to personnel changes made at the central office.

In other words, even without any official announcement, word had already made its way here.

That was why Su-ho’s steps were so relaxed.

There was no longer any need to conceal his identity or change his face.

Su-ho strode confidently to the front.

He headed straight for the warden’s office.

Naturally, no one was there.

It was late—everyone had already gone home.

So, while hurrying after him, Hwang Se-don contacted the warden and deputy warden, then awkwardly tried to play host while brewing coffee.

“Haha... If you’d given us a heads-up, we would’ve been waiting for you...”

“No need. It's not like this visit is anything worth announcing ahead of time. Anyway, how have you been?”

“Yes, well, we’re doing fine... From what I hear, everything up top has pretty much settled down.”

“Right, from the President of the Association down to the Special Division, it was a total overhaul. I figured it was time I stopped by to say hello. By the way, where’s the printer around here?”

“The printer? Why...?”

“I’ve got something to show the warden and deputy warden when they get here, but I rushed over and didn’t have time to print it. A place like this has to have a printer in the warden’s office, right? Ah, there it is.”

Hwang Se-don was flustered.

He had called the warden and deputy warden, yes—but he had never told Su-ho that they were coming.

Yet Su-ho was acting like their arrival was a given.

He’s supposed to be in his early twenties... Is he really in his early twenties?

Nothing in his words or actions felt like a young man in his twenties.

He felt more like a seasoned veteran from the Special Division in his forties or fifties.

In short—he was annoyingly composed.

Su-ho hummed to himself as he printed the documents and had nearly finished his coffee when Warden Kim Gil-yeon and Deputy Warden Park Seong-gwan hurried in.

“D-Division Chief, you’re here.”

“Oh dear...”

Both looked utterly flustered.

Their direct superior had shown up unannounced—it was only natural.

When Su-ho rose and offered the chief seat to the warden, the warden quickly waved it off.

“Oh no, Division Chief, that’s your seat.”

“Is that so? Then I won’t argue.”

The moment Su-ho sat down, Hwang Se-don quickly brought over a new drink.

Since Su-ho had already had coffee, now it was cold green tea.

Su-ho took a sip, then smiled and spoke.

“Ever since the personnel changes, I’ve been meaning to drop by Cheongok... but work’s kept me so busy that I’m only now getting the chance.”

“Haha, of course. Everyone knows how busy central headquarters is—heck, even a passing dog could tell you that. Just seeing your face here is more than enough.”

“I appreciate you saying that. Now then, before we begin... Chief Hwang? Would you mind stepping out for a bit?”

“Ah, yes. I almost forgot I was on duty. I’ll be off, then.”

With a smooth farewell, Hwang Se-don exited the room.

Now, only Su-ho remained at the center of the office, flanked on either side by the warden and deputy warden.

At last, Su-ho handed over the documents he had just printed.

Deputy Warden Park Seong-gwan asked cautiously,

“Division Chief... what are these...?”

Rather than answer, Su-ho gestured silently for him to read.

Park bit his lip and slowly started reading the contents.

It didn’t take long before his lips tightened and his eyes widened in shock.

Warden Kim Gil-yeon was no different.

When both finally reached the last page, they gently set the documents down, their gazes frozen.

Su-ho spoke.

“As you both know, the Association recently went through a bloodbath due to a rather unsavory incident. The next step is auditing the subordinate institutions. And while neither of you were involved in the redevelopment cartel, what I saw here was no less outrageous. Just what were you both thinking, running things like this?”

“......”

“......”

Neither man could speak.

It was understandable.

What Su-ho had handed them were detailed records of their misconduct—evidence, plain and damning.

While nothing was as massive as the redevelopment cartel, the files included countless small-scale violations, including bribes from inmates.

Su-ho had printed the full transaction records.

It was the most irrefutable evidence.

He frowned slightly.

Prison guards who should be focused on rehabilitation are out here taking bribes from inmates...

This kind of corruption had only been possible thanks to Jo Gwang-ho, who had ruled Cheongok with brute force.

After Jo crushed the inmates into submission, the guards found their jobs much easier—and Jo used that moment to deepen his ties with the staff, using his private funds.

But ever since Su-ho appeared, all of that was wiped out.

Surprisingly, no one mourned the loss.

Incidents had decreased significantly under Yoon Hyun-chul’s control compared to when Jo Gwang-ho held the reins.

For a civil servant, peace is everything.

More importantly, Jo Gwang-ho had always treated guards with thinly veiled contempt, even while buying their loyalty.

Yoon Hyun-chul, on the other hand, treated the guards with deep respect.

That was why neither the warden nor deputy warden could even express disappointment over the lost bribes.

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