Li Laoba's expression changed, looking somewhat at a loss. Tree-Person A naturally couldn't let outsiders know there might be a mole in their Death Prison.
"Just supervising a newcomer's first assignment," he said with a dry laugh.
Li Laoba nodded repeatedly and stopped questioning further, recounting Li Ban's recent performance in detail. Tree-Person A listened with growing disappointment.
Li Ban had only selected slaves that Li Laoba himself had pre-chosen, not picking any who had stepped forward midway. As for why Li Ban didn't choose the strongest slave, Tree-Person A understood immediately—Li Ban must still be traumatized by Lu's assassination attempt. Could someone like this really be a mole?
"By the way, Master A," Li Laoba added, "After Young Li left here, he seemed to head north."
"North?" Tree-Person A narrowed his eyes. "The beast-fighting arena is to the north." That was where his disposed fellow villager was kept. Tree-Person A immediately left Li Laoba and rushed toward the arena.
Unaware he was being followed, Li Ban hurried toward the beast-fighting arena to check on Ze's condition. After Tree-Person A's sudden suspicion about him being a mole, Li Ban suspected something must have happened with Ze. Logically, he should avoid Ze to prevent further suspicion. But conversely, if Li Ban had nothing to hide yet suddenly distanced himself from the fellow villager who had helped him, that would appear even more suspicious.
So Li Ban decided to check on Ze discreetly, leaving no traces and exchanging no information beyond Witch World matters. With a cheerful expression, he urged Old Horse to speed toward the arena.
The arena guard had been replaced by a young man Li Ban hadn't seen during his previous visit with Tree-Person A.
This guard was none other than Kong, who had recently obtained first-tier outer guard status by reporting Ze, removing an obstacle to his promotion. To maximize his credit, he'd also reported Li Ban for associating with Ze. Kong didn't care about Li Ban's innocence—the man was simply unlucky to have been close to Ze.
But Kong never expected that after his report, Li Ban not only remained unharmed but seemed to have been promoted to first-tier status. This man wasn't simple. Kong grew anxious—did Li Ban know about the report? If so, would he seek revenge? Everyone said Death Prison was terrifying, yet they'd released a suspected slave so easily—what a joke!
Despite his inner turmoil, Kong showed nothing as he told Li Ban, "Ze isn't here."
Li Ban sighed. "Alright, I'll come back another time."
Kong asked, "Any message for Ze? I can pass it along."
Li Ban chuckled amiably. "Nothing important. Just wanted to tell him I've been promoted to menial worker."
Kong was even more surprised—had Li Ban come just to boast? Did Death Prison completely disregard Manager Li's warning?
"Since Ze's unavailable and I have urgent business, I'll take my leave. Please let Ze know I'll visit again when free." Li Ban patted Old Horse. "Back to Death Prison."
As they turned around, Li Ban maintained his relaxed smile though his eyes grew solemn. His sharp right eye had caught Kong's initial reaction—the guard's pupils had dilated in clear surprise upon seeing him. They'd never met, yet Kong seemed shocked by his very presence, as if he shouldn't be there at all.
Shortly after Li Ban left, Tree-Person A reappeared, watching Li Ban disappear around the street corner with a flash of excitement. He approached Kong. "What did you discuss?"
Recognizing Tree-Person A, Kong initially considered lying but froze under the cold stare. "He wanted to see one of our slaves. I said the man wasn't here."
"Oh? Any message?"
"Just that he wanted to tell his villager he'd become a menial worker."
Tree-Person A looked disappointed. "Nothing else?"
"Nothing, but... he seemed strange."
"How so?"
"Uh..." Seeing Kong hesitate, Tree-Person A knew the guard was making assumptions.
"Useless!" Kong stiffened—though Tree-Person A wasn't his superior, his higher status as Death Prison staff left Kong swallowing his resentment silently.
Following Li Ban's trail, Tree-Person A found him already returning to Death Prison—the entire tail had yielded nothing useful. During the return trip, Tree-Person A grew convinced Zhou Gu had manipulated him—first granting Li Ban status before raising suspicions, forcing Tree-Person A to investigate properly rather than arbitrarily punishing a slave. He needed concrete evidence.
"That bastard Zhou Gu!" Tree-Person A realized Zhou Gu's scheme—short-staffed yet wary of recruits, he'd tricked Tree-Person A into doing his dirty work. "If Li Ban turns out clean, I've wasted my time!" Staring at carriage tracks on the road, Tree-Person A's eyes narrowed. "No! I'm determined to have these hands and feet!"
Unaware that Zhou Gu's maneuvering had reversed Tree-Person A's improved attitude, Li Ban sat pondering the day's events when he heard someone approaching from the carriage. Turning coldly, he saw the lighter-skinned slave Qi sitting behind him with an ingratiating smile.
"What do you want?"
"Sir—"
"Don't call me sir."
"Yes, yes, Brother Li. I overheard you asking about Eternal Tower—I know about that place." Despite being a decade older, Qi unashamedly addressed Li Ban as "brother," clearly trying to cozy up.
Li Ban grew wary. "How would you know?"
"Before becoming a slave, I came from an official's family. After certain... mistakes, my whole clan was enslaved. So I know more than most."
"You've adapted well to your new status."
Qi's smile turned bitter. "You jest, Brother Li. I'm just a slave now—no status to speak of. Death Prison is harsh—I just want to survive."
After a pause, Li Ban nodded. "Go on."
"Eternal Tower was originally called Tower of Myriad Bones—'bones' as in skeletons. They changed one character to sound more elegant. As the original name suggests, it's full of corpses. Slaves who can't be sold are eventually disposed of there cheaply to save food. Those sent either become corpses or corpse-bearers—though corpse-bearers have first-tier status. That woman and child you didn't choose? They'd definitely become corpses."
Seeing Li Ban frown, Qi quickly added, "But that's their fate—nothing to do with you, Brother Li."