Li Ban's grip on the iron pipe stiffened.
He had proposed tube feeding earlier, hoping to impress Officer Zhou with a new idea and gain more favor.
But Zhou Gu didn't seem particularly interested.
The officer's tools were quite comprehensive, leaving little room for improvement.
Moreover, Zhou Gu appeared more interested in chemical reaction suggestions from Li Ban.
When Li Ban hesitated and couldn't provide any, Zhou Gu didn't get angry.
"Alright, take your time to think. First, go buy some things for me at the black and white markets."
"Yes, sir."
Zhou Gu placed a hand on Li Ban's shoulder. "Remember, work diligently under me and you won't lose out."
Only after Li Ban familiarized himself with the new tools and learned their maintenance methods did Zhou Gu let him leave.
After Li Ban departed, Zhou Gu tidied up while thinking: Li Ban doesn't understand tools well and his suggestions are naive. But... if he actually knew everything, that would be suspicious.
Through this coincidence, Li Ban's suspiciousness decreased slightly in Zhou Gu's estimation.
When Li Ban left Zhou Gu's room for the second level, he encountered Tree-Person A.
Their relationship had completely broken down since the map confrontation before Zhou Gu.
Li Ban was at a disadvantage, being one identity level below Tree-Person A.
If Tree-Person A ordered him around under the pretense of work, he had no good way to refuse.
Fortunately, after moving to the third level, they'd hardly met privately these past few days.
This time, it seemed Tree-Person A might have deliberately waited for him on the stairs.
"Boy, I don't know how you fooled Officer Zhou, but I'm watching you," Tree-Person A blocked Li Ban's path, speaking gloomily.
Li Ban kept his head down without speaking - he wasn't foolish enough to confront Tree-Person A directly when alone.
Tree-Person A shoved past Li Ban and descended.
Li Ban glanced at Tree-Person A's retreating back but remained silent.
He took Qi out for shopping.
The recent lack of slave deaths was likely related to Li Ban taking over slave management.
But after Li Ban moved to the third level, Wei from among the four slaves suddenly died of acute illness.
Before Li Ban could examine Wei's body, the corpse had already been taken away.
Dead slaves' bodies belonged to the tree-person jailers, who didn't care about causes of death.
On the shopping trip, Li Ban asked Qi: "How did Wei die?"
Qi treated Li Ban with careful respect, just like when Li Ban first rode with the tree-person jailers.
"Brother Li, when Wei died I'd already moved to the storeroom you previously lived in, so I didn't see his body. But he seemed fine the day before, then we heard he'd died the next morning. What illness could be so sudden?"
When Li Ban moved out, he'd let Qi occupy the storeroom.
As the first to side with him and provide information, Qi naturally received rewards.
Seeing Qi's successful ingratiation, Wei also tried currying favor with Li Ban for outdoor privileges.
But he was always one step behind, knowing less than Qi, so never got close.
Later he attempted alliance with Ke, the earliest arrival, but Ke just focused on work, ignoring him until Wei gradually gave up.
"That Wei jumped around for a while, yet he became the first to die after I left," Li Ban shook his head slightly.
He recalled when he first arrived at Death Prison, the first death was also the seemingly strongest young slave.
He'd thought his chosen slaves were relatively obedient, but current results showed no simple survivors in Death Prison.
Qi flattered, "That's because he failed to cling to your coattails."
Li Ban smiled without comment.
He knew his limits.
At least currently, he wasn't important enough for "coattails."
Returning from Qingcheng County, Li Ban carried several jars to Zhou Gu's room.
Zhou Gu was absent today, the door left wide open as if completely unsecured.
Before entering, Li Ban checked both sides.
His trained "eye" elemental power provided sharp vision - just a glance revealed a branch on the stairs between third level and main gate.
Uncertain if it was Tree-Person A, but knowing tree-person jailers cooperated, he quickly entered and closed the door before descent.
After pretending to work inside briefly, he exited carrying empty jars.
Exiting, he deliberately scanned for observers.
"What sneaky business are you doing?"
The approaching tree-person jailer who'd spotted Li Ban leaving Zhou Gu's room while acting suspiciously immediately challenged him.
Recognizing Tree-Person B, Li Ban quickly bowed. "Sir, I'm cleaning Officer Zhou's room."
Tree-Person A hadn't shared their conflict with Tree-Person B, who remained unaware.
"Did Officer Zhou permit this?"
"Yes."
"I'll verify with him," Tree-Person B narrowed his eyes.
"Please do."
Li Ban maintained an open, smiling demeanor.
Tree-Person B sensed something off but couldn't be bothered.
Back in the jailers' quarters, he recalled Tree-Person A and Zhou Gu's closeness to Li Ban.
Rather than asking the unfamiliar Zhou Gu, he decided to consult Tree-Person A.
"Is the new menial worker Li Ban working for Zhou Gu now?"
Tree-Person A, meditating, sneered, "Hmph, yes."
Tree-Person B asked, "Why that tone? Did Li Ban offend you?"
Tree-Person A hesitated, keeping their conflict's origin secret, making excuses.
"Officer Zhou values him, gives him lots of rewards."
Tree-Person B didn't ponder deeply. "Lots? Enough to buy how many slaves?"
"Always slaves with you," Tree-Person A snorted.
"What's wrong with slaves? Months without eating any until recently - I was getting desperate!"
Tree-Person A opened his eyes. "Slaves make you drool? What if you found better prey?"
Tree-Person B stepped beside him, roots sinking into soil. "Better ones never reach us. Remember, Boss Zhang holds our lifelines."
As Tree-Person B closed his eyes, Tree-Person A suddenly asked, "Why ask about Li Ban?"
"Oh, I saw him sneaking from Zhou Gu's room carrying something."
Tree-Person A sprang up. "Was Zhou Gu absent?"
"Yes. That's why I asked you."
...
Next day, Li Ban reentered Zhou Gu's room with yesterday's cleaned jars.
Alerted, Tree-Person A rushed over.
Zhou Gu remained absent while Li Ban busied himself in the outer room with various bottles and jars.
Tree-Person A appeared casually at the doorway. "Li Ban, what are you doing?"
Rearranging jars pointlessly, Li Ban suppressed a smirk before turning with innocent expression.
"Officer Zhou asked me to clean his room."
Tree-Person A eyed the seven or eight jars in Li Ban's arms. "Clean properly - don't break Officer Zhou's belongings."
Li Ban shrugged. "These jars are all chipped or cracked - no loss if discarded. I'm sorting usable ones from junk."
Tree-Person A frowned. "Don't casually discard Officer Zhou's property. Valuable items could cost more than you're worth."
Li Ban chuckled involuntarily.
"Why laugh?" Tree-Person A grew angry at Li Ban's levity.
Li Ban stepped aside, revealing a cabinet packed with identical jars.
"See? Officer Zhou loves wine - he's collected so many identical jars. Missing one or two, even seven or eight wouldn't be noticed. When some break, I just sweep them up. Nothing valuable here."
Finding no fault, Tree-Person A left grumbling "Work properly."
After his departure, Li Ban stored most jars.
He quickly exited Zhou Gu's room carrying only worn jars back to the menial quarters.
Entering, he saw Wang Hua from another bedroom drinking water in the common room.
Wang Hua stared in surprise. "Li Ban, why so many jars?"
Li Ban noted spilled water by Wang Hua's cup - the drink had been rushed.
Keeping calm, he answered, "Just collecting unused jars from superiors to sell at market."