"How did Tree-Person A die so suddenly?" Li Ban looked up.
"I'm not sure about that. I overheard Officer Zhang telling Officer Huo while cleaning the rooms."
"Actually, the reason doesn't matter." Wang Hua waved his hand dismissively. "Having been in Death Prison for so many years, I've seen plenty of people who were living large one day and mysteriously gone the next."
"What's important..." Wang Hua revealed the real reason he'd gathered everyone tonight, "is what we should do about this newly vacant jailer position?"
Liu Mu, sitting across from Wang Hua, crossed his arms and pursed his lips. "Officer Zhang might just bring in another tree-person. When all the jailers were wiped out last time, he claimed tree-people were more reliable than us and brought in four at once without leaving any slots for us. Who would've thought even a tree-person would die so soon?"
Wang Hua leaned closer to the table, lowering his voice. "I asked Xiao Lü - Officer Du probably won't recruit another tree-person this time. This time... we have a chance."
Li Ban sat upright, lowering his eyes without speaking.
He understood now.
Wang Hua hadn't gathered the four of them for gossip, but to discuss the new jailer position.
Last time, Lu had risked directly attacking Li Ban to steal his menial worker position.
This competition among menial workers for a jailer position would undoubtedly be even fiercer.
But Li Ban wasn't worried.
Having only become a menial worker a few months ago without even filling his first element with spiritual essence, he didn't meet the promotion requirements.
Thus, he was currently the safest among the four.
Still, he couldn't let his guard down completely.
If the other three started fighting, he might get caught in the crossfire.
Moreover, whoever got promoted would become the jailer overseeing the first and second levels - essentially his direct superior.
Wang Hua now straightened up, looking between the other two with an earnest smile. "We all know how brutal position competitions can be. Just look at the slaves - they'll kill each other without Tree-Person A even needing to provoke them."
"But I want to say - we're not slaves. After struggling so hard to become Spirit Practitioners, there's no need to fight to the death over a second-tier position. If our conflict becomes too disruptive and affects our duties, Officer Du might change his mind and recruit jailers from outside. Then none of us would get the position."
Liu Mu nodded. "Brother Wang makes a good point. We can't afford to lose our composure first."
Wang Hua was pleased with Liu Mu's support - it showed he was gradually taking control of the discussion.
"I gathered everyone to discuss this properly. Whoever gets the jailer position should compensate those who voluntarily withdraw from the competition. What do you think?"
This time when Wang Hua finished speaking, he looked at Li Ban.
Though Li Ban had no chance at promotion, Wang Hua had included him in the discussion and compensation plan to gain his support.
Noticing Wang Hua's gaze, Li Ban quickly smiled and nodded. "I have no objections."
Liu Mu also played along. "No objections here either."
Now only Lü Qinghe remained silent.
All eyes turned to her.
This woman... was crucial.
Though nominally a menial worker, everyone knew she was actually connected to Prison Officer Du An.
Even Li Ban could tell Wang Hua and Liu Mu kept glancing at Lü Qinghe while speaking.
Li Ban suspected that if Lü Qinghe wanted the jailer position, Wang Hua and Liu Mu would stand little chance.
Having remained silent since entering, Lü Qinghe suddenly stood up when everyone looked at her.
"Don't consider me. I won't compete for this position, nor do I need compensation."
With that, she turned and left the menial quarters, leaving the three men exchanging puzzled looks.
After recovering from his surprise, Wang Hua couldn't hide his delight as he asked Li Ban and Liu Mu, "Then it's just the three of us to discuss. My element is already full with spiritual essence. What about you two?"
"Mine isn't full yet," Li Ban immediately replied. "So you don't need to consider me either."
Wang Hua and Liu Mu looked even more satisfied.
They gazed at Li Ban as if he were their own brother.
The two began discussing in low voices while Li Ban pondered other matters.
Normally, first-tier Identities could only fuse with one element.
But he had two.
So how would the spiritual essence requirement for promotion be calculated?
Would filling one element suffice, or did both need to be full?
If the latter, he really shouldn't fuse too many elements, or promotions would become difficult.
According to the cat-woman, Identity tiers greatly influenced one's strength.
Li Ban couldn't afford to trap himself at low tiers just for the sake of elements.
"Elders, I have a question."
Both men looked at him.
"For first-tier Identities like ours, being 'full' means one element is saturated. But for second-tier and above, does being full require all elements to be saturated, or just one?"
Wang Hua answered first, "Of course all elements need to be full."
Liu Mu added, "With each promotion, an element's spiritual essence capacity increases. So each tier requires you to cultivate all your elements to fullness again."
Li Ban nodded in understanding.
No wonder jailers and officers cultivated whenever they had time.
Their time to reach fullness must be much longer than first-tier practitioners.
This ever-increasing requirement would make promotions progressively harder for higher tiers.
Li Ban blinked - wasn't this just like the experience points needed for leveling up in games?
But with two elements, his promotion time would naturally be longer than others'.
Still, Li Ban didn't need to worry about promotions yet.
Jailers were second-tier - not slaves who died every few months.
Even if slightly delayed, it shouldn't affect his next promotion opportunity.
After answering Li Ban's question, Wang Hua looked at Liu Mu.
Just as he opened his mouth with a confident smile, Liu Mu interrupted.
"Brother Wang, a word in private?"
Wang Hua froze.
Liu Mu speaking first disrupted his rhythm.
But things were still proceeding as planned.
Some matters needed public discussion;
others required private negotiation.
Now that only he and Liu Mu remained as candidates, Li Ban didn't need to participate in the more confidential talks.
In fact, if not for Li Ban's connection to Zhou Gu, they wouldn't have considered compensating him at all.
"Of course." Wang Hua smiled at Li Ban. "Li Ban, please wait here while Liu Mu and I discuss."
"No problem." Li Ban currently had no interest in their power struggles.
Liu Mu stood first but gestured for Wang Hua to lead.
Wang Hua maintained his confident smile - clearly self-assured.
As the longest-serving menial worker, seniority would favor him.
But Li Ban knew Death Prison didn't operate on seniority - the outcome remained uncertain.
Now without Tree-Person A constantly watching and scheming against him, Li Ban finally had time to cultivate.
Closing his eyes, he found a comfortable position leaning on the table and began absorbing spiritual essence.
Though unqualified for this jailer position, he couldn't miss the next one.
Whether approaching Zhou Gu or Du An, remaining a mere menial worker would never grant access to core information.
Without more clues, when could he complete phase missions and regain temporary logout privileges?
At this rate, Li Ban felt he might as well retire in the Witch World.
But barely after closing his eyes, Li Ban was startled by voices behind him.
He quickly sat up straight, turning to see Wang Hua emerging with an ugly expression.
Behind him, Liu Mu followed with a faint smile, cupping his hands toward Wang Hua. "Thanks to Elder Brother Wang's generosity, I'll accept this position. I won't forget this favor."
Wang Hua could only force a polite gesture in return.
Clearly, Liu Mu had won decisively.
At over fifty years old, could Wang Hua even wait for the next vacancy?
Li Ban smiled and stood to congratulate Liu Mu.
He was quite satisfied with this outcome.