There were no surprises.
The fourth attempt to grow a second tongue in Prisoner Four's mouth had failed again.
It seemed Zhou Gu had exhausted all his luck with those two previous successful cases.
Of course, the waste elements were handed over to Li Ban as usual.
Zhou Gu never wanted to lay eyes on them again.
With this second batch of waste elements obtained, reaching full spiritual essence capacity was within reach!
There would even be overflow - Li Ban wondered if the excess would directly enhance his secondary element.
Though part of him hoped every future tongue-growing attempt would fail, he knew Zhou Gu's wrath would be unbearable if they never succeeded again.
So he needed to find ways to improve the success rate.
He tentatively suggested this, but Zhou Gu dismissed the idea.
Li Ban could only ask Zhou Gu to carefully recall the differences between successful and failed cases.
Suddenly, Zhou Gu remembered something. "Actually, both successful prisoners had only been moved down from the first level a few months prior."
Li Ban's head snapped up.
Prisoners recently transferred from the first level wouldn't have consumed much of the toxic gruel yet.
"Could the toxins in the gruel be inhibiting second tongue development?"
"Very likely!"
The more Zhou Gu considered it, the more convinced he became, his eyes gradually lighting up.
After this discussion, Zhou Gu waved Li Ban away and headed straight for the fourth level.
On duty at the fourth level was Zhang Baishan, head jailer of Death Prison.
He stood before new prisoner Lin Han's cell, testing the chains' sturdiness.
His testing method involved operating an external mechanism that repeatedly tightened and loosened the chains.
The once defiant Lin Han now flopped about like a wild dog being dragged around.
Zhou Gu stopped about three meters behind Zhang Baishan.
"You're early for shift change," Zhang Baishan said without turning.
"Chief Zhang, I need to report something."
Only then did Zhang Baishan turn to face him.
Pulling the mechanism to its limit, the chains binding the prisoner's neck and limbs rattled taut, suspending Lin Han spread-eagle against the wall.
"Speak."
Zhang Baishan led Zhou Gu to a bench near the entrance.
"Chief, several second-level prisoners have died these past months. Only five remain," Zhou Gu said cautiously.
Zhang Baishan's deep-set eyes flicked toward him. "So they die. Second level means no way out."
Anticipating this response, Zhou Gu pressed on: "Exactly - fewer mouths to feed. But with second level underpopulated, should we transfer some first-level slaves down?"
Zhang Baishan hesitated.
Yu Province bordered the mass graves. Despite institutions like Eternal Tower operating here, it remained remote and sparsely populated.
Death Prison never housed many inmates.
While jailers preferred smaller populations, fewer prisoners meant less supplemental income.
Transferring first-level prisoners to second would essentially write them off.
"Move the two useless ones from first level. Keep the cat-woman."
Zhou Gu lowered his voice: "Is it wise keeping the cat-woman on first level so long?"
From Zhou Gu's perspective, she belonged on fourth level. Yet she'd remained on first for two years.
"That's Officer Du's decision."
Zhou Gu immediately dropped the subject.
Though Du An outranked them by just one level, as prison officer he commanded absolute authority over appointments and dismissals from menial workers to jailers.
At most he'd file a report afterward - no one would question his decisions.
For Spirit Practitioners like them, losing one's Identity could be worse than death.
Like that cat-woman - once terrifying, now reduced to this pitiful state after being stripped of her Identity.
"I'll have Tree-Person B handle the transfers." Zhou Gu stood.
"Good." Zhang Baishan nodded. "But keep those cells available. Two new prisoners arrive soon."
"New prisoners?" Zhou Gu concealed his delight.
First level hadn't received new inmates in ages.
Second level was nearly empty.
Without fresh subjects, his supply would dry up.
"Just verbal notice so far. Official documents haven't arrived. Keep it quiet."
Zhou Gu nodded repeatedly before taking his leave.
When Li Ban next saw Zhou Gu, the man wore a faint smile, followed by a sullen Tree-Person B.
Spotting the tree-person, Li Ban immediately lowered his head.
"Li Ban, we're transferring two first-level prisoners down. Prepare two clean cells."
Zhou Gu tossed Li Ban the keys to all empty cells.
The news nearly made Li Ban drop the keyring.
"W-who's being transferred, sir?"
Having managed second level for months, Li Ban knew it was no place for the living.
No wonder they assigned second level to new menial workers.
If not for his mission, Li Ban would have quit long ago.
If those outside the cells suffered, imagine the prisoners inside?
Entering second level meant awaiting death.
Especially with the toxic gruel served every three days - Death Prison officials never intended prisoners to leave alive.
Not even their corpses could be accounted for.
If the cat-woman came down... Li Ban could no longer make promises of protection like before.
He could barely protect himself now.
Watching Zhou Gu and Tree-Person B ascend, Li Ban immediately began inspecting second-level cells.
He needed to find two relatively better ones.
Though he doubted the cat-woman would be among those transferred, he still prepared.
After surveying, he decided on Cells One and Ten.
These were farthest from occupied cells. Though dusty from disuse, they lacked crawling insects and stank less.
After hasty cleaning, Tree-Person B descended.
Its branches bound two prisoners, dangling them just enough to tiptoe along.
Seeing them, Li Ban's hurried movements slowed.
No cat-woman.
Expected... expected...
Ahem.
He opened both cells' small doors, indicating their new accommodations.
One prisoner was incoherent, the other too weak to resist - both went quietly into their cells.
Tree-Person B departed after delivering them, while Zhou Gu lingered to observe Li Ban's work.
When only they remained, Zhou Gu murmured, "Start with these two tomorrow."
Tomorrow they'd receive their first dose of toxic gruel - Zhou Gu meant to begin feeding them tongue eggs then.
Li Ban could only marvel at Zhou Gu's efficiency - no sooner had they identified success factors than he produced fresh victims.
After settling the prisoners, Li Ban went upstairs to check on the cat-woman.
He found her conversing with Gu Yueqi.
Noticing Li Ban, Gu Yueqi smiled wordlessly before descending.
The cat-woman, seated deep in her cell, rose when she saw Li Ban.
Her voice carried unusual gloom: "Next time, it'll be my turn to go down."
Li Ban hesitated. "Is there truly no escape from Death Prison?"
Her playful grin absent, she said flatly: "Other prisons might grant pardons. But Death Prison? Why do you think it's called that?"
Li Ban lowered his head, producing an iron hook from behind his back.
The very one he'd used to kill Lu.
"If that day comes... if you refuse second level... I always carry this."
The cat-woman gave a soft laugh.
The scene struck her as both ridiculous and touching.
This was the absolute limit of what a menial worker could offer.
She shook her head slowly. "If I choose death, I won't need your help."
Li Ban silently returned the hook. "Oh..."
"...But my promise stands, should that day come."