“Qin Yu, for your meritorious service in capturing criminals, solving major cases, and ensuring the safety of the capital’s citizens; for your bravery and strategic acumen, after joint review by the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Imperial Secretariat, you are hereby promoted to Warden of the Prison Department, holding the official rank of Fifth Grade!”

  After reading the decree, Chen Bo’an, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, hands the appointment order to Henwell.

  Everyone offers their congratutions.

  A Fifth Grade capital official, especially as head of a powerful department within the Court of Judicial Review, commands respect.

  Ordinary provincial officials returning to the capital often show deference to such figures.

  When capital officials are assigned to local posts, they usually receive a significant rank promotion.

  If Henwell is ter posted to the provinces, he could become a Third Grade official.

  So the crowd holds a certain respect for this man from the Western Regions.

  Henwell remains humble and, in the name of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, invites everyone to celebrate at Yan Jun Mansion.

  It’s been two months since the bait operation, and as the year-end approaches, the Court of Judicial Review finally establishes its own powerful department.

  Named the Prison Department, it holds certain w enforcement powers.

  The Court deploys this department mainly to pursue fugitives on wanted lists, but it has an even more important role.

  That is to arrest corrupt officials or members of influential families.

  In such cases, the Court must coordinate with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, or other strong agencies.

  Prisoners aren’t always held within the Court of Judicial Review, so the scope of authority in these cases is limited.

  The Prison Department is still in its infancy, and how far it can develop depends entirely on Henwell’s abilities.

  If he can build it into a force comparable to the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of War, the Minister of the Court promises to promote the Warden to Fourth Grade.

  Upon taking office, Henwell issues his first order: all locksmiths must report to the capital’s Court of Judicial Review before the New Year.

  Almost all the locksmiths have heard about the establishment of the Prison Department, and they’ve caught wind of a rumor, that the Warden is some barbarian from the Western Regions.

  Though they look down on him, curiosity drives them all to head toward the capital.

  These locksmiths aren’t ordinary folk; most are skilled fighters, traveling swiftly.

  By the time the twelfth lunar month arrives, nearly every registered locksmith has reached the capital.

  Henwell specifically rents several inns to provide food and lodging for them.

  On the eighth day of the twelfth month, the locksmiths gather at the Court of Judicial Review to attend the inauguration of the new department’s office. It’s also a kind of first official meeting for the Prison Department.

  After a few formal words from the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Henwell takes the stage.

  He scans the crowd, catching their curious, doubtful, and disdainful gnces. “You may not respect me now, but what I’m about to say will greatly affect your futures. Your fate might just change here today.”

  The crowd quiets down, and Henwell continues.

  “First, starting next year, the Prison Department will no longer provide a basic sary.”

  An uproar breaks out. Immediate protests follow.

  Though the base pay isn’t much, it’s still money.

  Everyone compins about the low amount but no one wants to lose that income altogether.

  Henwell shouts sharply, “Silence! Listen to me!”

  His voice thunders like a storm; some weaker locksmiths in the front row turn pale.

  They realize Henwell is serious and not to be underestimated.

  Once the room settles, Henwell goes on.

  “Second, there will be no more assigned tasks to pursue fugitives every year. I know you’re used to a free and easy life; I won’t force you to run errands like common borers. You can still take on wanted cases and earn rewards, and there will be additional benefits.”

  “Everyone here is a warrior, seeking to advance in martial arts, but you ck the resources and opportunities. The Prison Department will provide you with what you need, combat techniques, weapons and armor, cultivation pills...”

  Henwell signals, and his mute guards bring out three chests.

  “Inside are fine weapons, secret martial arts manuals, and healing and cultivation pills. As long as you earn merit, you can exchange it for whatever you want here. This is a benefit Lord Chen fought hard to secure for you all. Don’t let him down.”

  The locksmiths respond with a loud chorus of acknowledgment, many expressing their thanks to Chen Bo’an.

  Chen Bo’an is momentarily taken aback but quickly recovers, smiling and offering a few encouraging words.

  He did promise Henwell he’d secure some resources, but he knows there’s no way it’s as much as what’s id out before them.

  There’s only one expnation: Henwell must have paid out of his own pocket to provide these benefits.

  Privately giving perks to subordinates can be seen as a way to win loyalty on a small scale.

  On a rger scale, it borders on faction-building and favoritism.

  But Henwell is cunning, he outright cims these are arrangements made by the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

  He passes the goodwill up to his superior, while taking all the heat himself.

  Subordinates may curse him, but they won’t do so in a way that jeopardizes his rank.

  Leaders are different, they won’t openly criticize you, but if they dislike you, your future is over.

  What a perfect subordinate!

  Chen Bo’an finds himself increasingly impressed by Henwell, believing that he might actually succeed in expanding the Prison Department.

  Next, Henwell delivers an even bigger announcement: “From now on, every year, each locksmith will receive Essence Cultivation Pills. Iron Locksmiths get two pills, Copper Locksmiths five, Silver Locksmiths ten, and Gold Locksmiths twenty.”

  ”These will be distributed at the Prison Department headquarters, with year-end settlements. Iron Locksmiths and above can even draw an advance, up to half their annual quota.”

  The crowd freezes in pce. Essence Cultivation Pills are essential supplements for martial training.

  Each pill costs ten gold coins and requires special channels to obtain, these are tightly controlled resources of the dynasty, not avaible on the market.

  For Second Rank Martial Warriors, this benefit is somewhat ordinary, but for Entry Rank or soon-to-be Entry Rank Martial Warriors, these pills are vital for their cultivation.

  Amid the excited gazes, Henwell continues, “Next year, you’ll have a full year to solidify your foundations and train hard. Starting the year after next, assessments will begin. Copper Locksmiths must be at least Entry Rank Martial Warriors.”

  Then Henwell expins the organizational structure and authority within the Prison Department.

  Below the Warden are five Soul Locksmiths, followed by locksmiths of various grades.

  Except for the five Soul Locksmiths and Henwell himself, the other locksmiths have rank distinctions but no hierarchical command over one another.

  Even Gold Locksmiths have no authority to command others, not even to direct locksmiths when carrying out tasks.

  This remains a semi-loose organization, with only a few key management figures.

  Among them, including Lian Kai—the one who previously cshed with Henwell in the prison, there are five Second Rank Martial Warriors appointed as Soul Locksmiths, each holding a rank equivalent to Sixth Grade officials.

  Of these five, only Lian Kai and two others are casual locksmiths.

  The remaining two Soul Locksmiths are pced by two junior ministers of the Court of Judicial Review.

  With this, the entire department is set up. Now it all depends on whether Henwell’s strategies will succeed.