Nangong He returns to the capital and receives praise from the officials.

  “Ending the rebellion without a single drop of bloodshed.”

  “Bravely entering enemy territory to persuade the rebel leader.”

  “With heartfelt sincerity and personal charm, he finally wins over the enemy chief.”

  Nangong He is pleased, having spent the entire morning basking in the emperor’s compliments.

  Benjamin is appointed by the court as the Governor of Zhin Prefecture, managing one-third of the prefecture’s territory.

  He retains thirty thousand troops, now officially part of Zhin Prefecture’s militia.

  The court’s pn is to wait until Benjamin’s forces are corrupted by wealth and luxury before coming down hard on him.

  Of course, not everyone supports this amnesty.

  Zhang Che and Liu Mang are the most vocal opponents, warning that this is like raising a beast to cause trouble. They insist this rebellion is no ordinary affair and must be crushed decisively.

  Zhang Che even accuses Nangong He of betraying the nation’s interests.

  Nangong He is so furious that if he weren’t in the court, he might have struck Zhang Che on the spot.

  Still, the court values such upright and outspoken officials, especially when they are talented and responsible young men.

  The emperor himself doesn’t dislike Zhang Che but ultimately rejects his proposal.

  Afterward, Zhang Che’s official position is promoted to fifth rank.

  Henwell also earns merit on this trip. His position remains Warden of the Prison Department in the Court of Judicial Review, but his rank rises to fourth rank.

  He becomes a senior official in the criminal w sector, gaining the chance to participate in court discussions.

  When Henwell attends court for the first time, he attracts much attention. After all, his appearance is different.

  Even Emperor Nangong Hao calls Henwell forward, marveling at his tall stature.

  Nangong Hao says, “Having a foreign hero serve our empire is truly a sign of its revival!”

  In a good mood, the emperor rewards Henwell generously and grants him the right to move about the pace.

  Of course, this doesn’t mean Henwell can wander freely anytime he pleases; rather, he now has the privilege to report directly to the emperor and request an audience.

  Compared to Nangong He’s joy, Lucy feels a deep mencholy.

  She has already realized that Benjamin is very likely the chat group’s member she sought out.

  She even suspects that it is Benjamin, and of course, she understands the kind of scheme he’s pying.

  She knows all too well that her lover has fallen into a trap.

  But she cannot warn Nangong He in any way. Just as she tries to hint subtly, she receives a stern warning from the group chat.

  This sudden turn of events leaves Lucy unable to eat or sleep, and within a few days, she visibly grows thin and worn.

  The warning also reveals an even more serious problem.

  It means the path she chose is wrong. At least it doesn’t align as well with the pn arranged by Henwell and the others, which better fits the higher-ups’ intentions.

  This is frightening because it implies all her efforts have deviated from the main storyline, effectively negating over a decade of her careful plotting.

  After receiving news that Zhin Prefecture is fully pacified, Nangong He holds a grand banquet to showcase his achievements.

  Henwell and Zhang Che both refuse to attend, simply unable to stomach the man.

  By the twelfth lunar month, the Locksmiths of the Prison Department gather again at the Court of Judicial Review, awaiting their annual benefits.

  After two years of development, the Prison Department has grown rapidly.

  There are now seven Gold Locksmiths, three of whom directly came from Second Rank Martial Warriors.

  Among the five Soul Locksmiths, three have become Third Rank Martial Warriors. The Court of Judicial Review finally boasts its own mid-to-high tier combat force.

  As for the Locksmiths, all Copper Locksmiths are Entry Rank Martial Warriors, though their numbers are not rge, only about two hundred ninety currently.

  Including Silver Locksmiths, the Prison Department has over three hundred fifty Entry Rank warriors.

  There are also twenty-seven Second Rank warriors and three Third Rank warriors.

  Henwell himself, of course, is not counted among them.

  In a few more years, the entire Prison Department might rival the powerful departments of other agencies.

  The framework is in pce, the situation stabilized; now it’s just a matter of slowly accumuting resources.

  Over the past two years, the Court of Judicial Review has performed well, and the Ministry of Revenue has increased its budget accordingly.

  Henwell has also rehired many outstanding Locksmiths who retired due to injury or illness, experts in tracking down fugitives and solving cases.

  Now, Henwell calls them back to the Prison Department and provides them with saries.

  On one hand, this shows the lower ranks that the Prison Department takes care of its own, even those who can no longer fight.

  On the other hand, the experience of these veteran Locksmiths is invaluable.

  Henwell has begun compiling their case-handling knowledge into manuals to train the junior Locksmiths.

  One day, through an introduction, a blind old Locksmith comes to see Henwell.

  At first, when the man steps in, Henwell doesn’t think there’s anything unusual about him.

  But then the blind Locksmith looks around anxiously, asking where Henwell is.

  He can distinguish everyone else in the room and even pinpoint their locations, yet he can’t detect Henwell at all.

  Even when Henwell speaks, the blind man only roughly senses his direction but can never pinpoint his exact position.

  For everyone else present, even those Third Rank Martial Warriors, the blind Locksmith can accurately toss dried fruit right into their hands.

  Curious, Henwell watches for a moment before slowly removing the Will Lock that conceals him.

  The blind Locksmith is so shocked he colpses to the ground. According to him, Henwell suddenly appeared within his sensing range just now.

  Interesting!

  After observing a bit more, Henwell figures out what makes this man special.

  The so-called superhuman sense of smell and hearing is clearly not accurate.

  Instead, this blind Locksmith possesses a unique ability to perceive people’s presence through spiritual power, sensing their aura and even fluctuations in their soul.

  If this were Henwell’s territory, this man would be a prime candidate for a spellcaster!

  Unfortunately, the current professional system here is not friendly to the disabled.

  Physical impairments mean a damaged innate constitution, making it extremely difficult to comprehend the Qi.

  Next, the blind Locksmith reports an intriguing case to Henwell.

  A gang specializing in abducting and maiming children is operating, cruelly harming kids and engaging in human trafficking.

  Henwell has always despised crimes that damage the foundation of the empire and waste human resources so despicably.

  So, he’s ready to take down a few of these scoundrels as a way to celebrate the new year.

  But when Henwell asks about the mastermind behind it all, the blind Locksmith falls silent.

  Henwell smiles and says, “You’re worried I won’t dare to get involved, or worse, that I’ll sell you out to the high officials behind the scenes.”

  The blind Locksmith replies, “Sir, I’m not afraid to die. But everyone who knows the truth is already dead. I’m the only one left who knows what really happened. I carry all their hatred. If I die, their deaths will be as silent and forgotten as dust.”

  Henwell nods gently. “I understand now. I promise you, no matter who the mastermind is, they will die.”

  Seeing the blind Locksmith still hesitant, Henwell sighs. “Ah, it seems you still doubt my ability to handle this case. Fine! Today, I swear that I’m not bluffing. Except for one woman, I will pursue whoever is behind this to the very end.”

  The old blind man freezes on the spot. After a long pause, he slowly kneels, crying out in sorrow, “Please, sir, act for the people!”

  Everyone thinks the blind Locksmith is convinced by Henwell’s promise, but that’s not the whole truth.

  Just moments ago, Henwell completely removed the Will Lock on himself, revealing his soul and spirit to the blind Locksmith.

  Though he cannot see, the old man feels a strange, piercing sensation, almost like a dazzling light.

  Only then does the blind Locksmith realize that Henwell’s power far exceeds anything he had imagined.