Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 106 South Checkpoint, Intelligence Gathering!
They realized that Towns' mental state might not be normal.

This obsessive system of thought, clearly driven by personal biases, was completely disregarded by Cheng Ye.

As I said before, don't look at what a person says, look at what they do.

For Happiness City, the extraordinary individuals are essentially its trump card of military power.

As long as this trump card doesn't cause Sanctuary City to stagnate or even regress, it will always be a positive support.

Towns only focuses on the so-called shackles, selectively ignoring these most basic realities.

However, upon closer examination, it makes sense. Attributing all misfortunes to external constraints is much easier than admitting one's inability to change the status quo.

Having worked in the same position for 31 years, witnessed the rise and fall of the checkpoint, and achieved little of note in most of one's life, one's ideals have been worn down and one's spirit exhausted. It is indeed easy to get stuck in a rut and go to extremes.

"Just consider this as listening to the complaints of a disheartened old man. If you really want to do great things, you still have to train your own people."

Pulling himself out of his reverie, Cheng Ye continued tapping on the Defense Connect app, browsing the remaining equipment and medical resources in the contribution system.

As he expected, the equipment was no longer rented, but purchased outright.

Once the redemption is confirmed, the items will be directly transferred to the individual's ownership and will not need to be returned.

Scrolling down, the interface loads much faster than the vehicle category. Rows of weapon and equipment icons are neatly arranged, ranging from self-defense weapons to firearms and ammunition, and even the high-explosive shells left by Uncle Dong are here. The categories are quite complete.

But after a few glances, Cheng Ye realized that compared to the cost-effectiveness of renting vehicles, the purchase price of these equipment was really not worthwhile.

For example, a Bison combat pistol requires 5 contribution points.

Based on a 10:1 ratio, 50 contribution points are twice as expensive as those at the material collection and sales office.

For example, the Thunderbolt 1 game he bought requires 35 contribution points.

Although there were no restrictions on purchasing privileges, the value was roughly three times higher after being converted to points.

"Interesting. Is it that the higher-ups aren't offering discounts on equipment for checkpoints, or is the cost of purchasing the equipment simply what it is?"

Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow and continued scrolling down, discovering that the heavier the weapon, the more obvious the premium.

Moving on to the medical field, the starting price of various treatment drugs is very high.

A broad-spectrum antibiotic costs 10 points, a small box of quick-healing gel is priced at 50 points, and the prices of special medicines with words like "vitamin" or "emergency" are enough to make you gasp.

Judging from the names alone, Cheng Ye could not tell how effective these drugs were, and could only wait for Liu Bi to return before asking him.

But one thing is certain: the 559 points he earned today are definitely a substantial sum of money.

If used properly, it could probably achieve the effect of nearly 10,000 points of material collection and sales points.

"Looking at it this way, I'm really lucky; I even managed to stumble upon some extraordinary minerals."

Cheng Ye put away the defense communication device.

After the checkpoint reopened, a temporary goods collection and sales point was set up at the entrance to handle the large flow of people and to collect all kinds of goods.

Yesterday alone, the supplies he registered generated at least 500 contribution points, which, based on a 30% commission, would amount to about 150 points.

However, this good thing is hard to sustain, as it is the result of a concentrated burst of demand that had been pent up for seven days.

He has already profited from the first concentrated wave, and his subsequent earnings will inevitably decline.

In addition, the checkpoint is about to reach its peak of infection, and the danger in Quarantine Zone A is rapidly increasing.

Switching to Zone B now is a good thing, as the probability of encountering ferocious infected will be greatly reduced.

After all, scavengers have limited physical strength and won't venture into dangerous places. They mostly stay around safe zones, so the probability of encountering a powerful source of infection is extremely low.

"Prosecutor Cheng."

As Cheng Ye was thinking, Miao Yang came over after washing his hands.

Wang Kang had finished his fist and foot training and was practicing shooting accuracy on his own.

"I think it's best to stop training for now; his recovery ability should be at its limit."

"Body or mind?"

“Both, but more of it is mental exhaustion,” Miao Yang said, looking at Wang Kang who was still gritting his teeth and persevering at the shooting range. “Today he was on duty and doing high-intensity training. He’s on the verge of snapping. If he continues under such pressure, it will easily backfire and be counterproductive.”

"Alright, let him rest for two days."

Cheng Ye nodded in agreement.

Compared to the special training Liu Bi arranged for himself back then, the training intensity given to Wang Kang now is probably less than half of that.

But people can't be compared. The pressure he can withstand doesn't mean Wang Kang can handle it.

"Shall we practice?"

"I'm not practicing anymore. I'm tired from today's duty, I need to rest properly."

Cheng Ye smiled and waved his hand.

In the short period after he gained his power, he was keen on sparring and always wanted to test how much harder his fists had become and how much faster they had become.

But once the initial excitement wore off, and he actually experienced life and death a few times, developing a bloodthirsty nature, he found it difficult to muster the interest to take action again.

"It seems you have fully entered the stage of concealing your power within your body."

Miao Yang chuckled twice, "At this stage, the killing instinct will be subconsciously suppressed, and the person will look more peaceful, like a completely different person."

Cheng Ye twitched the corner of his mouth, not denying it.

“But there’s one thing I have to remind you,” Miao Yang said, his tone becoming more serious. “The suppressed killing intent hasn’t disappeared; it’s just accumulating underneath, like a suppressed volcano. It may seem calm on the surface, but once something completely ignites it, the force will only be more intense than before, and it will be easier to lose control.”

"So, occasionally finding someone to spar with and release these emotions in a measured way can actually help buffer the tension and prevent you from hurting yourself when things really explode."

Cheng Ye remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay, I'll ask you for advice once I'm done with this busy period."

"Then it's settled. Otherwise, after a while, I'm afraid I really won't be a match for you."

"Hey, what are you saying?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar rang out outside the training ground, the dull thud making everyone's eardrums vibrate.

That familiar sense of oppression instantly swept over me, just like that afternoon when the Stand starfish exploded.

Snapped.

Snapped.

Large raindrops followed, starting as a few sparse drops and quickly turning into a dense curtain of rain, pounding hard against the tin roof of the training ground with a crackling sound.

It's raining again.

The moderate rain that lasted all night plunged the buffer zone into the familiar flooding once again.

The next morning.

Cheng Ye put on a raincoat and went downstairs. Fortunately, the tenement building was not flooded today; the water only reached his ankles.

Wearing rain boots, you can walk out with one foot deep and one foot shallow.

Pedestrians hurried along the street, all with their heads down, wearing colorful raincoats, like a group of silent, moving blocks of color.

However, as Cheng Ye walked towards the outskirts of the city, he saw many new faces under the eaves of houses along the road.

Why are they called new faces?

Because these people did not have the deathly stillness that comes with experiencing an outbreak of infection, nor the numbness that is common among long-time residents of the buffer zone.

Everyone's face radiated a raw, vibrant energy, filled with curiosity about the new world and a subtle anticipation of starting a new life.

Especially under the disaster relief tents by the roadside, after queuing to receive free nutrient solution, one could actually hear bursts of laughter and cheerful voices, which were particularly eye-catching on this gloomy rainy day.

After the checkpoint reopened, the addition of these new people was like injecting a trickle of water into a stagnant pool.

It brings not only population, but also a long-lost sense of vitality.

Cheng Ye tugged at the collar of his raincoat to block the raindrops blowing in his face, and his steps unconsciously became lighter.

Everything seems to be getting better, and the buffer zone will soon usher in a new round of development.

Perhaps in just a few days, this place will become the familiar place he knows again.

We arrived at the bus stop.

Master Tian's bus only runs to the North Checkpoint, but unexpectedly, Cheng Ye ran into an acquaintance again.

Master Zhang!
"Oh, Prosecutor Cheng, what brings you here?"

When Mr. Zhang saw him through the rain, he didn't even bother to put on his raincoat. He jumped out of the driver's seat with a genuine smile on his face.

"I'm on duty at the South checkpoint this week. Is this the route you're on?"

"Yes!" Master Zhang nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with excitement. "I was just transferred here at the beginning of the year. Every day, I work the early shift from the city to the South Checkpoint, and the late shift from the South Checkpoint back to the city!"

"What a coincidence." Cheng Ye stepped into the car, but the carriage was empty, without a single person in sight.

"Have any people migrated in the last couple of days?" he asked casually.

"Yes, there are. There are three to five hundred people a day."

Mr. Zhang got into the car and closed the door behind him, shutting out the wind and rain. "But with such heavy rain, no one would dare to go. The most dangerous times in the wilderness are rainy days and winter."

After saying that, he sat in the driver's seat and rubbed his hand on his thigh.

He seemed a little embarrassed, yet also very serious: "Prosecutor Cheng, I really have to thank you."

"They moved to Sector B-7?"

"We've moved! We've moved!" Mr. Zhang nodded hurriedly, his voice full of gratitude. "As soon as Brother Dalong heard that I was introduced by you, he arranged a place for our family to stay that very day. It's so much better than the C-11 area where I used to live. I could always hear the sounds of smashing and looting there at night. Now the streets of B-7 are very clean, and I can't see a single thug. I can sleep soundly!" "That's good. Order will be restored step by step."

Cheng Ye nodded slightly, "Let's go, I'll charter a car."

"okay."

Mr. Zhang agreed, lightly pressed the accelerator, and the bus slowly drove away from the station. The wheels rolled over the puddles, splashing up two arcs of water.

During his week in the hospital, Cheng Ye made several trips back and forth, and gradually became more familiar with the terrain.

Compared to the route to the North Station, this route is much more down-to-earth. After passing the Library Station, the rest of the way is mostly low-rise shantytowns. The roofs made of plastic sheeting and corrugated iron gleam in the rain. Although it looks messy, the flow of people is much denser than that of the North Station area.

Occasionally, you can see people without raincoats moving between the sheds, or squatting in groups of three or five under the eaves chatting.

The latest round of construction in the buffer zone is mostly concentrated in the southern suburbs.

Along the way, you can see several large buildings whose foundations have already been laid, their steel frames standing out in the rain and mist, like lurking steel behemoths.

The construction site was temporarily shut down due to the rain, and it looked rather deserted.

At the same time, newlyweds usually settle down in the southern suburbs as their first stop.

The colorful tents were pitched on high ground, numbering in the hundreds or even thousands, exuding a strong sense of human presence.

Soon, the bus stopped at the last stop on the southern route.

Cheng Ye took out ten coins and inserted them into the coin slot. He got off the bus through the front door and looked up at the South Checkpoint ahead.

In terms of overall scale, the two stations, north and south, are basically the same, both being equally large and well-organized.

However, there are some subtle differences in the specific construction details.

For example, the North Station clearly divides the entrance into three passages: left, middle, and right. The left side is for staff, the middle is for vehicles, and the right side is for residents.

The South Station, on the other hand, resembles a large gate of an ancient city, with only one wide entrance at the front.

Upon seeing Cheng Ye stride towards them, the guards on duty at the gate immediately brightened up and quickly came to greet him.

His shoulders, beneath the raincoat, were slightly tense, conveying obvious respect: "Prosecutor Cheng, you've arrived!"

“Hmm,” Cheng Ye nodded, “I’m here to report for duty today, and I don’t know which way to go.”

"Please wait a moment, I will call a staff member to come out and take you to complete the registration."

Compared to the lack of attention I received when heading to the North Station, the experience at the South Station was immediately much better.

Cheng Ye turned his head and glanced around without making a sound. He noticed that every guard who met his gaze would unconsciously smile, their eyes filled with flattery and awe.

Is it for Liu Bi's sake?

Or is it Jackie Chan?

Or perhaps it was a change in his status that brought him to the forefront, pushed by Ding Yishan?

Perhaps, all three are involved.

Before he could think it through, less than half a minute later, two staff members in blue uniforms rushed out of the doorway.

"Prosecutor Cheng, we apologize for keeping you waiting! Please come with us. The station chief specifically instructed that we would take you directly to the office as soon as you arrive."

"Thank you."

Cheng Ye nodded slightly and followed the two into the South Checkpoint.

Passing through the wide doorway, the interior layout suddenly opens up.

The South Station reduced the size of Zones E and F, creating a spacious main passageway between the two zones.

Whether it's residents going out, vehicles, or people returning to the city, everyone uses this passage to enter and exit.

Isolation doors are installed on both sides of the passage.

The staff swiped the card to open the door, and once inside, it wasn't much different from Zone E of the North Station.

The buildings, varying in height, are scattered throughout the area, with the five-story stationmaster's building being the most eye-catching.

As they led Cheng Ye downstairs, the staff stopped. "Prosecutor Cheng, the station chief is waiting for you in his office on the fifth floor. We'll go and process your duty permits first. You want to work in Zone B, right?"

"Yes, it's troublesome."

Cheng Ye responded, took out his prosecutor's badge from his pocket, and handed it over.

Then, he took off his raincoat, shook off the water droplets, and hung it on the special storage rack at the entrance of the building.

Upon reaching the fifth floor, the office door at the end of the corridor was ajar. Cheng Ye raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Enter."

A slightly hoarse, deep male voice came from inside the door, carrying a calm and composed air of someone who had long held a high position.

As Cheng Ye pushed open the door and walked in, the first thing that caught his eye was the simple, almost austere, furnishings.

Completely opposite to Towns, this old man who knows how to enjoy life.

The outer office area contained only a large solid wood table with a defense communication device and several stacks of documents on it; there was nothing else on the table, not even a decorative potted plant.

A row of metal cabinets, reaching to the ceiling, stood against the wall, with at least forty cabinet doors lined up in a row. Each cabinet door had a label written in black marker, the handwriting strong and conveying a sense of meticulousness.

Inside the office area, a frosted glass partition separates the reception area, where a set of dark gray fabric sofas is placed, and a set of ordinary ceramic tea set is on the coffee table. The water in the kettle seems to have just boiled, and it is emitting wisps of steam.

The entire office exudes a pragmatic and efficient feel, without any pretense.

"Cheng Ye, this is our first meeting."

Lei Hu has a typical square face, with several shallow scars on the corner of his left eye, and deep wrinkles when he smiles.

He stood up and was actually a head taller than Liu Bi, at least 2.05 meters tall. He was upright and exuded a strong and masculine air, even when he was just standing casually.

"Station Chief Lei, please give me your guidance."

"Don't be so polite, have a seat." Lei Hu gestured to the sofa in the living room, then walked over first, picked up the kettle, and poured water into a teacup. "I heard you were just transferred from the North Station? Did that old guy Towns give you any trouble?"

The question was direct yet carried a strange familiarity. Cheng Ye paused slightly as he sat down, then smiled faintly: "Station Chief Lei is joking. Station Chief Tang Si is a very nice person."

"Pretty good?" Lei Hu chuckled and pushed a cup of hot tea in front of him. "There aren't that many twists and turns at the South Station. I only recognize ability. If you have the ability, I'll reward you."

"As an intern, I am quite satisfied with your abilities. So, you can make a request or ask a question now. I will set goals for you in the future. Once you complete one, you can come here directly to discuss the terms with me."

Come again?

Cheng Ye's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. He pretended to be deep in thought, but actually opened the panel and glanced at it.

[Thunder Tiger, 47%, Searchable range: Intelligence, Items]

"so tall?"

It's quite surprising to get this score on our first meeting.

Glancing at the energy level in the upper right corner, which had recovered to 52%, Cheng Ye paused for a moment and decided to search for information.

According to Luo Xiaoxue, Lei Hu and Cheng Long had a decent relationship and cooperated well at work, but they didn't have any personal connections.

And often, these people who seem to have a good relationship are the ones who turn out to be the most ruthless.

A barely perceptible streak of light flashed across the edge of his vision; this was Cheng Ye's first attempt to search for intelligence.

After the last update, the collector added a targeted search function.

He silently repeated "related to me" to himself, while blurry lines of text flashed across the panel.

Unlike skills, intelligence has no success rate; as long as you invest energy, you will get the result.

Suddenly, the surrounding light went out.

Cheng Ye suddenly realized that his perspective had detached from his body, as if he had put on VR glasses and entered a fragment of another time and space.

He was in the same office, but instead of him and Lei Hu, Lei Hu was sitting on the sofa with a strange man.

When facing that man, Lei Hu's face no longer showed any of the toughness he had shown earlier.
His eyes and brows were filled with an almost humble respect, his posture just like that of the guard at the gate when he saw him.

What kind of person could inspire such awe in a station chief?
Cheng Ye was in a daze when he heard the stranger speak, "The higher-ups have been keeping a close eye on us lately. I've already locked onto a target. This time, we need to disguise ourselves and sneak in and out without letting anyone notice."

"Director Liu, rest assured, I will personally arrange everything to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Director Liu?
Cheng Ye's heart trembled violently, then he was suddenly startled. Was this the extraordinary person who had come out of the checkpoint, Liu Kun?

He tried to adjust his field of vision, and in a flash, he saw Liu Kun's face.

He was chubby, with a slightly plump face, and even looked a bit like Uncle Dong, except that his eyebrows and brows made him look younger and sharper.

"The items will come in through Exit D. I will arrange for someone to hand them over."

"You enter through Entrance B. There are two trainees over there, neither of whom have seen you before."

"Two trainees?" Liu Kun was taken aback. "Are you sending two trainees to guard a checkpoint at this time?"

"It's Cheng Ye, Cheng Long's son, and the other is Wang Cheng's son, Wang Kang. They were all arranged by Station Chief Ding."

"Is it?"

Liu Kun nodded. "Then it's settled. I'll set off the day after tomorrow, or the day after that!"

The words fell.

The image shattered completely at that moment, and the darkened light returned.

Cheng Ye snapped back to reality and realized he was still sitting on the sofa in the living room, and Lei Hu's voice seemed to have just faded away.

Looking up, Lei Hu remained in the same posture as before, without any change, as if what he had just witnessed had no impact on real time.

"Hmm, have you thought it through?"

　P.S.: My tooth has been hurting for two days. I might have to go to the hospital tomorrow morning. They suspect it's an inflamed wisdom tooth. Waaaa~ This thing really hurts like hell!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)