Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 118 The Other Side of the Coin: Wishing for Extraordinary Success!
Taking advantage of the last few minutes before fully charging, Cheng Ye quickly walked towards the restroom next to the lounge.

I turned on the tap and splashed cold water on my face with my hands.

The tap water, after the sharp drop in temperature, was bone-chillingly cold, probably only a few degrees Celsius.

It felt like countless fine needles gently pricking my skin, instantly dispelling any lingering drowsiness and even easing the soreness in my temples, leaving me feeling refreshed and energized.

"After learning martial arts, my energy recovery speed is getting faster and faster."

Cheng Ye looked up at the mirror covered with a thin layer of frost, his fingertips brushing against the corner of his eye. "I only slept for less than four hours last night, but it was more effective than sleeping for seven or eight hours before I transmigrated."

The person in the mirror still had slightly bloodshot eyes, but there was almost no sign of fatigue on their face. Their jawline was taut, and the sharpness between their brows remained.

This is the benefit of deep sleep.

Unlike modern society, where many people get enough sleep but still feel groggy and restless due to fragmented dreams, in this way, we don't have to worry about sleep.

"It should also be a benefit brought by the Wild Grass Physique."

Cheng Ye twitched the corners of his mouth at the mirror, secretly delighted.

The bonuses brought by the Lv3 physique talent are simply beyond imagination. Not only does it increase strength and reaction speed, but it also increases the efficiency of energy absorption and even doubles sleep efficiency, as if the body has been switched to a highly efficient exercise mode.

I wonder if I'll ever be able to skip sleeping if I find Lv5 or even higher levels of physical talent in the future?
Just like those special mutated beasts, they can restore their physical strength and energy by basking in the sun!
When I got back to the bus after washing my face, it was exactly seven o'clock.

After the charging station stops, bring up the pendant, and the battery level in the upper right corner of the panel will be restored to 100%.

"I'll only feel at ease using my own power lines once the factory on the pedestrian street is built. Otherwise, I'll be on tenterhooks every day charging my phone, afraid of being caught red-handed."

Cheng Ye put the charging gun back in its place, swiped his finger across the charging station's control screen, and raised an eyebrow as he looked at the fluctuating temperature readings.

I recharged twice in one night, gaining a total of over 700 kWh. This was definitely the most enjoyable charging experience since I time-traveled here.

However, in terms of risk, it is much less than charging at home or stealing electricity from other places.

He had been discovered before, and he had no ability to explain himself.

Now it's different. As long as the problem isn't discovered and investigated on the spot, even if someone has doubts about the charging level last night, they can easily blame it on the fog.

As for a strict investigation, it won't be necessary; it's only 700 degrees Celsius.

Engineering vehicles often have large batteries with a capacity of 500 kilowatt-hours, and it is common for them to consume thousands of kilowatt-hours when running continuously all day.

As long as he doesn't come to charge 700 degrees every day, even if the system occasionally detects something amiss, it's impossible to summon him for a strict investigation.

There's a high chance that the investigation will eventually fizzle out.

If you're unlikely to ask him about it, just give him a plausible explanation.

Moreover, this is a time lag issue, and it will definitely take a lot of time to investigate the problems here.

Once all the procedures are completed, his strength and status may rise to another level.

By then, let alone 700 degrees of electricity, even if it were more, it would be easier to explain.

"Sir, you're awake!"

Hearing the noise, Da Long suddenly poked his head out and saw Cheng Ye standing next to the charging station. He immediately patted the few young men next to him in a flurry of activity.

Everyone sprang to their feet like springs, standing straight in just over ten seconds, their eyes clear and bright, showing no signs of grogginess from just waking up.

Cheng Ye nodded secretly as he watched.

No wonder he came from the pioneering corps; even after so many years of retirement, he hasn't lost his reaction speed and discipline.

"I have to go to the South Checkpoint for duty later, I don't have time to deal with these things."

Cheng Ye took out the key to Uncle Dong's shop from his backpack.

He didn't have time to go back and transport the salted fish and rice in, but luckily Da Long did it for him.

Da Long quickly took the key: "What do you need?"

"Go find someone to waterproof the shop first." Cheng Ye pointed to the supplies piled up next to the truck and gave clear instructions. "Go directly to Engineer Liu and tell him it was my idea. Have him bring the construction team over today. The focus is on the basement. We must ensure that it won't flood even in a heavy rain. Don't skimp on the materials; put it all on my tab."

"The trash inside has been cleaned up, and the damaged cabinets have been dismantled."

He paused, then added, "Have the workers write down what the inside looks like first, then find new materials to build a new set of cabinets, trying to preserve the original layout of the shop as much as possible. I'll need it."

"And these salted fish, rice, flour and oil, store them in the community for now, and you can find someone to move them in after the waterproofing is done."

Cheng Ye thought for a moment, "It should be finished by the afternoon. I'll go check on it tonight."

"Don't worry, sir!"

Da Long thumped his chest loudly, "I can't help you with other things, but you can rest assured to leave this small matter to Da Long. I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly without any problems!"

Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhang, who was standing nearby, also chimed in: "Inspector Cheng, I know this cabinet well. I used to work in a carpentry team. After we clear out the trash, I'll draw up a diagram. I guarantee it will be exactly the same as the original, and even sturdier!"

"That's good. With your help, I can finally relax."

Cheng Ye was satisfied.

A hero needs three helpers; having reliable and hardworking people under you makes things much smoother.

Now he simply has reliable manpower in the buffer zone.

In the future, I will have to cultivate my own trusted confidants in the checkpoints, just like Li Changfeng did in Zone B4. Otherwise, I will have to run around personally for all matters, big and small, and I won't have the energy to think about more important things.

"I go first."

Cheng Ye picked up his backpack, not letting Master Zhang and the others arrange to drive him to the South Checkpoint.

First, having salted fish tied to the roof of the car is too conspicuous, especially in broad daylight.

Secondly, the most important thing is to move this pile of supplies to a safe place as soon as possible. The Public Works Department parking lot is crowded and noisy, and if it gets gossiped about by busybodies, it will inevitably cause trouble.

Moreover, the Public Works Department is located right next to the South Station, and the bus stop is just a few steps away when you turn left after exiting the station.

After waiting on the platform for only a few minutes, a dirty bus wobbled along.

The car door creaked open, and Cheng Ye stepped forward, took out his defense communication device, and glanced at it.

Seven-fifteen.

If I rush over now, I'll definitely be late.

According to the checkpoint's rules, being late will result in a deduction from wages, and before receiving the evaluation form, one might be singled out for criticism because of this.

But things are different now. With all nine evaluation forms in hand, minor issues like being late or leaving early won't matter much, as long as it's not too outrageous.

Besides, there was a reason why I spent the whole night at Xin Huo, so I think Lei Hu would understand even if he knew.

By the time the bus arrived at the South Checkpoint, it was already 7:40, with only 20 minutes left before the gates opened.

Due to the fog, fewer people left the city today than yesterday, but long queues still formed at the checkpoints.

Moreover, there is a noticeable change: almost all of these scavengers preparing to leave the city are carrying backpacks, and many of them have more than a dozen bags of nutrient solution hanging on the outside of their bags, clearly indicating that they plan to take a long trip.

"Are you planning to go out and try your luck at finding a fog cave?"

Cheng Ye understood perfectly.

In the unknown brought by the fog, some people always feel that there are hidden opportunities, but the speed of this event still exceeded his expectations.

In his opinion, scavengers need at least three to five days of preparation and mental preparation before daring to step out of the sheltered city.

But these people made their decision in just one night, showing far more audacity than he had imagined.

"Hopefully, no special infected creature will jump out of the fog hole."

Cheng Ye muttered to himself, just about to swipe his defense card to open the isolation door, when he turned his head and his gaze suddenly fixed on a scavenger queuing to leave the city.

Is it an illusion?
He frowned, calmly put down his backpack, and placed his right hand on the Bison combat pistol at his waist.

The guards at the door noticed his tense appearance and two of them quickly walked over.

"Prosecutor Cheng?"

"Go stop that man and make him turn around and face me."

Cheng Ye raised his hand and pointed to a scavenger in the crowd carrying a dark gray patched backpack, his expression solemn.

He couldn't see the other person's face, but the backpack gave him a strong sense of déjà vu.

His memory was remarkably good, and he found the source of the backpack almost immediately.

last night.

The torch.

The man at the checkpoint who was giving him a greedy look was carrying the same style of backpack, and even the location of the worn patches on the side seemed to be exactly the same.

"Yes?" The guard didn't dare to be negligent, and his expression instantly turned serious.

"I don't know, call someone."

Cheng Ye shook his head slightly, but it was better to believe it was true than to take it lightly.

The guards immediately understood, and one of them turned around and ran to call for help.

A moment later, four guards rushed over, and in the distance, four more men in a guard post set up their guns, the dark muzzles of which were pointed at the group, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.

"You, stop! I'm talking to you, keep going!"

A guard shouted sternly. The scavengers in line were so frightened that they quickly moved aside, leaving only the man whose name was called standing there, frozen in place as if under a spell.

"Turn around! You were trying to sneak out of the city using someone else's identity, weren't you?"

The guard deliberately made up an excuse and sternly forced the man to turn around.

Cheng Ye's hand was already gripping the gun handle. As long as he confirmed it was the same person from last night, he would pull the trigger without hesitation.

But no!

The person who turned around was a middle-aged man with a dark complexion. His eyes were full of confusion, without any greed or malice, only bewilderment at being suddenly targeted.

"Big, my lord."

The man's voice trembled, his palms were sweaty, and he subconsciously wiped them on his trouser leg, causing the backpack strap to slip off his shoulder.

The guard, with a cold expression, did not immediately ask Cheng Ye if he had mistaken the man for someone else, but instead led the man out of the line first.

After the person was escorted to the isolation room in the corner, a guard quickly walked back to Cheng Ye's side: "Prosecutor Cheng, what do you need our cooperation with?"

"Well"

Cheng Ye hesitated for a moment, then said, "Go and bring me his backpack. Let's see what's inside."

"Yes!"

It might not be the same person, but Cheng Ye chose to trust his intuition and his memory.

The guard quickly opened the backpack and dumped its contents onto the metal table in the isolation room: more than ten bags of nutrient solution, four bottles of water, a roll of wire, two boxes of ammunition, and a folding entrenching tool—all standard equipment for scavengers, with nothing unusual about it.

Could it be that such coincidences really exist in this world?
"Go ask him where this backpack came from, specifically who can corroborate it."

"Yes."

Such matters involving identity verification naturally do not require prosecutor Cheng Ye to handle personally.

A moment later, the squad leader came out and reported: "Inspector Cheng, he said that the backpack was picked up from a secondhand stall in the West Market eight months ago. The stall owner is called Lao Hu, and he is still setting up his stall there."

"Old stock from six months ago?"

Cheng Ye fell into deep thought and subconsciously opened his personal panel to take a look.

The patient is in normal condition and has not been infected.

Could it be that Li Changfeng's talk about the missing maternal infected body in area C35 last night has made me overly nervous?

Cheng Ye rubbed his temples and made a decision: "Tell him that this backpack has been confiscated by the checkpoint. In the future, he will be given a brand new military backpack and sent to a separate isolation ward for observation for 7 days. He will be paid twice the normal wage as isolation compensation every day."

The most direct way is to use the pendant's search function to scan the man's status.

However, based solely on the similarity of a backpack, without any further evidence, it's not urgent enough to warrant such a pressing matter.

Also, Liu Kun might come in the morning, so it's best to keep 100% charge ready.

Upon hearing that he would receive double the wages, a new backpack, and a private isolation room, the man's tension was instantly replaced by excitement, and he thanked them repeatedly.

"Get the information on that stall owner named Lao Hu in the West Market and ask him about the specifics." "Also, keep an eye on him and don't let him contact anyone else."

After giving his instructions, Cheng Ye swiped the isolation door and entered the work area, but did not immediately go to duty in Zone B.

Instead, he sat down on a bench by the roadside, placed the backpack covered by the quarantine bag on his lap, and examined it carefully.

Strangely enough, upon closer inspection, he suddenly realized that something was amiss.

The fabric of the backpack is indeed old and faded, with frayed edges, indicating that it has been used for a long time.

But these patches were unusually new, especially the stitching, which still had a bright color that hadn't been stained by dust, indicating that they had been sewn on recently.

Cheng Ye's heart skipped a beat. He stood up abruptly, rushed out of the work area, and found the guard from before: "Go ask him when the patch on this backpack was sewn on?"

The guard didn't dare to delay and immediately ran to the isolation room. A moment later, he returned to report: "Inspector Cheng, he said it was sewn up before he left home this morning."

"Morning?"

Cheng Ye's scalp tingled instantly, goosebumps rose all over his body, and his hair stood on end.

It seems there's something even worse going on than this backpack being the same one he had last night.

"The person hasn't been sent away yet?"

"No, no, they're still being questioned in the isolation room."

"I want to examine him myself, hurry up!"

When Cheng Ye strode into the isolation room, the man was sitting in a metal chair, saying something to the guard.

Upon seeing Cheng Ye suddenly burst in, the excitement on his face vanished instantly, his eyes flickered, and he subconsciously shrank back, revealing obvious nervousness.

"What is your name?"

"Zhang Zhang Da Niu".

Almost the instant Zhang Daniu spoke, the cooperation rate popped up in the upper right corner of the panel.

Without even asking any questions, it skyrocketed to 78%.

Within the searchable area below, besides intelligence and items, thankfully there are Lv1 skills available.

Without a second thought, Cheng Ye pressed the search button.

Such a coincidence is absolutely impossible in the world.

The fact that this backpack belonged to the man from last night, and that the newly sewn patch was exactly the same as the old patch seen last night, was even more chilling than the fact that it was his backpack from last night.

Examining infected individuals requires meticulous attention to detail, like listening for thunder in the silence.

Moreover, the manual clearly states that details determine success or failure.

Cheng Ye knew that if it were anyone else, even if Li Changfeng took them to the Xinhuo checkpoint and they saw that suspicious man, they would most likely not remember the style of the backpack.

Even if you remember the style, you might not happen to bump into someone carrying the same backpack at the checkpoint in Happiness City.

If such a coincidence were to come to you and you still wouldn't realize something was amiss, then you'd be a useless prosecutor.

just.

A moment.

Cheng Ye found it hard to imagine what might have happened: what if the source of the C35 infection had passed through the fog tunnel last night, or what if it wasn't the source of the C35 infection but another source of infection that had come to Happiness City through the fog tunnel?

What will happen to the buffer zone if it is hit twice in a row in a short period of time?

However, after the characters flashed and displayed lines of information, the unexpected result startled Cheng Ye.

Hmm, no infection?

【Zhang Daniu】

[Lv1 Skills]: Camel Endurance, Basic Wilderness Survival, Basic Shooting, Basic Shelter Building
It's not surprising that Zhang Daniu only has four skills; he's just an ordinary scavenger.

Cheng Ye's gaze was fixed on the name. Based on previous experience, as long as there were no special hints here, it meant that the person had not been infected.

and many more.

A thought suddenly flashed through my mind, and I clicked on the only valuable item, the camel stamina, to collect.

Cheng Ye asked in a deep voice, "Who sewed the patch on this backpack for you?"

"It's my wife."

I definitely searched for the wrong thing!
Cheng Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed on, his voice quickening: "Where is your wife?"

"Yes, she's at home. She's waiting for me to come back."

"Go! Take his wife to the isolation ward immediately, according to the address he gave you. Keep your distance at all times and do not have any physical contact!"

"Yes!"

The guard didn't ask why; once he realized what was happening, he turned and left.

Cheng Ye grabbed the backpack covered by the isolation bag, turned around and headed towards the stationmaster's office building.

If Zhang Daniu's wife is infected, but he himself is not infected.

This undoubtedly shows that the source of infection has not yet spread, and there is still an opportunity to trace the source, isolate the infected individuals, and find the problem.

However, this matter was beyond the authority of a trainee prosecutor and had to be reported immediately.

"I need to see Station Chief Lei; it's urgent business."

We arrived at the stationmaster's building.

After being informed by the guard, they went up the stairs to the fifth floor, where Lei Hu was already waiting in his office.

Lei Hu had assumed Cheng Ye was there to explain his lateness, but when he saw the quarantine bag clutched tightly in Cheng Ye's hand, he was taken aback: "What's wrong?"

"Station Chief Lei, it's like this."

Cheng Ye didn't hide anything and told her everything about the suspicious man she saw at Xin Huo last night, the details of the backpack, the coincidence of bumping into Zhang Daniu this morning, and the strangeness of the patch.

"You mean, this backpack is exactly the same as the one you saw in the Firestone?"

Lei Hu took the isolation bag, put on gloves, and carefully examined it. His expression gradually became serious. "I understand. You go back to your post first. I will contact Station Chief Ding immediately and send him the picture and details of the backpack for comparison. I will also verify the source information of the C35 area for comparison."

"That Zhang Da Niu's wife"

"Don't worry, the checkpoint has complete procedures for dealing with this kind of thing."

Lei Hu deliberately kept his voice calm and steady, "Don't rush. Since its founding, Happiness City has dealt with over a hundred mother-source infected individuals. We can withstand this little storm."

"Moreover, it is precisely in times like these that we prosecutors must remain calm. If you panic, your subordinates will be even more uncertain. You will be notified as soon as there are results, so just focus on your duties."

"understand!"

Cheng Ye agreed, went out the door, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

His biggest worry was that Lei Hu would think he was making a mountain out of a molehill and being paranoid, since the matter sounded too bizarre.

The mere patch on a backpack led to speculation about a mother-infected individual.

But clearly, his worries were unnecessary; Lei Hu's reaction was more cautious and swift than he had anticipated.

The last time the Stand Starfish Mother Source invaded, the ordinary people of Happiness City were completely unaware until the Mother Source was completely destroyed.

Behind this "silent defense" is clearly a complete and mature response mechanism.

Even if the mother source does manage to sneak in through the fog hole this time, Happiness City should have sufficient means to locate, isolate, and eliminate it.

After checking in and passing through the disinfectant-sprayed isolation corridor, Cheng Ye sat down behind the inspection table in Quarantine Zone B.

Although he appeared calm and showed no sign of panic, his mind was racing, like grass being blown by the wind.

"A scale of tens of millions is too conspicuous. Even a sanctuary city like Happiness City, with a population of only a million, attracts invasions from mother infected entities, let alone Fire?"

"I'm afraid the real den of drugs is the City of Fire and Protection!"

Cheng Ye's gaze darkened.

The destruction of C35's parent source is probably just the tip of the iceberg. Just as Li Changfeng said, perhaps while the two were talking in the air, there was a parent infected entity standing somewhere watching them.

It's just lying low for now; it's not time to explode yet.

This fog hole looks like a coin.

After connecting to the City of Fire and Protection, "positive" has indeed brought tangible benefits to the City of Happiness.

Many supplies that would normally be brought by caravans in the autumn were quickly transferred through the fog cave, saving countless manpower and resources and indirectly reducing the cost that Happiness City had to pay to purchase these supplies.

It even gave him access to source track technology, allowing him to find a bunch of good stuff and accumulate enough food to survive the winter.

However, the threats posed by the opposite side cannot be ignored.

The fog cave that spans the two cities directly connects Happy City and the most dangerous part of the wasteland.

Many problems that Fire can handle might turn into disasters when they come to Happiness City.

But if you want to reap the benefits, you also have to bear the risks!

"I hope my discovery is just a false alarm, or that it's just an easily dealt with infected organism."

"If another infectious agent, even more powerful than the substitute starfish, were to appear, who would dare to come to Happiness City?"

Cheng Ye took a deep breath, forcing himself to clear his mind and enter duty mode.

However, he had difficulty concentrating for the entire morning.

When my eyes sweep over the scavengers in line, I always subconsciously notice the style of their backpacks.

Hearing words like "tombstone," "fog hole," and "source of infection" makes my nerves inexplicably tense.

Fortunately, today is not the peak period, and there are nearly half as many scavengers coming and going as yesterday, so the workload is not too heavy.

The entire South Station was quiet and peaceful, without any gunshots, as if it had returned to its normal state.

Just after midnight, Wang Kang arrived early to take over the shift.

"Brother Cheng, are you feeling unwell? You look terrible."

"Oh, I was busy all night and only slept for a few hours. I'm probably exhausted."

Cheng Ye forced a smile to cover it up, and just like yesterday, he gave up his duty position to Wang Kang and moved a stool to sit next to him.

Time passed by, minute by minute, until three o'clock in the afternoon.

Ding.

The notification sound from the defense communication device suddenly rang, and Cheng Ye grabbed the device almost reflexively.

The screen lit up, but the sender wasn't Lei Hu; it was Jiang Chuan!

The message was very short, containing only a few words:
"Verified, please call back."

Suddenly, Cheng Ye stood up, startling the two scavengers who were being inspected by Wang Kang.

"It's okay, I'm going to the back to use the restroom."

After opening the isolation door, Cheng Ye hurriedly went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face several times.

Only after the burning anxiety subsided slightly did he wipe his face with his sleeve, quickly walk to the innermost cubicle, and lock the door behind him.

The call was answered quickly.

"Is it a C35?"

"No, don't scare yourself."

Jiang Chuan's voice came through the microphone, but there was no discernible emotion in it.

"It's the deceased Wish Keeper!"

　P.S.: Last night there was a strong wind and heavy rain, and the cable TV snapped, leaving me without internet for the whole day. Mobile internet speed is just too slow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)