Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 256 Research Team, Tianyuan's Great Expansion!

Come empty-handed and leave with a full load.

After parting ways with Yu Erlan and returning to the ground, Cheng Ye realized that it was already noon.

Although the autumn sun is not particularly harsh, the "autumn tiger" heatwave remains strong, with temperatures steadily rising.

Even though he was wearing short sleeves and his physique was far superior to that of ordinary people, he could still feel a bit of unbearable heat.

"Prosecutor Cheng, have you seen the actual product of the Burning Leeks?" Shi Xu rushed over, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I'm sorry, but those who haven't obtained the application permit are indeed not qualified to know about the existence of Burning Leeks."

Cheng Ye nodded in agreement: "This is the rule, and it's also the core secret of our Happiness City!"

"Hehe, the prosecutors in our Happiness City are really high-minded!"

Shi Xu, as a Level 4 researcher, was already one of the core members under the institute's management, yet his attitude was unusually humble.

After a moment's thought, Cheng Ye roughly figured out the reason.

While Shi Xu's research on the magical artifacts is important, without an inspector to go out and collect them and bring them back to the research institute, even the best research direction is like a skilled cook without rice to cook.

Although the Wanling Earth Conch will eventually be traded to Xinhuo by Happiness City, who can say for sure that it might bring back another celestial artifact in the future?

"If the research institute in Dabo Town can really be built, maybe we can get Director Shi to come and oversee things."

Cheng Ye secretly plotted in his mind, watching Shi Xu arrange for people to retrieve the lighting device, controller, and related information to counter the Ghost Spider.

This set of equipment is quite large, especially the controller, which is four meters long.

"It contains multiple sets of precision spectrum generators and frequency modulation modules, which can simulate specific pulsed light in different bands. Currently, we have only tested that the Ghost Spider has a strong stress response to three specific frequencies of light, but we have not yet found a band that can completely suppress its ability," Shi Xu explained in detail.

"It's alright, leave it to me!" Cheng Ye replied confidently.

Seeing his confidence, Shi Xu, though full of curiosity, did not ask any questions. He immediately arranged for a medium-sized truck to come and help load the entire device onto the truck.

Subsequently, at Shi Xu's enthusiastic invitation, the two went to the research institute's canteen to get some food.

Most researchers in the canteen would grab four packets of nutrient solution and leave without wasting too much time on their meals.

Only a few windows offer food ordering services, which require redeeming points issued by the research institute.

Sitting at the dining table, watching Shi Xu bring out a very sumptuous four dishes and a soup, Cheng Ye suddenly felt a little dazed, as if he had returned to that night many days ago, when he was having dinner with Li Changfeng in the cafeteria.

At that time, Li Changfeng was full of anticipation for the day when he could step out of the torch and see the vast world outside.

So what is Shi Xu, standing before us, expecting?

"Prosecutor Cheng, please have a taste! This is something I specially asked Chef Liu to make. He's the top chef in our research institute. Even the senior members, when they're feeling a bit bland, will come over to try his cooking," Shi Xu enthusiastically invited.

The four dishes are stir-fried seasonal vegetables, braised prawns, braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens, and pan-fried cod.

One soup: mushroom and free-range chicken soup.

These are truly impressive dishes. The stir-fried seasonal vegetables are fresh and crisp, and the braised prawns, coated in amber-colored sauce, have an aroma that fills the nostrils. The pan-fried cod has a golden-brown, crispy skin, while the inside is so tender that you could squeeze juice out of it. It is served with lemon slices to cut through the richness and enhance the flavor. The last dish, braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens, is bright red in color. The slices of pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat have absorbed the salty and savory flavor of the preserved mustard greens, making it look incredibly appetizing.

Cheng Ye picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork, and put it in his mouth. He was instantly enveloped by an indescribable deliciousness.

The taste buds seem to be completely activated, and the sweet and mellow flavor explodes in the mouth, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

"Hopefully, by this time next year, most people in Happiness City will be able to enjoy a meal like this."

Like Li Changfeng before him, Shi Xu didn't touch his chopsticks, but just watched Cheng Ye keep picking up food, his eyes full of expectation.

He smiled, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes: "Back then, Happiness City was actually more enlightened than any other sheltered city. Any research group could apply for funding to carry out scientific research projects. Unfortunately, we had corrupt officials within our ranks, and a lot of funding was poured into a bottomless pit. In the end, it benefited outsiders but hindered our own development."

"What is this bottomless pit?" Cheng Ye blinked and asked casually, not wanting to seem too deliberate.

Unexpectedly, Shi Xu did not try to hide anything and said directly, "It's about deciphering the virus dropped by the giant object."

"This is a great project. If we could successfully decipher it, the whole world would be transformed, all conflicts would immediately cease, and we would be able to find a way to eliminate the source of the spreading infection. Unfortunately, even the combined efforts of all mankind might not be able to achieve this goal, so how could our small Happy City possibly make progress?"

"Back then, I was a staunch opponent. At a time when the sheltered city most desperately needed technological breakthroughs, engaging in theoretical research that yielded no short-term returns and might even be fruitless in the long run was incredibly unwise! It was despicable!"

As he spoke, Shi Xu's emotions gradually became agitated, his expression changing several times before he finally said in a deep voice, "The checkpoint has traitors like Xiao Shuntian, and our research institute also has Michael Jones. He was once the only deputy director of the institute, and he worked well with Director Long, but later he chose to betray and flee, taking all the research results to other safe havens."

"Where did he go?" Cheng Ye didn't put down his chopsticks, maintaining a casual tone to avoid making the atmosphere too heavy.

"The other side of this planet. A natural sanctuary city."

Shi Xu practically spat out these words through gritted teeth, "Although the breakthroughs in artificially cultivated treasures in nature are now a way for those research results from back then to begin to materialize, which is enough to prove that his research direction was correct, it still cannot cover up the fact that he betrayed Happiness City with core technology!"

"A technological breakthrough in nature actually benefits from our Happiness City?" Cheng Ye put down his chopsticks and ladled out a small bowl of chicken soup.

The soup is clear and golden in color, with a few goji berries floating on top to enhance the color, and the aroma is delicate and lingering.

He specially served Shi Xu a bowl as well, and the two sipped it slowly, momentarily speechless.

After a long while, Shi Xu slowly raised his head, the melancholy in his eyes fading, replaced by a renewed, stubborn light.

"Therefore, Prosecutor Cheng, I will never give up my research project. The pioneers of the last era devoted their lives to exploring the underlying laws that constitute the material world, and finally deciphered the four fundamental forces of the strong interaction, electromagnetic interaction, weak interaction, and universal gravitation, which support the foundation of the macroscopic universe and microscopic particles. But even so, they failed to touch the essence of existence in higher dimensions throughout their time, which has become an eternal regret in the history of human cognition."

"Our generation of researchers shoulders the mission of breaking through the boundaries of cognition. If the ultimate question of the last era was how matter is composed, then our mission is to decipher how the extraordinary exists. After nearly twenty years of experimental verification and rune deconstruction, I can say with 100% certainty that runes are by no means meaningless symbols or totems. They are the core link of the extraordinary system, the key medium for binding, driving, and reconstructing extraordinary elements, and may even be the bridge connecting the 'laws of matter' and the 'laws of the extraordinary'! Abandoning them is tantamount to abandoning the key that unlocks the next era of civilization for humanity!"

"Moreover, the City of Fire's Sanctuary has already proven this to us. Those Firestone Mountains were formed by their breakthrough in source-guiding technology through deciphering runes!"

When Xin Guishan was mentioned, the stubbornness in his eyes changed again, finally turning into a firm resolve:
"Even today, tomorrow, even if I die in front of the research table, I will persist in deciphering runes. One day, I will use the latest technological achievements to prove that my choice was not wrong! It is only because of the lack of support that I have been stuck in the same place for many years."

"Huh?" Cheng Ye was somewhat taken aback. Even he, a layman, could clearly perceive the value of runes, so why didn't the research institute support Shi Xu's deciphering research?

Didn't the research institute allocate any special funds for you?

"No."

Shi Xu shook his head, his tone full of helplessness, "Ever since Michael fled, project funding has been changed to a voting system. My project has always been at the bottom of the list, and at most I can only get a few tens of thousands of points in sporadic grants. With that little money, let alone researching immortal artifacts and runes, it's not even enough to buy some basic consumables."

At this point, his gaze suddenly changed, and he looked directly at Cheng Ye with obvious expectation.

Cheng Ye immediately understood, slightly surprised: "Director Shi, you don't mean you want to study the runes on my hand, do you?"

"After the Wanling Earth Conch was sent away, the only rune I have access to that is of the highest research value is the one in your hand!"

Shi Xu nodded hurriedly, his tone becoming more urgent, and he even changed his form of address from "you" to "you (formal)".

The change in address clearly demonstrates his urgency and importance.

Cheng Ye suddenly fell silent, looking at the undisguised persistence and determination in Shi Xu's eyes, as well as that almost stubborn persistence, as if he were seeing a researcher grasping at the only straw in a desperate situation.

Shi Xu is indeed a pure researcher.

His almost obstinate persistence is probably not just to break through technological barriers, but also to prove his worth to everyone.

“I just mentioned to Director Yu that I want to build a branch of the research institute in Dabo Town.”

Cheng Ye pondered for a moment before speaking, "If the subsequent interrogation of Yu Yong yields substantial progress, we should be able to secure the research institute's support."

Shi Xu paused for a moment, then immediately understood and nodded: "If you need me to be stationed here to lead the team, Inspector Cheng, please feel free to ask! However, I need to stay at headquarters for the time being and try to do some groundbreaking research before the Wanlingdi Conch is traded out."

"It's alright. The construction of the branch office will most likely not start this winter and will have to wait until next spring."

Cheng Ye didn't rule out any possibility of a definitive answer, and changed the subject, "Besides, I'm also very interested in runes. In addition to the two I have, I might be able to find more rune samples for you later."

Upon hearing this, Shi Xu's eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately replied, "I also have a core research team of sixteen people under my command, plus forty intern researchers! They are ready to start working at any time!"

"Director Shi's willingness to join is a great thing for the branch office. But let's be frank and speak frankly from the outset."

Cheng Ye picked up his chopsticks again, his tone becoming serious, "I don't have much funding right now, at least not in the early stages, so I can't sponsor you to purchase a large number of those 'imported' instruments. But I will try to find a way to build a suitable research environment for you."

Cheng Ye emphasized the word "imported".

Having been exposed to it more often, he had long seen through it all. The so-called "imported" was simply a disguised technology harvesting tax. Anything that had those two words on it would have its price increased at least tenfold.

Moreover, having instruments doesn't guarantee immediate results. Imported equipment on the market is likely a generation behind, so it's better to develop it independently from scratch.

With his civilization collector capable of analyzing biological characteristics and recording deciphered runes, there was no need for him to give away real money to other sanctuary cities.

"Prosecutor Cheng is joking. Could things be worse than I am now?"

Shi Xu shook his head helplessly, but a hint of excitement shone in his eyes. "For this research, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of contribution points don't really make a difference. What we need more is recognition, a united team, and most importantly, mutual trust!"

"Don't worry, I'm not afraid that Director Shi will run away with the research results."

Cheng Ye nodded repeatedly, and without making a sound, he opened the panel and glanced at Shi Xu's level of cooperation.

Wow, 87.6%.

This is already the highest value that can be achieved through conversation alone, without the aid of a specific context! "We lack energy, and even more so, time. I imagine Shi Xu must have a wealth of academic knowledge waiting to be explored."

Cheng Ye was immediately caught in a happy dilemma.

He suddenly remembered the route selection prompts given by the civilization collector, and now he finally vaguely understood their meaning:
Individual strength is used to arm oneself and to venture into dangerous situations to find valuable information.

However, to change the times, we still need "stability" and "intelligent connectivity," as well as in-depth cooperation with these "natives."

Lunch is over.

Cheng Ye sat in the passenger seat of the truck. Looking out the window at Shi Xu waving goodbye with anticipation, he was filled with mixed emotions.

Unexpectedly, the hidden benefits brought by a mission to contain a celestial object were so astonishing.

Even the most basic research team has been assembled, led by one of the institute's six core members, a fourth-level researcher.

It's worth noting that the checkpoint is currently only managed by Qin Feng, a level-two researcher. Perhaps once his large research institute is built, it could even surpass the checkpoint, which has been fully budgeted, in terms of its potential.

Of course, the bigger the business expanded, the more he realized the urgency of making money.

The fact that we are now restricted by "imports" everywhere also shows how exaggerated the benefits of "exports" are.

If technological dominance can be achieved and channels for large-scale transactions can be opened, the resources that can be brought back in the future will likely exceed expectations.

"Brother Cheng, where did you get this truck?!" When Wang Kang came downstairs, he saw Cheng Ye sitting in the passenger seat and his eyes widened in surprise.

The inner city has extremely strict vehicle control; private individuals are not even qualified to own vehicles.

But when he walked around to the other side of the truck and caught a glimpse of the "Giant Dome" logo on the right side of the vehicle, his curiosity instantly turned into undisguised admiration.

"When we visited the research institute last time, they wouldn't even let us in through the gates of the Taipei Dome. How long has it been, Brother Cheng, and you actually managed to get a car from the Taipei Dome!"

"Don't worry, I'll take you in for a look around next time." Cheng Ye simply let the driver assigned by the research institute leave first, and then sat in the driver's seat to drive, while Wang Kang took the opportunity to sit in the passenger seat.

The clothing store had just opened, and Su Xiu and Lin Xu were still talking inside.

Seeing a truck parked at the door, the two quickly came out to greet it, but after seeing Wang Kang in the passenger seat and Cheng Ye driving, the eagerness on their faces immediately changed.

Su Xiu walked over with a curious look on her face, touching and looking at everything with obvious pride in her eyes.

Lin Xu's gaze fell on the giant egg, a hint of surprise and realization flashing across his face. He then put on a more friendly smile and stepped forward to greet it naturally.

"Prosecutor Cheng, it will probably take more than ten days to come up with a detailed plan."

"It's alright, construction can be carried out in stages. Let's take care of the core area first, and then gradually expand outwards. Uncle Lin, don't you trust your abilities?"

Cheng Ye got out of the car, exchanged contact numbers with Lin Xu, and then emphasized:

"Once you leave the inner city, it will be difficult to come back in. If anyone is worried about this, don't force them. I can also help you find suitable workers and masters outside for you to command. The only problem is that some people may not be able to stand the harsh environment after they come out and want to go back."

“Several people have indeed raised this concern. Now that you mention it, I won’t insist on them following along.” Lin Xu nodded immediately. “Prosecutor Cheng, it’s fine for us to address each other as family in private, but when we’re out in public, please call me ‘Engineer Lin’. That’s more formal.”

“Engineer Lin.” Cheng Ye nodded slightly, not paying much attention to Lin Xu’s special emphasis on “family.”

It's just about building relationships; it's harmless.

Compared to relying solely on mutual benefit with an unknown architect, having this additional layer of relationship with Lin Xu is undoubtedly more reassuring. "Call me when you're ready to come out, and I'll have someone pick you up."

"Okay!" Lin Xu nodded emphatically.

3pm.

The truck turned onto the main road and drove straight toward the gate of happiness.

Once inside and out, the longing and yearning for the inner city vanished without a trace.

On the contrary, Cheng Ye was somewhat envious of the underground area of ​​the inner city, especially the administrative district where Black Tiger was located. Besides the known resurrection medical space, there might be even more magical places hidden there.

Not to mention the treasures inside the giant dome; Yu Yong alone is enough for him to collect all the characteristics of the extraordinary mother source.

"Brother Cheng, before we knew it, a month has passed since we left the buffer zone," Wang Kang said, looking out the window.

As the truck drove out of the inner city, more and more curious eyes turned to him, so Cheng Ye had no choice but to close the window and take a deep breath.

As soon as you leave the city, the familiar stench hits you in the buffer zone. Because some pipes have been dug up for maintenance, the smell is so strong that it makes you feel dizzy.

But it was precisely this smell that inexplicably calmed him down, as if he had instantly returned to his own territory.

"I wonder how the pedestrian street is going?" Cheng Ye nodded, his gaze sweeping across both sides of the street.

As the area adjacent to the Gate of Happiness, Area A was the most severely damaged in the Stand Starfish incident, but now, in just two short months, it has recovered most of its former prosperity.

All the buildings destroyed by the war have been rebuilt, especially the ancient street that Li Matai had previously chosen, which is now bustling with activity and people coming and going.

"The infrastructure is finally catching up; the next step is to quickly relocate industries and solve the employment problem for these people."

Cheng Ye lightly applied the brakes, allowing the truck to slowly pass through this seemingly bustling area at idle speed.

Perhaps it was the giant dome logo of the Institute of Infection on the truck that had an effect, because the guards maintaining order on the roadside took the initiative to step forward to guide the crowd, scold those pedestrians who randomly rushed into the middle of the road, and clear a path for the truck.

After passing through Zone A5 and turning two bends in a row, the number of pedestrians suddenly decreased significantly, but the road surface that had been dug up continued to appear in patches.

Cheng Ye had no choice but to frantically throttle the steering wheel to avoid the large potholes and carefully observe the changes in Area B during the month he had been away.

The number of people in the B1 to B3 area has increased several times compared to before, and most of them are workers in overalls, who are working hard to repair the underground pipe network.

The closer you get to Zone B7, the larger the scale of the pipeline renovation project becomes. By the time you reach Zone B6, the roads are completely occupied by the construction area, and trucks cannot pass at all.

Cheng Ye had no choice but to pull the car over to the side of the road and look at the road surface that had been completely dug up.

This place originally had only one old sewage pipe, but it is now being upgraded into a dual-pipe system that combines sewage discharge and water supply.

The rusted and decaying old pipes were carried out of the tunnel by workers, who carried them to the roadside in groups of four. The brand-new, white pipes were neatly stacked next to the sidewalk, layer upon layer, yet to be laid.

Upon seeing a vehicle parked, the foreman in charge of the on-site construction quickly approached, intending to persuade the truck obstructing the construction to move. However, when he saw who was in the driver's seat, he froze for a moment, then his face lit up with uncontrollable elation, and he rushed over:
"Prosecutor Cheng! You're back!"

"Is my return surprising?" Cheng Ye asked, somewhat surprised, frowning as he scrutinized the other person, searching his memory for the corresponding name. "You're Huang."

"Huang Yong, I am Huang Yong, the one who noticed Jiang's unusual behavior before!"

Huang Yong's voice trembled with excitement. The fact that Prosecutor Cheng could vaguely remember his name was a great recognition for him. "Prosecutor Cheng, you're finally back! Tianyuan can't do without you!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? That's such bad luck!"

Wang Kang also got out of the car, muttering annoyance under his breath. He then pointed to the haphazardly dug road and asked, "What kind of construction is this? At least other districts still have one road left, but we can't even walk on this road!"

"Inspector Wang!" Huang Yong immediately wiped the smile off his face, straightened his back, and stood at attention to reply, his tone filled with undisguised pride, "We're upgrading and renovating the underground pipelines! The higher-ups have allocated a lot of funds and materials, and Tianyuan has received the most!"

He paused, then dropped an even more astonishing bombshell: "And now, not only B7, but also the surrounding B6, B8, and B9 areas have been assigned to Tianyuan for management!"

Ok?
Did Tianyuan expand accordingly?
Cheng Ye was startled and subconsciously asked, "What about the communities that existed before those three districts?"

"We've swallowed them all up!" Huang Yong proudly raised his chin, gave Cheng Ye a thumbs up, and said with pride, "Their management philosophy simply doesn't work. The residents are poor and have nowhere to develop. Our Tianyuan philosophy is the only one that works!"

His confident demeanor almost made Cheng Ye lose his composure. He coughed before continuing, "How many people are there in the community now?"

"Seven thousand six hundred people make this the eighth largest community in the buffer zone!"

"Over seven thousand people ranked eighth?" Cheng Ye was shocked again.

It seems that the changes in the buffer zone during his month-long absence were far greater than imagined.

However, upon further reflection, it makes sense, given the large influx of migrants, whose total number is likely already in the hundreds of thousands.

The philosophy of Tianyuan Community is to select those who agree with it, and it is never open to all. It is understandable that its scale has not been able to match those communities with relaxed management and a large population.

"Have someone keep an eye on the truck and don't let outsiders touch the things on it," Cheng Ye instructed Huang Yong, then turned and walked towards the pedestrian street.

On a time scale, his own changes are already astonishing enough. What will that community of thousands of people, the pedestrian street he had already planned and funded, look like?
After turning two corners, Cheng Ye slowed his pace, his heart filled with both anticipation and inexplicable complex emotions.

Having lived two lives, he has never truly witnessed his own drawings and ideas come to fruition.

Can the experienced workers at the Public Works Department build the pedestrian street exactly according to his ideas?

Will any unexpected problems arise during the construction process?

The closer Cheng Ye got to the pedestrian street, the more confused and disoriented he became.

But as he walked through the familiar alleyway and stepped into Block B7, his steps suddenly faltered, and a vast, orderly cluster of buildings was instantly reflected in his pupils.

Tianyuan Pedestrian Street has been built!

(End of this chapter)