Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 270 Checkpoint Reform: The All-Round King!
Boom!
Ding Yishan's simple question struck them like a heavy drumstick.

Hai Province is currently the easiest place for evil to hide. The immortals of the extraordinary era used their great power to forcibly create countless scattered islands, which are isolated from each other and have become natural havens for these evil organizations.

Although many sanctuary cities have planted spies within these organizations to pass messages and gather intelligence.

Happiness City is no exception.

Even with the use of these long-standing undercover agents, they still couldn't find a single trace of Starship.

This suggests only two possibilities: either the Starships are incredibly well-hidden and operate flawlessly, or they have a more powerful force secretly supporting them and covering their tracks.

Regardless of the possibility, even if everything goes smoothly and without any surprises, it would take at least one or two years, or even three to five years, to get to the heart of the matter if one were to go out and investigate the organization thoroughly.

But at what critical juncture is Happiness City currently situated?

Just as we entered a period of great expansion, the construction of satellite cities was in full swing, and we also began to incorporate Yueye, planning to expand the control of the shelter city to a radius of 200 kilometers.

The storm has arrived.

At this time, if one can seize the opportunity and rise to prominence, one can do as Cheng Ye did and achieve great success.

However, for Lei Hu and Tang Si, who are already at the top of the duty station, as long as Ding Yishan and Harlin are still in their positions, their path to advancement is essentially fixed.

This storm was not an opportunity for them, but a disaster they could not avoid.

"Station Chief, Starship's actions are too strange. Even if we send out the fourth-term inspectors from the station, who can be sure they will find out their movements?"

Lei Hu's expression remained unchanged as he stated bluntly, "This isn't about negotiating a deal; it's about genuinely infiltrating those organizations to gather intelligence. When it comes to familiarity with Hai Province, if I say I'm second, who in the station dares to claim to be first?"

Downs, standing to the side, remained unfazed, seemingly oblivious to the earlier veiled implication of "laying low." He continued, "Station Chief, I haven't shown my face in public for years. As long as I maintain a proper disguise, those people in Hai Province will never suspect that I would personally go out to gather information. As the saying goes, it takes ten years to forge a sword. Do you think I, Downs, can't even go out and investigate?"

Good guy.

After just a few words of exchange, Cheng Ye was secretly astonished.

Regardless of Lei Hu and Tang Si's true thoughts, their words were so impeccable that no one could find fault with them.

Sure enough, Ding Yishan's expression finally changed, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth:
“Station Chief Lei is a key figure at my checkpoint. You were in charge of pioneering the Hai Province back then, so I naturally trust your abilities. But the matter of Cha Xingzhou has taken too long, and Happiness City needs you to hold down the fort in the rear now.”

He then looked at Downs: "Station Chief Downs is also an early veteran. Our checkpoint hasn't reached the point where we need the veterans to personally intervene. Starship is just a rat in the gutter. This is also a test for the new generation of our checkpoint. After all, in the future, we old guys will have to pass the baton to them."

After saying those two sentences, Towns' eyes flickered a few times, his lips moved, but he ultimately sat back down on the sofa, clasped his hands on his knees, and said nothing more.

Lei Hu nodded slightly, then suddenly turned his gaze to Cheng Ye.

Their eyes met, both exuding a sense of calm.

Cheng Ye said without blinking, "Station Chief, how about I go to Hai Province on behalf of Station Chief Lei and Station Chief Tang Si to check the situation and find out what Xingzhou is all about?"

However, before Ding Yishan could speak, Harlin shook his head: "You can't go."

"why?"

“The elders have ordered that if you are to travel to an area with a chaos level of 3 or higher, you must be accompanied and protected by the Legion,” Harlin explained slowly. “An entire Blood Dragon Legion battalion, a full five hundred men. I’m afraid the Starship will have already received the news before you even set foot in the Sea Province.”

Chaos level 3?
In the surrounding area, only Hai Province is a Level 3 chaotic zone; the rest are either Level 1 or Level 2.

Cheng Ye was not surprised by this arrangement. Holding Tan Ming's two beliefs, the value he could create by staying in Happiness City was far more important than personally going to Hai Province to investigate Xingzhou.

"To thoroughly investigate the Starship organization, we cannot rely on individual efforts; we must assemble a strong team of inspectors."

Ding Yishan took over the conversation, his tone solemn, "This is the only way to prove that the checkpoint is still combat-ready."

He looked away and said loudly, "There have been two major defection incidents this year. First, Prosecutor Cheng Long led several fourth-term prosecutors to defect, and now Zhou Changhai has followed suit with a group of prosecutors. We do not yet have enough evidence to prove that there is no direct connection between these two incidents. Therefore, Happiness City has decided to gradually establish a new agency, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), within the buffer zone over the next three months."

"At that time, all security forces at the checkpoint will be transferred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), and all personnel will be subject to comprehensive inspection and monitoring to ensure that the risk of defection is completely eliminated."

what?
Is the Public Security Bureau about to be revived?

Cheng Ye was greatly surprised, but the expressions of the other three, especially Harlin, also changed noticeably, their brows furrowing involuntarily.

Huh? Weren't these four people supposed to go in for a meeting together?
Does this mean that someone was asked to wait outside during the process, and only core site administrators are qualified to participate in the final decision-making?
Cheng Ye pondered to himself that Liu Kun, as a direct superior of the checkpoint, officially became a superhuman eleven years ago, in the 24th year of the new era, and joined the ranks of the senior management of Happiness City the following year.

Under his strong push, just two years later in 27, the Security Service, which had previously restricted the power of checkpoints, was completely abolished, leaving only the Guard Service responsible for maintaining order in the buffer zone.

While the management of the security department was nominally under Liu Kun's name, it was in reality still under the control of the checkpoint.

The new era has reached 27 years. No more, no less, exactly eight years!
However, Zhou Changhai chose to join the "Starship" organization just when the checkpoint had become the dominant force and firmly established its power. This is strikingly similar to the checkpoint's defection just as it was about to rise to prominence.

What is his purpose in doing this?
Was it merely to stir up more chaos in Happy City, or was he willing to attach himself to this extremist organization in pursuit of greater supernatural power?

"This is the decision of the elders, and neither you nor I have the right to object to it. We must do our utmost to assist in the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption."

Ding Yishan tapped the table lightly with his finger, his gaze falling on Tang Si. "Station Chief Tang Si, I'm assigning you to handle the liaison and communication with the head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Any questions?"

Downs pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trust, stationmaster. I will certainly handle it properly."

“Very good!” Ding Yishan turned to Lei Hu. “Station Chief Lei, the meeting has decided that the Security and Integrity Agency will be established within three months. Before that, we must complete a comprehensive self-examination. I want you to start tomorrow to recall all the inspectors currently stationed outside the area in turn for review. Make sure to confirm that they have no connection with Starship and that there are no other serious violations of rules or regulations. Do you understand?”

"Yes, stationmaster! I'll begin preparations tonight," Lei Hu replied in a deep voice.

The two men accepted the order in turn. Ding Yishan gave a wink and then got up to leave.

As they reached the door, the two of them simultaneously turned their gazes toward Cheng Ye.

Lei Hu's eyes held a calm expectation. He nodded slightly, shook his head gently, and turned to walk away.

Towns' expression was complex and hard to read. He nodded as well, then hurriedly turned and left.

Jiang Chuan stepped forward and closed the door again, leaving only the checkpoint chief and deputy chief and Cheng Ye in the room.

The two stopped dwelling on the Starship incident and didn't discuss the soon-to-be-established Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) further.

Ding Yishan looked at him gently and nodded slightly: "Prosecutor Cheng, now that Station Chief Harlin and I are both here, if you are ready, shall we begin your oral report?"

“Okay.” Cheng Ye nodded and stood up, then recounted in detail the entire process of Dabo Town containing the immortal artifact.

In all the scenes involving multiple witnesses, he gave a truthful account without making any changes, only obscuring some details of individual actions.

For example, the process of making cotton-padded clothes, fighting inside the Demon Eye Sponge, and meeting with Tan Ming.

Ding Yishan nodded frequently, and Harlin listened quietly, his face unconsciously showing an appreciative look towards an outstanding student.

Jiang Chuan sat on the sofa in the reception area, writing furiously, recording every word Cheng Ye said in detail on paper and compiling it into official documents.

After finishing the explanation of containing the divine artifact, Cheng Ye paused slightly, waiting for the two to ask questions.

Strangely, neither Ding Yishan nor Harlin seemed inclined to inquire about any details of the containment process, as if everything he said was true without needing verification.

After a moment, Jiang Chuan raised his hand to indicate that the recording was over.

Ding Yishan then spoke up, affirming, "Very good. What the prosecutor needs most is to find an opportunity to break the deadlock while remaining calm. Whether it's the celestial artifact, the source of infection, or the starship that's causing us trouble now, there are flaws that can be discovered and exploited."

He turned to look at Harlin: "Station Chief Harlin, are you satisfied with the performance of Cheng Ye, the trainee inspector?"

“Satisfied.” Harlin nodded without hesitation. “Cheng Ye is the trainee prosecutor I have mentored who has grown the fastest in terms of ability and best meets my expectations for an all-around prosecutor when I was developing the teaching materials many years ago.”

"In that case, you should ask the questions first and see if he is capable of handling the next position."

“Okay!” Harlin responded, turning his body slightly.

Cheng Ye glanced at the cooperation rate subconsciously and was surprised to find that Ding Yishan and Harlin's cooperation rates were surprisingly consistent, both at just over 30%.

Compared to the previous zero scores, there has indeed been a significant improvement.

However, this also reflects one thing: the trouble the checkpoint encountered this time was indeed extraordinary.

“Cheng Ye, Zhou Changhai’s defection due to Starship’s infiltration was an accident, but it was also a major mistake on the part of the checkpoint. Fortunately, your appearance prevented the situation from deteriorating further and helped us avert a catastrophic disaster. This achievement not only quelled the anger of the elders but also prevented the higher-ups from insisting on dismantling the checkpoint immediately.”

"But now, in the years since your grandfather, your father, Xiao Shuntian, and Zhou Changhai established the checkpoint, more than 150 inspectors have defected and left Xingfu City. The total number is even more than the number of people we have now. Therefore, splitting up is an inevitable trend."

Harlin sat casually, his tone calm: "Now, my first question to you is, how do you think we can break up the checkpoints to limit our power and ensure that defections don't happen again?" Break up the checkpoints?

Limiting one's own power?
Cheng Ye felt uneasy. This was not treating him as an intern at all, but rather bringing him into the decision-making level and making him participate in the core reform.

Moreover, this question is neither taboo nor abrupt.

After all, when it comes to which prosecutor is the best at defecting, the Cheng family is second to none in the entire checkpoint.

Harlin's question, seemingly about the limitation of power, was actually more like asking how to control Prosecutor Cheng's defection.
Wait, buddy, I've never defected, so why am I asking you for advice?

Cheng Ye pondered, finding himself in a dilemma. Dividing up the checkpoints was a minor matter; dividing up the power was the key issue.

Currently, inspectors act almost recklessly, only bound and supervised by the rules within the checkpoints.

Once the station's oversight function fails, it is tantamount to entering a state of unchecked freedom.

Take those fourth-term inspectors who are dispatched to perform field duties, for example. They rely entirely on their self-discipline to restrain them. Who can guarantee that they won't misbehave under the guise of Happiness City?

The core reason why Zhou Changhai was able to escape for so many years without being discovered was his status as a fifth-term prosecutor. There were very few people who could monitor him, and even fewer rules that could restrict him.

Thinking about it this way, if he were to go to Yueye Shelter City in the future and wanted to defect, it would probably be a piece of cake. Who could stop him, the stationmaster of Yueye?

“Is it hard to answer?” Harlin was not surprised by his hesitation. “The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is the idea of ​​the higher-ups, and its purpose is to limit our power at the grassroots level. But this happened once before, and the end result was that the two agencies became adversaries and gradually turned into bitter enemies, and they could not play a real supervisory role at all.”

"No, oversight itself is not difficult. I believe most prosecutors have feelings for Happy City and are loyal enough to the checkpoints."

Cheng Ye shook his head, his eyes clear. "The real problem isn't oversight, but rather, after the division of power, to whom should this power be given?"

This is the crux of the problem: when someone loses power, someone else will inevitably gain power.

If prosecutors relinquish their complete autonomy and hand it over to others, such as assigning a "supervisor" to each prosecutor on field duty, how many people are stronger and more qualified to supervise them when all four prosecutors are among the elite?
A very real problem is that the more capable the prosecutor, the greater the potential risk of defection, but the more difficult it is to limit their power.

Harlin smiled slightly, raised an eyebrow, and said with a hint of expectation, "This is the question that Inspector Cheng needs to answer. By this time next year, you will be the station chief of Yueye Shelter City. If we can clarify the reform plan now, your Yueye can become the first pilot checkpoint."

Rushing to reform the existing system will inevitably provoke resistance from all prosecutors.

However, if the new rules are gradually implemented by starting with a pilot program at a brand-new checkpoint, the acceptance rate will undoubtedly be much higher.

Cheng Ye's heart sank slightly. He pulled up a stool, sat down, and began to think quietly.

Ding Yishan and Harlin did not urge him. The former lowered his head and continued to look through the documents, while the latter stared blankly, as if he was thinking about something else.

This was not a routine performance review; it was more like a crucial step in the transition between old and new staff at the checkpoint.

Ding Yishan and Harlin are exactly one cycle apart in age, and Harlin is another cycle apart from him, creating a chain reaction of problems.
Ding Yishan tested Harlin, and Harlin tested him in turn, actually asking about the future direction of the checkpoint!
Ten minutes later, the atmosphere in the office was no longer as heavy as before.

During this time, Jiang Chuan got up and poured strong tea for the three of them, and also prepared three bags of blue-bag nutritional syrup for Ding Yishan and Harlin.

However, just as the two tore open the seal to drink, Cheng Ye looked up, the thoughtful look in his eyes gone: "I think the root cause of the prosecutor's defection is not that he has too much power, but that the boundaries of his power are not clear."

Ok?
Jiang Chuan, who was carrying a tray, was stunned for a moment. Although he didn't fully understand, he immediately ran to the reception area and picked up a pen to take notes.

Ding Yishan took a sip of the nutrient solution and turned his gaze to Harlin.

Harlin immediately understood and pressed on, "You think that the work of prosecutors lacks clear connections and that the division of powers and responsibilities is vague?"

“Yes.” Cheng Ye nodded. “Although I haven’t been on field duty yet, the work I’ve been involved in so far has already shown a clear trend of specialization. Duty inspectors need more systematic training and targeted research to ensure the normal operation of the checkpoints and to ensure that the technology can be iterated independently, rather than relying on the support of research institutes.”

"Field inspectors, on the other hand, need stronger combat capabilities, survival skills, and negotiation skills. They can bring real benefits to Happiness City. If we blindly restrict them, it would be like killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of our own, which would be a losing proposition."

"Furthermore, when I visited Director Yu at the research institute before, she mentioned what Station Chief Cheng Wu said back then: to uncover the true secrets of the source of infection, simple research alone is far from enough. Someone must step forward, someone who is skilled in both field containment and research upon returning to the city. Only by possessing both can this inspection and research model be stabilized, forming a positive cycle of benefits and bringing hope for the next era to humanity."

"From here, the prosecutor system has clearly branched out into three core directions: city defense and duty, field transactions, and containment and research. In addition, the checkpoints also need dedicated management personnel to create an overall control direction and coordinate various affairs."

Cheng Ye spoke one sentence after another, unfolding his logic clearly.

Ding Yishan stopped drinking the nutritional syrup at some point, and his previously lowered gaze rose up, landing directly on him with obvious focus in his eyes.

Harlin also snapped out of his reverie, nodding thoughtfully with a serious expression that betrayed his deep contemplation.

However, Cheng Ye had no time to pay attention to their reactions and continued to lay out the core idea he had just conceived:

"The so-called all-around inspector must be good at guarding the city, handling field transactions, and being responsible for containment research. However, a person's time and energy are fixed. Even if they work around the clock, it is impossible to excel in all four areas at the same time. They must make some choices. Therefore, 'all-around' is fundamentally a false proposition and is impossible to truly achieve."

"Our current problem is that we haven't clearly categorized the inspectors, which has led to different types of inspectors wielding powers that are not part of their duties. For example, inspectors on duty in the city don't need to participate in field transactions, yet they have the authority to arbitrarily transfer supplies to the outside world; or inspectors on field transactions, who should be focused on external affairs, have the power to verify internal personnel and formulate rules, and can even overstep their bounds to participate in city duty, exercising management responsibilities that are not theirs."

"As for managers, their power is terrifyingly vast, and they can get involved in every aspect. But do they really have the ability to do everything well? Probably not."

At this point, Cheng Ye gently shook his head.

Zhou Changhai, a fifth-term prosecutor, may be good at field work or skilled in duty, and it would not be surprising if he were to transition to management or win people over, but he has nothing to do with containment research and has no qualifications to get involved in this field.

The reality is that, with his fifth-level position, he could freely enter and leave the research institute and inquire about core information at will, which is precisely the loophole caused by the blurred boundaries of power.

To address the problem at its root, instead of delegating power to outsiders for oversight, it's better to first clarify the power structure within the checkpoints.

By assigning clear responsibilities and boundaries to inspectors in each area, and ensuring that they do not overstep their boundaries, internal mutual supervision can be formed.

Moreover, once the power is clearly defined, the situation where the higher the rank, the more difficult it is to supervise will no longer exist.

Even senior prosecutors can only exercise their power within the scope of their duties; exceeding those boundaries will subject them to constraints in other areas.

Of course, this is indeed a reduction in power for senior prosecutors, but it removes redundant powers outside their duties, rather than essential core authority.

As long as the rationale is clearly explained and a pilot program is started in Yueye, the implementation will not be too difficult.

"Divided into four directions."

Ding Yishan finally picked up the conversation, "So, Prosecutor Cheng, what do you think you're good at?"

“Me?” Cheng Ye paused, a strange smile appearing on his lips. “I’m afraid I’m good at all four.”

A hint of interest flashed in Ding Yishan's eyes, and he raised an eyebrow: "Oh? But you just said that omnipotence isn't a false proposition, is it?"

"Therefore, we need to establish a special position outside of these four inspection agencies."

Cheng Ye shook his head, his tone calm yet firm. "This position grants him immense power and various permissions, even more than he currently holds. But the prerequisite is that he must be worthy of the position. He must gain the widespread recognition of the checkpoint personnel, achieve outstanding results in field transactions, obtain direct permission from the research institute for free access to research institutions, and effectively manage the entire checkpoint to ensure the orderly progress of all matters."

"Within the sheltered city, he can guarantee that no source of infection can infiltrate the city."

“In the wilderness, he can make deals with any sanctuary city and bring back massive amounts of supplies.”

"At the research institute, his research results can help the sheltered city's technology iterate and bring about a qualitative change to the lives of all residents."

"Within the checkpoint, he is the supreme being, above all the station chiefs. He can directly enter the upper echelons of Happiness City to participate in any meeting without going through any bureaucratic detours, and has absolute say."

The promotion ceiling at the checkpoint is too obvious.

There are only a few positions available: one station chief, one deputy station chief, and two duty station chiefs.

The lack of sufficient room for development is what led Lei Hu and Tang Si to want to flee and avoid the storm when it came, and what made the fourth-term prosecutors turn their attention to supporting external gathering places and seeking another way out.

Now, he is proposing a completely new goal: a position that breaks through existing limitations.

This position can wield immense power, even surpassing that of the station manager.

Without any detours, one can directly gain sufficient influence in Happiness City based on this position and these achievements.

"It sounds interesting, but no one has ever dared to tell me about this goal."

Ding Yishan became completely interested, his eyes sparkling with anticipation and surprise. "So, you want to be this all-around prosecutor?"

"No, the name 'omnipotent' is too jarring. Unless one day you truly possess real strength and become the undisputed top among all the inspectors in the entire wasteland, gaining the unanimous recognition of all the inspectors in the sanctuary cities, then you will be worthy of the word 'omnipotent.' Otherwise, if this title reaches the ears of outsiders, it will sound like a compliment that kills, and it will subconsciously make other inspectors in the sanctuary cities feel resentful, creating enemies for no reason."

Cheng Ye shook his head, his eyes lit up, and he smiled as he gave his final answer:
"I call them border inspectors!"

(End of this chapter)