Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 273 Natural Disaster Transformation, Pandora's Box!

call.
call.
The muffled breathing gradually became clearer in my ears, like a faint beam of light breaking through the darkness.

Cheng Ye slowly opened his eyes, his pupils contracted slightly, and the familiar ceiling slowly came into view.

familiar?

He paused for a moment, then his hazy memories quickly returned, instantly pinpointing his current location.
Is this another ward on the tenth floor of Regenerative Medicine?
He stood up in astonishment, and sure enough, his arms were pricked like hedgehogs again, with the IV drip slowly delivering nutrient solution.

Rocco sat by the window with the radio volume turned down. Upon hearing the noise, he immediately turned his wheelchair around.

"You're awake."

Seeing Cheng Ye's stunned expression, Rokuk laughed speechlessly, "Seriously? I haven't even been discharged from the hospital yet, how did you get back in?"

"I"

Cheng Ye narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on the exposed skin on Rokuk's trouser leg. It looked much like a normal person's leg, with a healthy flesh color. "You've already completed the transplant?"

“Yes, it was done five days ago, but we need to observe for two more days before we can be discharged.” Rocook nodded.

What's the date now?

"You were brought in at noon on the 5th, and it's only the morning of the 7th now. September 7th.

call.
Having received a definite answer, Cheng Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, this time I didn't sleep for a whole week; I actually recovered after just two days of rest.

Without the anxiety of time running out, he simply lay down again and spaced out for a while.

Once the confusion in his mind subsided, he said, "The situation outside is quite complicated right now. If you're discharged from the hospital, go straight to Dabo Town. It's safe there."

“I know, Zhou Changhai defected.” Rococo turned off the radio and said softly, “The prosecutor is actually the easiest position to be infiltrated. The people and environments we come into contact with are too complicated. Even I, in all my years traveling abroad, have come into contact with no less than a dozen or twenty extremist organizations.”

"These extremist organizations aren't inherently evil; they're not like those truly evil organizations. Their goal is to create another extraordinary era, but their methods are too extreme, which is why they need to constantly recruit people to work together towards this goal."

"So you know about Starship?" Cheng Ye asked curiously.

“I don’t know.” Rokuk quickly shook his head. “Starship can no longer be considered an extremist organization. Their actions of actively triggering the infection source and causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in the Leap Wilderness Sanctuary can basically be classified as an evil faction. They are enemies of humanity and are not even in the same league as extremist organizations.”

"Mm," Cheng Ye nodded gently.

Rococo changed the subject, a gossipy smile on his face: "I heard you've already obtained core inspector privileges?"

Cheng Ye chuckled: "You've been staying at Resurrection Medical Center, yet you're quite well-informed."

"Of course!" Upon receiving Cheng Ye's tacit approval, Rokuk immediately became excited. "How could I not inquire about such an important matter? This core authority is basically equivalent to that of a checkpoint chief. You are qualified to attend any meeting, can promote the implementation of checkpoint policies, can mobilize a certain amount of public resources, and can even directly issue field missions and recruit other inspectors to participate in their execution."

When it comes to the intricacies of core permissions, Rokuk knows them like the back of his hand, and he can't stop talking about them.

After listening for a while, Cheng Ye couldn't help but laugh: "But I've only just been promoted ahead of schedule, and I'm still a first-term prosecutor."

"So what if it's the first term?" Rokuk said dismissively. "The term limit is for ordinary people. Once you get core access, it's like you're on a completely different promotion path, a different track altogether from ordinary prosecutors, in my opinion."

Rococo was still talking non-stop, and Cheng Ye listened with a smile, when suddenly a thought popped into his mind:

If he knew that he would be going to Yueye Shelter City as stationmaster next year, what would his reaction be?
However, this matter is not completely settled yet, and a lot of trouble at the checkpoint has not been dealt with. Let's wait until everything is stable before slowly syncing with those around us.

The two chatted for a while longer before the ward door opened, and Cui Qiao walked in with several medical staff.

She smiled, her eyes narrowing. "Prosecutor Cheng, we meet again."

"What, you don't seem surprised at all that I'm back here?" Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow.

“You’re just like your father; once you come in here, you’ll become a regular,” Cui Qiao joked.

"."

Cheng Ye was speechless for a moment, and his expression was somewhat embarrassed.

To be honest, he really doesn't want to miss a good opportunity to improve his traits, even if it comes at a price.

"How many contribution points did I spend this time?" he changed the subject.

"Not much, twelve thousand points, all of which have been recorded in the research institute's account."

"That's good." Cheng Ye breathed a sigh of relief. If each hospitalization cost tens of thousands of yuan, and he had to come back a few more times, the research institute's budget would probably be completely depleted.

"Can I be discharged from the hospital now?"

"anytime."

"Okay, help me with the formalities, I'll leave now." Cheng Ye nodded, and after the medical staff removed the IV, he stood up briskly.

After showering and changing his clothes, he didn't exchange many pleasantries with Rokuk.

The Ghost Spider's abilities haven't been fully unlocked yet; it'll need at least two more days of "hospitalization."

Before the recipients of the torch arrive, we need to settle Yu Yong's matter as soon as possible so that we can focus on the construction of Dabo Town and the field missions.

The car drove out of the underground space of Regenerative Medicine and headed straight for the research institute.

Shi Xu had already received the news and was waiting at the door. When he saw Cheng walking in looking radiant, he couldn't help but advise him, "Prosecutor Cheng, you really don't need to work so hard."

"It's just sleeping for two days, what's so dangerous about that?"

Cheng Ye raised his hands and showed them off. "Why didn't you put handcuffs and shackles on me this time?"

"because."

Before Shi Xu could finish speaking, a clear voice came from inside the coffee shop: "Come in, don't just stand at the door."

Yu Erlan was sitting by the window, holding a small gold spoon in her hand, slowly stirring her coffee cup.

The aroma of fresh milk and coffee mingling together wafted through the window.

Shi Xu paused for a moment and then made a "please" gesture.

As soon as the two entered the store and sat down, two glasses of juice were brought to them. One was pushed in front of Cheng Ye, and the other was held in Shi Xu's hand.

Yu Erlan turned around and changed into a completely new outfit.

He wore a charcoal-black tactical uniform with a wide tactical belt around his waist and high-top combat boots that hugged his calves.

Her long hair, which had been tied up, was now wrapped in a tighter black hairnet, revealing her smooth forehead and sharp jawline. A pair of black goggles were perched on her nose, with a miniature communicator hanging from the temple.

At this moment, she had completely lost any of the refinement of a researcher. She had shed the tranquility of the laboratory and was now exuding a decisive and capable aura, transforming into a combatant.

She gently reached into her pocket, and a card appeared in her hand, which was then pushed towards her.

"What's this?" Cheng Ye asked curiously as he took it.

On the front of the card, his portrait is printed on the left, and several lines of text are listed on the right:

[Infection Source Research Institute]

[Trainee Researcher]

Cheng Ye

Is this official researcher identification?
Cheng Ye's eyes lit up. He flipped it over and saw five rules that researchers needed to follow engraved on it.

He glanced at it quickly, then looked up and asked, "Can I come and go from the research institute freely from now on?"

Shi Xu immediately replied, "Of course! You're a full-fledged researcher now, so you're one of us."

Cheng Ye put down the card and asked curiously, "Any results from Yu Yong's interrogation?"

"There are some scraps, but we should be able to get the more important information out of them soon," Yu Erlan replied softly.

"Can I still go in and talk to him?"

“Of course, your special research project is Yu Yong.” Yu Erlan couldn’t help but curl the corners of her lips as she said this, then changed the subject, “However, you’ll have to pay the next hospital bill yourself.”

?

Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, glanced at Shi Xu who was snickering beside him, and instantly realized what was going on.

It wasn't that the research institute was worried about the money; it was that they didn't want him to keep arguing with Yu Yong until he ended up in the hospital.

"I'm about to leave for Hua Province to attend an academic exchange conference."

Yu Erlan stopped smiling and her tone returned to calm. "It will probably take about two months. We'll be back before winter, or it might be delayed until next spring."

She added, "After I leave, you can come and interrogate Yu Yong at any time, but there's a condition: your vital signs cannot drop below 80% each time. If it exceeds this twice, it will automatically trigger the warning line I left, and your research privileges will be revoked." "Hmm."

Cheng Ye nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Yu Erlan's calm face. "Is the situation in Hua Province serious?"

“Yes, the duration of the darkness is increasing rapidly; it’s already been about an hour and a half,” Yu Erlan explained. “At this rate, we’ll enter the eternal night phase in about six months.”

"Besides the nights getting longer, are there any other effects?"

"Not yet, but once this phenomenon spreads, no one knows what it will cause."

What about Liang Province?

"The duration of sunshine is increasing in tandem."

This bizarre change in natural weather patterns seems to be just as deadly as the source of infection.

Having experienced the fog, Cheng Ye dared not imagine what a terrifying scene it would be if one day eternal night enveloped Shi Province, with no sunlight for days.

To avoid these crises, the efforts of researchers are essential; even deputy director Yu Erlan has to personally go to the front lines.

"Then I wish Director Yu a safe journey." Cheng Ye raised his glass in a gesture of respect.

"Thank you for your kind words." Yu Erlan nodded, stood up, and walked out of the coffee shop with her coffee cup in her hand.

Just then, a black SUV drove up, and the door opened.

She bent down to get into the car, as if staying there was only to wait for him to be discharged from the hospital, to hand him this researcher's card, and to see him one last time.

Now that she had met the person and handed over the goods, she was ready to set off for Hua Province.

After watching the black SUV completely disappear from sight, Cheng Ye turned to Shi Xu and asked, "Did you often have these kinds of situations where researchers had to go into the wilderness?"

“There are quite a lot.” Shi Xu nodded seriously. “The truly valuable research materials all have to be found in the wilderness, in their place of origin, for on-site research. Most of what can be brought into the sheltered city for research are insignificant scraps, and it’s really difficult to research anything from them.”

"If one day Prosecutor Cheng needs me to go to a place like this, even if it's just a small one..."

"Stop!" Cheng Ye quickly interrupted him, "Isn't it better for us to stay in the sheltered city? Don't think about wandering around in the wilderness all day long, it's too dangerous outside."

Yu Erlan was able to go to Hua Province because she was a powerful being in a state of extraordinary control.

Even if an existence of this level encounters a reversed, extraordinary mother source, it still has the ability to protect itself.

But the others in the research institute, at least Shi Xu, were not superhumans, just ordinary people. Going to the wilderness would be nothing short of suicide.

"Let's go, it's still early. I'm going to talk to Researcher Yu. I have a bunch of things to take care of outside after that." Cheng Ye finished his juice in one gulp and followed Shi Xu to the second basement level.

There were still no guards or supervisors throughout the entire process. The research institute seemed to have completely trusted him, and the authority granted to him was beyond what a trainee researcher could explain.

If he wanted to take away the extraordinary mother source in the containment room now, it would be much easier for him than it was for Cheng Wu and Cheng Long back then.

"You trust me that much?" Cheng Ye turned and asked.

“Indeed, we’ve never seen anyone fight an infected person until their vital signs drop to 40%, and still maintain a smile.” Shi Xu wholeheartedly agreed. “You’ve already scared many of our researchers; now everyone’s wondering if you’re trembling.”

"Do I look like that kind of twisted person?"

Cheng Ye glanced sideways at the researchers beside him, and those whose eyes fell on him immediately gave awkward smiles and turned their faces away.

"By the way, when will I be able to become a full-fledged research intern?"

"Once one of our research findings is successfully implemented and mass-produced, we can apply for official recognition," Shi Xu replied.

"What about the equipment that Director Yu promised before?"

"As long as Yu Yong is interrogated and important information is obtained, and the evaluation criteria left by Director Yu are met, the equipment will be sent to Dabo Town immediately."

"it is good!"

Cheng Ye was secretly pleased and nodded slightly.

Promotions at the checkpoint level are significantly easier than promotions at the researcher level.

However, the higher the prosecutor rises, the greater their power becomes, while the opposite is true for researchers.

Deputy directors like Yu Erlan have to travel thousands of miles to the front lines and the most dangerous areas, unlike prosecutors who can be treated as honored guests in any safe haven.

The two entered the Mother Source Containment Area and went up to the third floor.

Yu Yong was sitting on the sofa watching TV when, as if sensing something, he suddenly turned his head.

Seeing Cheng Ye approaching excitedly, he instinctively shivered and jumped to his feet.

Before Cheng Ye could even speak, Yu Yong interjected, "Cheng Ye, I want to make a deal with you. We'll only talk to you personally, and no one else is allowed to eavesdrop!"

"Oh?" Cheng Ye was taken aback and turned to look at Shi Xu.

Shi Xu spread his hands: "You are now the head of the research group studying Yu Yong, and I am his deputy. You can do whatever you want. This was specifically instructed by Director Yu."

"Alright, could you please bring the armor over? I'll go talk to him."

Shi Xu nodded, but instead of using his wristwatch to contact other researchers to deliver the equipment, he turned around and walked straight downstairs. He clearly understood Cheng Ye's meaning and wanted to give him and Yu Yong an absolutely private space.

As Shi Xu left, all the surveillance cameras in the containment room simultaneously went into standby mode.

Whether or not the connection was truly completely severed was irrelevant; Yu Yong could clearly sense the changes in his surroundings.

He immediately pressed his body against the wall, his eyes no longer showing the previous madness, but only urgency and solemnity.

Moreover, compared to two days ago, Yu Yong's eyes were surprisingly clear, as if his humanity had been completely restored.

It seems that while he was hospitalized these past two days, the research institute used Shadow Light to purify the Ghost Spiders inside his body quite a bit.

At least the degree of fusion should have dropped below 100%, and it has become a binder again.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Cheng Ye took two steps forward, his tone indifferent.

"A deal!" Yu Yong immediately leaned forward, speaking rapidly, "You get me out of here, and I'll tell you everything I know! Everything I know, I can give you!"

Cheng Ye crossed his arms and calmly shook his head: "That's impossible. Even if the sky falls, you'll still have to stay in this containment room."

"Don't rush to refuse!" Yu Yong quickly added, "I know far more than you can imagine, far more than you can imagine, enough to change your destiny, enough to change the destiny of Happiness City!"

"No need to discuss."

Cheng Ye shook his head again, and quietly opened the panel to glance at the cooperation level.

To his surprise, the cooperation rate was no longer 0% and rose to 1%.

Although it was only a minor change, it was a milestone breakthrough.

This means that as long as we continue to weaken the Ghost Spider and reduce Yu Yong's fusion level, we can restore more of his humanity. And humanity inevitably has weaknesses. By seizing on these weaknesses, the cooperation level can be steadily improved.

Once the level of cooperation is met, will Yu Yong still be able to keep the information he wants to know hidden?

"I can reveal some information first, and you can decide for yourself whether it's worth discussing!" Yu Yong said through gritted teeth, unwilling to give up.

Cheng Ye didn't speak, but simply raised his eyes, signaling him to continue.

"The source technology of the Torchfire wasn't something they developed on their own!" Yu Yong lowered his voice, his tone tinged with horror. "They dismantled relics from an alien civilization, most likely left behind by a colossus, and deduced the technology through reverse engineering! But these things are Pandora's box. The Torchfire only saw the immediate benefits, but didn't realize that an even more terrifying disaster was on its way!"

"Disaster? What do you mean?" Cheng Ye finally became interested.

Of course, it's not about the intelligence itself, but rather seeing the cooperation rate on the panel increase from 1% to 3%.

Can chatting actually increase cooperation level?

That would be great! If we can get him to 10% of the level, it will save him from having to endure the mental erosion and "torture" to improve.

Next, all you need to do is take your time and come here every now and then to collect all the traits.

"Natural disasters! All natural disasters are a form of transformation!"

Yu Yong's eyes were filled with fervor, and his speech quickened, "What the behemoth left behind wasn't just a virus that could destroy humanity, but more like a planetary terraforming system! This terraforming will make the planet beneath our feet increasingly resemble a pre-set template. Do you understand what I mean? Just like the extraordinary era back then. Humanity tried to distort this planetary terraforming system, which led to the extraordinary golden age, but now everything is back on track!"

"And once our planet meets the template requirements, an even more terrifying entity will descend. Do you know what that is? Our planet will become their colony! At that time, whether it's you, me, or all of humanity, we will all die!"

He leaned forward, his voice trembling slightly:

"Only by escaping, only by gaining greater power, only by becoming one of 'them,' can we, the Bound Source Holders, possibly survive!"

(End of this chapter)