Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 279 Subduing Yu Yong, Lost Memories!

Enter from Exit D of the South Station.

The person in charge of the inspection was an acquaintance, Zhao Jia, who had previously tried to build a relationship with him.

Because he failed the assessment, the construction of the third batch of satellite cities did not start, so Zhao Jia could only stay in the buffer zone to continue his duty.

When Cheng Ye got out of the passenger seat, he was covered in mud, his shoes were covered in mud, and his face was full of exhaustion.

Zhao Jia was taken aback for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "Prosecutor Cheng, you really look travel-worn!"

"There's no way around it, the satellite city is just starting out, and work keeps piling up." Cheng Ye said, yawning as he skillfully picked up the inspection equipment and began counting. After finishing, he casually asked:
"Has anything happened in the buffer zone these past few days?"

“It’s nothing serious.” Zhao Jia paused, his expression darkening slightly. “It’s just that the people from the Independent Commission Against Corruption have been particularly arrogant lately, coming to harass us every few days.”

"Aren't they not officially formally appointed yet?"

“It’s precisely because they’re not officially employed that they dare to be so arrogant and break the rules,” Zhao Jia said helplessly. “Once the formal establishment of the agency system, they’ll have to abide by the rules, or they’ll be held accountable.”

"Thank you for your hard work." Cheng Ye nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions.

They still allowed Mu Shuang to leave behind the disinfection vehicle and submit the infected source for custody.

Although the characteristics of these infection sources have been extracted, they still have certain research value, and the institute can handle them properly, which is much safer than burying them in the wild.

Cheng Ye didn't rush to leave the checkpoint. He planned to go to the bathroom in Zone D to take a hot shower first. He couldn't show his face covered in mud and dirt, lest people mistake him for a fugitive.

But after taking only a few steps, before even stepping into Zone D, they saw two tall figures walking side by side.

Yes, it is Qin Zhaoye.

Cheng Ye stopped, narrowed his eyes, and glanced at the people around Qin Zhaoye.

This figure was a head taller than Qin Zhaoye, almost level with him, and his shoulders and back were as broad as a moving wall.

He was still not wearing any uniform; his upper body was covered with a black sleeveless vest, and his bulging biceps were wrapped with several thin iron chains. His skin was bronze and covered with scars of varying depths, as if it were etched with the marks of battle.

He wore camouflage cargo pants, the pant legs casually tucked into high-top military boots, and a curved knife slung across his waist.

His short hair was messy like tangled straw, and wisps of hair on his forehead covered half of his eye, giving him a rather cold expression.

This thing has really gotten on my nerves?

The arrival of these two men was by no means a coincidence; they most likely had spies planted along the route to Dabo Town or Wenlu County, and knew in advance that he was coming back.

Cheng Ye sneered inwardly, then crossed his arms, wanting to see what tricks the two were going to pull.

As they drew closer, their eyes flashed with undisguised sarcasm.

Qin Zhaoye, in particular, looked him up and down and sneered, "Prosecutor Cheng, your attire is quite unique."

"Now you know what to call me?" Cheng Ye asked calmly.

"Of course, Prosecutor Cheng is so prestigious, who in this buffer zone doesn't know your name?" Qin Zhaoye smiled, his attitude much more lenient than last time, as if he were a different person.

"Is there something you need?" Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow. "If there's nothing else, I'm going to take a shower."

"It's nothing major, I just came to introduce you to someone." Qin Zhaoye nodded and stepped aside to let the person behind him pass. "This is Shen Chongshan, the director of the Anti-Corruption Supervision Department. Director Shen is very interested in some aspects of your situation and would like to invite you to the Anti-Corruption Department for a proper chat."

"Oh, another section chief?" Cheng Ye chuckled, his tone tinged with mockery. "Does he have a permanent position?"

“Prosecutor Cheng, there’s no good in being quick-witted.”

Shen Chongshan's lips moved slightly, his voice indifferent and devoid of any warmth, "If you are willing to come with me to the Anti-Corruption Department now to prove your innocence, some problems may be resolved peacefully. But if you insist on resisting fearlessly, and the matter is investigated and made public later, it will likely be another serious tarnish to the image of the checkpoint."

"is it?"

Cheng Ye curled his lip noncommittally, "I bet your next sentence is going to be, 'You're also a Bound Source User, and you're not afraid of me?'"

"Hehe." Shen Chongshan chuckled softly, reaching out to brush aside the stray hairs covering his left eye, revealing an empty eye socket below.

No, it's not exactly empty either.

A stream of ink-black liquid flowed in his eye sockets, constantly solidifying and changing, writhing as if it were alive.

If Cheng Ye hadn't seen Zeng Lao's black hole eyes, he might have been shocked, but now he only felt that Shen Chongshan's was just a low-end version, even somewhat laughable.

"Oh, it seems you do indeed possess a special ability to resist mental pollution."

Seeing that Cheng Ye's expression remained unchanged, Shen Chongshan let down his hair and covered his left eye.

"Given your contributions to Happiness City, we really can't do anything about you. But you need to think this through. Your attitude is already influencing the attitudes of the other inspectors at the checkpoint. Even if we can't find any problems with you, can you guarantee that we won't find any problems with others?"

“If you can take the lead in confessing and set an example for other prosecutors so that they will come forward to turn themselves in, I can guarantee that, whether now or in the future, as long as you don’t do anything out of line, the Independent Commission Against Corruption will not record any other trivial matters.”

He turned to look at Qin Zhaoye, then turned back to stare at Cheng Ye. "To be our friend or our enemy? Prosecutor Cheng, you're a smart man, you should know what to choose."

"Finished?"

Cheng Ye's expression remained calm, and his tone was devoid of emotion. "I'm going to take a shower. Don't waste my time with this kind of nonsense again."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the shower room in section D, not even bothering to look at the two of them again.

Do you want to find problems with Prosecutor Cheng?

The so-called anomaly was nothing more than him stealing some electricity. If this happened to a trainee prosecutor, he might be able to talk about it, but he is now a full-fledged prosecutor with core prosecutor authority. Even if he finds out, what can be done?
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) wanted to use him as a breakthrough to control the junior prosecutors at the checkpoints, but they chose the right path but the wrong person.

It would be better to find those senior prosecutors who actually have a lot of problems; only by uncovering them can they truly give everyone a warning.

After taking a nice hot shower and changing into a clean checkpoint uniform, Cheng Ye stepped out of the shower room again. As expected, Qin Zhaoye and Shen Chongshan had already left and didn't bother him anymore.

"This is really annoying," Cheng Ye muttered to himself.

Since the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has not yet been formally established, he can still avoid harassment from these people by exploiting the issue of staffing.

Once the system is implemented, these people will have a legitimate reason to invite him "in for tea."

It's really troublesome if we have to spend half a day being delayed by these people every time we go back to the buffer zone.

"Judging from the attitude of these two guys, there are probably quite a few other inspectors at the checkpoint who could be found to have problems."

As Cheng Ye waited at the bus stop after leaving the checkpoint, he couldn't help but ponder, "The disorderly expansion of power over the years, with many people repeatedly crossing the boundaries of the rules, has given the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) an opportunity to exploit the system."

At this moment, he could already imagine Ding Yishan's helplessness.

When two agencies are locked in a power struggle, the first thing they need to do is make sure they have a clean record.

Garcia's behavior of blocking the toll booth at the central station was ignored by the checkpoints at the time, but now that the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has caught him, it's enough to make him suffer. Even if the checkpoints wanted to protect him, they couldn't do anything about it.

Other prosecutors have probably also put a lot of effort into this area over the years, and in addition to their fixed commission income, they have inevitably received extra gifts.

The purpose of establishing the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is probably the same: to reshuffle the organization before major development, eliminate the bad apples, and leave only those who can truly contribute to Happy City.

But then again, with the top setting an example for the bottom, can the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) guarantee that it will not violate any rules in the process of implementing this?

The legion's attempt to seize control of the buffer zone and vie for influence inevitably involves a great deal of vested interests; it's hardly a clean affair.

"Fortunately, I've come back to pick up the people this time, and the next time I'll be back will be several months later," Cheng Ye muttered to himself, temporarily suppressing his worries about the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Back in the city center, he walked into the inner city and headed straight for the research institute.

With the identity certificate personally issued by Yu Erlan, the guards at the entrance did not give him any trouble at all, as if they hadn't even noticed him, allowing him to enter the giant dome smoothly. After waiting for a while in the coffee shop inside the research institute, a thin figure followed Shi Xu out from behind the door.

It was none other than Yu Yong!
Compared to his appearance in the containment room, Yu Yong is now a completely different person.

His body was so thin that it looked unnaturally withered, as if all his energy had been drained away, leaving only a loose skin covering his bony bones.

His cheeks were deeply sunken, his cheekbones were high and prominent, and there was almost no fat on his face. His dry, sallow skin clung tightly to his bones. His eye sockets were sunken, and his eyes were cloudy and tired, with no trace of his former sharpness.

His hair hung down in a mess, and he walked with unsteady steps, each step seeming like he was barely holding on. His empty sleeves swayed back and forth, and he exuded a weakness that seemed to have just struggled out of a desperate situation, looking exactly like an addict who had just finished a long withdrawal period and hadn't recovered yet.

"What would you like to drink?" Cheng Ye stood up and raised an eyebrow as he asked.

"One espresso, please." Yu Yong lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the ground, his voice barely audible.

Seeing his expression, Cheng Ye became somewhat curious. When the coffee arrived, he gestured for Yu Yong to sit down:

"What, now you finally realize you regret it?"

“People always make mistakes, and I’ve paid the price.” Yu Yong picked up his coffee and took a sip. The bitter taste made him frown. “I’ve forgotten how I was parasitized, but I don’t think I’m that kind of person. At least, I wouldn’t be crazy enough to destroy a satellite city.”

"Could it be that someone harmed you?" Cheng Ye subconsciously shook his head, but stopped halfway through his sentence and changed his words:

"Did you not remember before, or have you completely forgotten now?"

“I didn’t have that memory before.” Yu Yong shook his head slightly. “I thought it was the self-protection mechanism of the infected source that made me subconsciously ignore that memory. But now that the source of infection has been sealed off, I still can’t remember it. It’s like that day never happened.”

"So, we can't rule out the possibility that you were framed?" Cheng Ye picked up the juice in front of him and took a sip.

“It’s all meaningless now.” Yu Yong’s voice remained low. “Flies don’t land on eggs without cracks. Whether someone framed me or I went mad, the entire population of the satellite city lost their lives because of me.”

He was silent for a moment, then looked up at me with a pleading look in his eyes. "The reason I want to follow you is that I hope to use the time I have left and all the information I have to make a request of you."

Cheng Ye nodded slightly and continued, "Do you want me to help you find out exactly what happened that day?"

“Yes.” Yu Yong nodded emphatically, his tone filled with a desperate plea. “I only have six months to live at most, and I can’t even make it back to Xin Huo to be investigated. I can only entrust this matter to someone else, to preserve a sliver of possibility of clearing my name.”

He finished the rest of his coffee in one gulp, his tone turning somber again. "If you feel uncomfortable, you can refuse. I will stay by your side as an ordinary person and spend these last days peacefully."

"What if I agree to your request, but then I don't do it, or I'm unable to do it?"

“No, I believe you.” Yu Yong immediately shook his head, his eyes filled with sincerity. “If I were truly framed, you wouldn’t want such a thing to happen again in Happiness City, or in your Dabo Town, would you?”

He paused, then added, "I am a fourth-phase researcher at Shining Flame, possessing a wealth of source track technologies and a systematic knowledge framework. Although these achievements cannot be reproduced without the equipment and data, I can help you train a team of researchers. You can also propose projects, and I will help you advance them. For the remaining six months, you can manage everything. This is our deal."

After saying that, he stood up with his empty coffee cup and walked to the bar. "Could I have another cup of coffee, a little sweeter, please?"

Stripped of the madness brought on by the source of infection, Yu Yong is now so normal that it's hard to believe.

Cheng Ye pondered for a moment and looked at Shi Xu, who nodded slightly: "His condition has completely stabilized, and the fusion rate is only 25%. The elder asked me to tell you that once the fusion rate increases to 75%, we must use Shadowless Light in combination with Shadowless Light to suppress it. If you don't want to go back to the research institute to deal with it, we can send someone to Dabo Town to help you build a small containment chamber."

“That’s not what I’m worried about.” Cheng Ye frowned. “I’m wondering, is he really innocent?”

“It’s hard to say.” Shi Xu stroked his chin. “But whether he’s innocent or not, he has hundreds of thousands of lives on his hands. Whether he wants to atone for his sins or make a deal, the wasteland doesn’t care about simple right and wrong. If it turns out he’s innocent in the future, it’s not too late to clear his name. At least we should let everyone know the truth about the destruction of C35, instead of putting all the blame on him alone.”

"If I use it for research, won't people outside say I'm using a serial killer?"

“How could that be?” Shi Xu laughed. “This is called atonement. The harder you train him, the more thoroughly you exploit him, treating him like a beast of burden instead of a human being, as long as you can force him to produce a high-value technology, it can be considered as making up for some of his mistakes. But to let him die so easily, without any cost or meaning, would be unfair to all the residents of C35!”

"Director Shi, your awareness is quite high!"

Cheng Ye gave a thumbs up, then changed the subject, "When will my batch of equipment arrive? Dabo Town has been cleared and is just waiting for the planning and construction of various buildings."

"Don't worry, Director Yu is gone, I'll keep an eye on things for you."

Shi Xu said, “Over the next month, I will have someone maintain the equipment first, and then deliver it to you in batches. It would be best if you set up a storage place first. This equipment cannot be exposed to rain or moisture. If it breaks, you will have to find the imported shelter to repair it. The labor support fee for one unit will be several thousand contribution points, and on-site repair will start at five figures.”

"Okay, then I'll trouble you." Cheng Ye nodded, then lowered his voice, "What about the leeks?"

"Three Grade B or higher technologies in exchange." Shi Xu smiled after saying this. "This is a requirement left by Director Yu, and I can't change it. Moreover, compared to the value of the 'Burning Leeks,' three Grade B technologies are only enough for one-third of the price, so consider it a favor to you!"

"Well"

Cheng Ye was not surprised by this condition.

If the Big Wave Research Institute doesn't have sufficient research capabilities, even if they obtain the Burning Leek, it will be a complete waste.

As long as the technology can be produced, proving the value of the research institute and demonstrating that it will not fail to live up to the purpose of the research, it will naturally be obtained smoothly.

"Yu Yong only has six months to live. Are the Xinghuo people going to come and take him away?" Cheng Ye asked again.

“It shouldn’t be necessary.” Shi Xu thought for a moment. “Since the elder took him away, we have communicated with the Fire of Life. They agreed to our handling of the matter. However, there are some things that need to be confirmed with Yu Yong in person. They didn’t say that he had to take him away. It is also possible for him to stay for half a year to help you with the research.”

When the topic of the Flame was mentioned, a hint of obsession appeared in his eyes. "If only they hadn't come. During this period of research on the immortal artifacts, I have made several major breakthroughs, more than I have in the past five years. If I could really devote myself to the research for a few years, I would definitely have tangible results!"

"We will have more. Give the magical items to them, and we'll encounter more in the future," Cheng Ye comforted him. Seeing that Shi Xu was still in a daze, he waited for Yu Yong to finish his second latte before getting up and leading him outside.

The two walked out of the Taipei Dome Research Institute.

The sky remained overcast, but Yu Yong subconsciously raised his hand to shield his eyes, as if he hadn't been used to the outside light for a long time.

He squinted and took several deep breaths, as if greedily inhaling the scent of freedom.

"Should I call you by this name again?"

“A name is just a label; you can call yourself whatever you want,” Yu Yong said calmly. “If you feel that the name ‘Yu Yong’ will have a negative impact on your satellite city, I’m willing to change it to anything.”

"Never mind then, I'll just call you Yu Yong." Cheng Ye shook his head, then changed the subject, "What about the intelligence you mentioned?"

“Every week, I will tell you an important piece of information that you can give to Happiness City as a bargaining chip for my ransom.”

Are you afraid we'll go back on our word?

“I’m not afraid of you, I’m afraid of those old guys in this sheltered city.” Yu Yong’s expression remained unchanged, but a look of deep concentration flashed in his eyes. “They are different from you, and different from all of us. They are the remnants of the last era, people who have no bottom line when it comes to power. If the next era’s disaster is to begin, it will definitely start with them.”

"You should know what you're saying, but don't spread rumors in my Dabo Town," Cheng Ye reminded him.

"Okay!" Yu Yong nodded, but his gaze towards Cheng Ye held a hint of surprise. "You don't deny what I said? You're not going to defend your elders?"

“No.” Cheng Ye shook his head decisively. “If the elders need a mere inspector like me to protect them, then there’s really a problem.”

He changed the subject, "Would you like to have a simple meal here, or go straight to my town of Dabo and try the specialty nutritional drink of Shijiazhuang?"

“Let’s go. I don’t need to eat or rest,” Yu Yong said. “The source of the infection has been contained, but the basic abilities it gave me are still there. I can even…”

Before he could finish speaking, his body suddenly went limp and he vanished in a wisp of black smoke.

The next second, Cheng Ye was astonished to find that his shadow was slightly distorted, and Yu Yong's figure appeared.

Holy crap, will there really be any problems releasing this thing?

Cheng Ye was startled, but before he could exclaim, Yu Yong had returned to normal, his thin figure standing beside him again.

"Being controlled by power comes at a price, and controlling power to use it at will are two different things."

"You are the one who binds the source. One day, you will understand my current state!"

(End of this chapter)