Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 61 Infection Investigation, Eagle Catches Chicken!
Cheng Ye was still unsure whether Li Matai's trump card would be effective.

But it won't take much effort to try it out. If it really works, this method will be his from now on.

Although he didn't expect to have another son to carry on the family line, he continued to work as a prosecutor in Happy City.

But at least if the situation of opening a position to release people occurs again, there will be a proper response immediately.

"Okay, please wait a moment, sir."

Although the raven didn't understand, it quickly found the corresponding slip of paper as Cheng Ye asked.

First, one group.

Cheng Ye picked up the five highest-priced slips of paper, glanced at them, and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

1700、1450、1300、1300、1250。

It's worth noting that the "happiness coins" left to Cheng Long by a fifth-term prosecutor only amounted to a little over 5000 at most.

These people can come up with more than 1000 in deposits alone, which is quite generous.

Of course, since the deposit will eventually be refunded, the actual expenditure of 5% is only about 80 coins.

If they really take 100%, these people can probably only come up with a few hundred coins at most.

The five lowest bids.

140, 70, 50, 50, 30.

The highest was ten times less, and the lowest was almost fifty times less.

The second and third groups had similar amounts.

The highest group had an average of 1500, while the lowest group had an average of 50-200.

As for the fourth group, it surprised Cheng Ye.

The highest bidder has already reached 2200. Is this a case of locking up a god of wealth?
"Sir, they were also frightened by Inspector Polk, which is why they offered such a high price."

Raven noticed Cheng Ye's confusion and immediately explained.

"This person who quoted 2200 asked me to revise his price three times. Initially, his price was only 1200, but he increased it by 500 each time. He even tried to bribe me to find out if his price was in the top ten."

Good guy.

Regardless of the effectiveness of Li Matai's move, just consider the current 5% margin requirement.

Based on releasing 20 people, he could earn approximately 800 coins.

This money is too hot to handle!
No wonder Li Matai ultimately advised him not to keep it and to report it to the station directly.

Otherwise, if everyone did it this way, accumulating tens of thousands of coins in a month or two wouldn't be a problem.

"Is the venue all set up?"

"The main battle zone has been set up, and the isolation observation zone you requested is still being set up, but it should be ready soon."

"Okay, interrogate Groups One and Two first, Groups Three and Four, wait."

Cheng Ye waved his hand and said, "Match the two people with the highest bid in Group 1 and the lowest bid in Group 2 to the main battle zone, and the rest of you into the isolation spectator zone."

"By the way, allow them to discuss pricing, and even guide them, you know what I mean?"

"Uh, what does Your Excellency mean?"

The raven paused for a moment, then finally scratched its head and said, "Sir, could you give me a hint?"

"Okay."

Cheng Ye smiled and nodded, "Aren't these five people who offered the highest bids the ones who most want to leave?"

"Yes!"

Raven nodded. "They're willing to pay such a high price, so naturally they're the ones who most want to go back."

"Do those five people who offered the lowest bids not think they can go back at all?"

"Yes!"

Raven nodded again. "I've observed these people, and they genuinely can't afford it, so they can only fill in the largest number they can manage, without any hope."

"If I were to pair the highest bidder with the lowest bidder, and have them scrutinize each other's statements for loopholes, and only one person could leave in the end, what do you think their reactions would be?"

"what?"

Raven paused for a moment, then its eyes widened suddenly. "What if they don't have any loopholes?"

“Then let them all go. Aren’t there still 18 people listening in? Tell them that if they can find the loopholes in what these two people said, they can become the next person to go on stage.”

"Only 10 out of 20 people can leave in the end. We'll stop when all the remaining people have left."

"what?"

The raven paused again, this time thinking for a full two or three minutes.

"So, in the end, can only 10 people really leave?"

"Yes, but I said that only 10 people from groups 1 and 2 could leave, but I didn't say that the remaining people would be eliminated. Isn't it true that the remaining 10 people just happened to be matched with group 3 again?"

Cheng Ye said with a smile.

The raven instinctively shuddered, a hint of astonishment flashing in its eyes.

It's too much trouble for prosecutors to interrogate each person individually, especially when they have to screen out dozens of people at once.

Why not first filter out the group of people who most want to go home for the New Year based on the logic of "whether you have money or not"?

Then, through the game of "using wisdom to catch chicks," two chicks confront each other on stage while the other eagles sit below, looking for loopholes.

If the infected can get away with having 38 people eager to go home subjected to a hearing at once, their intelligence is practically invincible.

Even if they remain in the isolation ward, there is absolutely no possibility of them detonating before the end of the isolation period.

"Do you understand now?"

"Understood!" Raven gritted her teeth and agreed, her gaze towards Cheng Ye filled with a complex mix of emotions.

"Don't look at me like that. The prosecutor next door taught me this. Let's see how it works first."

Cheng Ye directly shifted the blame, not wanting to leave any impression of being 'calculating'.

This does not benefit the prosecutor's career development in the slightest.

After all, people who are too ruthless will eventually be isolated in the workplace, and no one wants to work with a manipulative and cunning person.

Cheng Ye knew that the reason Li Matai was willing to teach him this skill was that his reputation as an "old hoodlum" was already well-known, and he no longer cared about others labeling him.

Secondly, perhaps they wanted to make their presence felt?
There are some things that Li Matai cannot do due to his position, but it is just right for him, as a trainee prosecutor, to handle them.

Especially now, at this crucial juncture of choosing sides, if we don't show some real skills, we risk being looked down upon.

"Sir, the venue is ready. Shall we proceed with the interrogation now?"

The owl darted out.

"let's start."

The isolation chamber was equipped with a simple interrogation area at the rear, with a very simple structure.

It also offers a modular design, making it easy for users to add more interrogation chambers.

At this moment, four large iron cages made of insulating alloy were placed in the four corners of the city as viewing areas.

The two people in charge of the review entered and began a debate.

Twenty armed guards stood outside the interrogation area, able to monitor the debaters and those in the spectator area in real time.

Once someone shows signs of infection, a physical exorcism will be performed immediately.

"Please come in, Mr. Keller Nick and Mr. Darlin Lewis."

The ravens called out their names, and the two men, escorted by guards and watched at gunpoint, entered the interrogation area.

Inside, there were two stools and a table. As per Cheng Ye's request, two extra sets of paper and pens were also provided so that the two could record any loopholes in each other's words.

"Let me out, and I'll give you 300 coins."

As soon as he sat down, Lewis lowered his voice and spoke to Nick.

"These 300 coins are enough to improve your life; the only price is staying a few more days."

"Fine, if you have no problems, I'll admit defeat."

Nick said this, but he couldn't help but sneer as he looked down. No matter how much money you have, you have to be alive to spend it.

With the recent torrential rains, more and more people are being brought in, and the isolation wards are already overcrowded. Who knows if those being brought in might be infected?

If I were assigned an infected roommate, it would be such a terrible injustice to die.

"quiet!"

Cheng Ye took out the documents, stood behind the guard, and said loudly, "Mr. Darlin Lewis has offered 1700 coins and has priority. Please explain why you were locked up here."

1700?

The 38 people locked in the four viewing areas clicked their tongues in amazement, especially the 19 who had bid the lowest, whose eyes revealed a certain peculiar expression.

"Prosecutor, please."

"You don't need to be facing me. Your reasons and explanations should convince the people around you."

"Uh"

Cold sweat visibly rolled down Lewis's forehead. He subconsciously turned his head to look around and said in a tight voice, "I was locked up here because there was an item in the car that was contaminated by the infected."

"But I swear, that stuff has absolutely nothing to do with us. The contamination detected was because it was already contaminated when we bought it at the settlement!"

"What has been contaminated?" Nick asked before anyone else could speak.

"A bag of alienated crystals!"

Where did you get it from?

"Qingxi gathering place".

"Sir, he's lying!"

Suddenly, someone inside the iron cage couldn't contain themselves any longer: "The mutated crystals from the Qingxi settlement have long been contracted with the Oasis Caravan. Only they can buy them; it's impossible for them to fall into the hands of ordinary people. If they're found out, they'll be fined ten times the value of the goods!"

"Really?" Cheng Ye looked into the iron cage, not expecting that the first lucky one would be caught.

Lewis's face turned deathly pale.

In just a few breaths, his eyes were filled with crimson, and fine black hairs sprouted from beneath his bare skin, glossy like rat fur, covering his neck and arms at an unfathomable speed, quickly enveloping his entire body into a bizarre, mutated form.

I.
Lewis slowly raised his hands, and his movements suddenly froze when his fingertips touched the newly sprouted bristles on his palms.

Immediately afterwards, the memories that had been forcibly blocked burst forth in my mind like a flood breaking through a dam.

The wilderness beside the dilapidated provincial highway.

As darkness fell and twilight descended, the sky darkened.

The perspective twists in a frenzy, transforming into a unique third-person viewpoint.

He saw himself and the other three members of his team lying in a pile of decaying grass, their eyes greedily fixed on the distance.

A six-person scavenging team is approaching!

The scavengers, carrying their packs, were making their way along the edge of the provincial highway, each with an undisguised smile on their face, clearly having made a good haul.

Unlike the residents of the sheltered city, who can work in factories and earn money to support their families.

Only a small percentage of the residents in the settlement have formal jobs; most have to go out periodically to hunt mutated beasts to supplement their income.

Some people also try their luck in the city ruins, either searching for undiscovered supplies or hunting infected individuals, and then using the infected to exchange for money in the Sanctuary City.

However, hardworking scavengers sometimes become prey in the eyes of others.

They are more likely to be targeted, especially when they return with a full load.

"Do it!"

When the scavenger got within thirty meters, Lewis gave a low shout.

Four guns spat fire simultaneously, and the scavenger who had just escaped from the city ruins was riddled with bullets before he could even beg for mercy, and the supplies in his bag rolled out like a waterfall.

Amidst their wild laughter, the four of them flipped over and rushed out of the haystack.

This team, which was about to return to the Qingxi settlement, certainly did not disappoint them!

Aside from the bone meal, fur, and some special herbs from the mutated beasts, a large bag of twenty mutated crystals gleamed with a ghostly blue light under the flashlight.

Even more bloody pieces of mutated beast meat were scattered around the corpse, three large chunks in total!
This is simply a windfall!

The four, who hadn't had meat in a long time, swallowed hard, quickly cleaned up the battlefield, and started a fire.

The sizzling sound of oil splattering on the grill, the raw meat still glistening with blood, and the aroma made the four of them unable to restrain themselves any longer. They began to frantically tear at the grilled meat with their bare hands.

Why, why am I so hungry?

Lewis was stunned. He had never seen himself eat meat with such a ferocious expression, nor had he ever seen three companions wrestling over a piece of bloody beast meat, looking like their fathers' killers.

The sounds of frantic chewing echoed through the wilderness, mixed with the crackling of bones breaking.

Before they knew it, strands of black hair had quietly crept onto their skin, growing thicker and thicker, like countless greedy rats climbing and multiplying.

"I?"

"Infected?"

A tremendous force surged from his limbs and bones, and Lewis's rationality receded like a tide, replaced by a raging bloodlust.

He looked around blankly and saw Nick huddled in a corner, trembling, while the faces of the other humans in the iron cages were also filled with terror.

Squeak, squeak.

He grinned maliciously, his hair-covered face contorting into an eerie arc, but he made a rat-like squeak.

A mere iron cage, and you think you can trap Lord Rat?!
Reaching out, sharp claws sprang out from between his fingers, slamming into the iron fence behind him with a whooshing sound.

thump.

The crisp sound of the impact rang out, and Lewis's smile suddenly froze on his hairy face.

The iron mesh, which I remembered should have torn easily, was now harder than I had ever imagined.

dong dong dong.
He scratched and clawed frantically, but... he didn't even leave a single white mark?
"for"

"Varied"

"What?"

Da, da da da.

The whistling of bullets answered his question.

In just a few seconds, the massive body collapsed under the strain, its bloodlust quickly subsided, and it miraculously regained a sliver of reason.

Lewis turned his head with difficulty to look at the prosecutor standing behind the guard.

The other party didn't even bother to glance at him, turning straight around and walking towards the isolation ward, clearly intending to take care of his three teammates who had also eaten meat.

Hahaha! !

We'll die together, we'll all die together!

No one can escape!
The ferocious laughter abruptly stopped, and the body beneath the black hair finally ceased its undulations.

"Code name: Bloodthirsty Rat, infection progress: stage two, already inspected and killed by trainee prosecutor 'Cheng Ye'!"

(End of this chapter)