Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 62 Unexpected Wealth and Unfamiliar Debts!

"Although the bloodthirsty rats have become rampant in the surrounding provinces and cities, they rarely venture into our Shih province due to climate and terrain limitations. Even if some do occasionally appear, they cannot survive the cold winter."

"This thing is extremely weak in individual combat; it can't even beat an ant wolf in a one-on-one fight."

"The real threat lies in the 'blood plague' pathogen it carries, a special kind of extraordinary curse!"

Given the known sources of infection, Qin Feng shouldn't be needed; the checkpoint's cleaning team should suffice.

However, upon hearing that four sources of bloodthirsty rat infection had appeared, Qin Feng was quite shocked and made a special trip to check the situation.

"A transcendent curse? Does that mean you'll get infected if you're attacked?"

Cheng Ye was startled and quickly asked.

Information about the bloodthirsty rats is only mentioned in the prosecutor's manual, without a detailed description of the infection routes.

If you get ambushed, you'll turn into a rat monster, which is just as dangerous as the Stand Starfish.

"That's not necessarily true; not all extraordinary curses are that powerful."

Qin Feng shook his head and chuckled, "Although the bloodthirsty rats spread the bloodthirsty plague by biting their prey, as long as humans are not weak or sick, their immunity can completely kill the curse that has entered their bodies."

"There is only one condition under which infection will occur."

He paused, then said solemnly, "If scavengers mistakenly eat the flesh and blood of infected mutated beasts after they have killed each other, their immune system will fail, and they will become infected with the curse!"

"That's it"

Cheng Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

The conditions for infection are too harsh; most people wouldn't be so reckless as to dare to eat the flesh and blood of a dead, mutated beast.

“I’ve taken the source of infection with me. There’s no need to verify this common type. I’ll settle the contribution points with you on the spot.”

How many points are counted for a single item?

"Not much, 5 points each. But since you were identified during your duty, you're eligible for the checkpoint's 30% subsidy, so I'll charge you 7 points per point."

Upon hearing that the Bloodlust Rat was only worth 5 points, Cheng Ye couldn't help but feel disappointed. The four of them combined were not even worth as many contribution points as a single Deathrattle Tentacle.

However, he forgot that there was a subsidy for the express station. As long as he was on duty and found infected people through inspection, he would receive an extra 30% bonus.

30% of 5 points is 1.5 points, but Qin Feng was willing to calculate it as 2 points for him.

"Thanks."

Cheng Ye nodded his thanks, as he was currently short of money.

Qin Feng waved his hand, glanced at the tattered cloth peeking out from Cheng Ye's calf, and said, "It's all paid for by your checkpoint. What are you thanking me for? This is what you deserve. I've been on duty for three years, and this is the first time I've seen a trainee inspector like you, catching infected people every few days."

"Go buy some equipment as soon as you have the money. If you suddenly get a bad breakout, you'll have to fend for yourself."

This naturally refers to the stand-in starfish.

Even the inspectors knew that the research institute working on a cure had obviously already informed all the researchers.

"The isolation wards are full, so I had no choice but to conduct screenings."

"Tsk tsk, no need to explain to me, I'm just a cleaning crew member. During my duty, I have to call you 'sir'."

Qin Feng seems to have a lot of authority.

After receiving Cheng Ye's badge, I was surprised to find that my salary was paid out without having to go through Happiness Bank.

A total of 28 contribution points were credited to Cheng Ye's account, instantly making his empty wallet bulge.

"Cool!"

Today really is a lucky day. After watching Qin Feng leave, Cheng Ye returned to the interrogation site with a smug look on his face.

The Flying Bird Caravan has 34 points, and the Bloodthirsty Rat has 28 points, for a total of 62 points.

Including the 60 points from the settlement with the Rotten Vine, it's almost reached the maximum reimbursement standard of 150 points.

"Since Lewis is infected, everyone can rest assured that he will not be counted in the departure quota."

"continue."

Nick was quite frightened, but after this delay, he gradually recovered.

The person confronting him was the same one who had previously exposed Lewis's flaws.

The two accused each other but couldn't find any fault with each other. The 37 people around listened intently, hoping to find some loopholes, but they couldn't find any and had to give up.

"Alright, you two have passed. Go pack your things and get ready to go home."

Cheng Ye smiled and led the applause. The owl and the raven exchanged a glance and immediately followed suit.

The guards around them also smiled and applauded louder and louder, making the two of them seem like heroes returning home.

That's quite impressive, isn't it?

Stepping out of the isolation cage, the bright sunshine warmed my skin.

The resentment in their hearts vanished for no apparent reason, and they turned to Cheng Ye in unison, bowing deeply.

"You are a great prosecutor."

May God bless you!

After saying this, the two left the scene under the guidance of the staff, their backs showing a sense of relief.

He immediately drew envious glances from the other 37 people, who wished they could replace him instantly.

"continue!"

The first one in the group died.

The last-place finisher in Group 2 and the third-place finisher in Group 3 have both left.

The next pair matched up were the second-to-last in Group 1 and the second-to-last in Group 2. The two entered the isolation cage and began their debate.

With this precedent set, the people in the surrounding cages became even more focused, frantically nitpicking. But unfortunately, as long as they weren't contaminated humans, even if their words occasionally contradicted each other, no alienation would occur.

After a heated debate, the second group was defeated because they could not justify their arguments.

The second-to-last team, like a victorious general, walked out of the isolation cage with its head held high.

"Wonderful!"

Cheng Ye clapped, and everyone else followed suit.

Even the others in the isolation cage gave a round of applause.

The more than two hundred people in the isolation ward who were waiting to hear the gunshot were immediately disappointed, and angry curses rose and fell.

However, after a while of cursing, many people secretly regretted it, fearing that others would hear and report them.

They secretly hoped that their names would be on the list of the next batch of people released by Cheng Ye.

"This Prosecutor Cheng is truly professional; he deserves to be the prosecutor of our Happiness City!"

Someone murmured something, which drew a chorus of silent agreement.

After all, when Cheng Ye first entered the isolation ward, he led his team to accurately identify three infected individuals without saying a word.

The entire process, from discovery to resolution, was completed in one go. Before many people could even react, the battle was over, with zero friendly fire incidents.

Compared to yesterday's "half-baked" performance, the difference is quite obvious.

Screening continues in waves.

At noon, as the number of people allowed to leave gradually decreased, another infected person was spotted by the sharp eyes of the "masses".

Da da da.

A burst of gunfire shattered the silence, eliciting thunderous cheers from those inside the isolation ward who were accustomed to applause.

Many people clung to the railing, their faces showing expressions of rapture.

After all, compared to the damn applause, the gunshot made them feel that being locked up here was meaningful.

However, to Cheng Ye's utter surprise,

It was one thing for the people inside the isolation ward to cheer, but the person who was confronting the infected person in a cage was also jumping and bouncing around, extremely ecstatic.

Even the people in the other four cages were excited, showing relieved smiles!
Someone died, and a spot became available. Doesn't that mean they have a chance to leave?

The cleanup team rushed over.

This time it wasn't Qin Feng, but the cleanup team from the North Checkpoint.

As expected, he continued his simple lifestyle, carrying a shovel and an iron hook, and walked over in a carefree manner.

It wasn't until they saw Cheng Ye that the captain, who was in charge, put away his casual attitude and showed a hint of respect.

"Inspector Cheng, we are the cleanup team responsible for areas A and B."

“Erlin Wallace,” he introduced himself, rubbing his rough hands on his uniform before shaking hands with Cheng Ye.

"Captain Wallace, do you know what the source of this infection is?"

The infected person who was identified died from: a landlubber trying to act like a water monkey.

Even though he couldn't swim, he stubbornly claimed that he had swum all the way from Linjiang, and people immediately tested his swimming style by making him doggy paddle comically on the ground.

After pawing twice, it started flicking its tongue and its body convulsed wildly, looking like a water snake whose vital spot was being held.

"Hidden Ice Serpent, a special source of infection that hides in the water."

Wallace recognized the source of the infection at a glance, his tone full of regret, "This source of infection can only spread by causing external injury, has an extremely long incubation period, and its lethality and infectivity are also pitifully weak. If we could have discovered it earlier and realized it earlier, we would have had plenty of ways to treat it in our buffer zone."

Is it still treatable?

"Of course we could! If we could die from any source of infection, humanity would have been wiped out long ago!"

Before Wallace could finish speaking, the cleanup team had already stepped into the cage and pulled a small, ice-blue snake from the infected creature's abdomen and navel.

It was about the length of a forearm, its scales gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and its body was as smooth as a 'water baby'.

"This shouldn't be worth much, right?" Cheng Ye asked tentatively.

The infected organisms that can be treated must be the worst category.

"My lord, you've guessed wrong."

Wallace chuckled. "These kinds of infected are the real hot commodities. Think about it, the source of infection can grant humans superpowers. To decipher these abilities, we definitely have to start with those types that are not immediately fatal after infection and can be cured."

"This Hidden Ice Serpent is worth at least this much."

"How many?"

Seeing Wallace hold up a palm, Cheng Ye guessed:
"5 O'Clock?"

"Starting at 50, and this one is in very good condition, maybe I can even raise the price a bit!"

Ah!
How many? !
50?

Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, and his gaze toward the ice-blue snake became more intense.

So it turns out that earning contribution points at the fast checkpoints is so easy?

No wonder no one wants to go to the safer central checkpoint; the difference in risk between the two sides is far less significant than the difference in benefits.

What central checkpoint? What debt? I'm completely unfamiliar with these!
He's only been at the fast checkpoint for a few days.

If we count the first day from morning to night as two days, then at most I was on duty for three working days.

"62 points, plus these 50 points, Rotten Vine will give me another 60 points."

"172 points, that's enough?"

(End of this chapter)