Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 70: Division of Power Leads to Ideological Clashes!
July 11, 35th year of the New Era.

Night 8.03.

The wind gradually subsided, but the rain became even more torrential.

Large raindrops fell from the sky, spreading out in circles on the ground.

The massive North Checkpoint is now completely sealed off, with heavy steel barricades erected at all exits.

On the open ground in Zone F, two 9.6-meter trucks were quietly parked in front of a two-story building.

More than ten staff members were busy but orderly carrying out storage boxes of different sizes and materials from inside the building.

Open the rear compartment of the truck.

A blast of cold air hit me. The cabin was divided into densely packed squares, a specially designed space for storing sources of infection.

"Be very careful, don't bump into anything! The sources of infection here aren't very stable!"

Qin Feng stood guard at the entrance, occasionally raising his voice to remind people, while directing the staff to load the trucks in an orderly manner according to the numbers.

Regardless of how many days this wave of infections lasts, the checkpoints must "close" for a week according to regulations.

To prevent the unintended spread of the contained infection sources, they must all be loaded onto trucks and taken back to the Inner City Research Institute.

"I'm talking to you! The armor-covered vines in here were specifically requested by Director Liu. If you accidentally ingest them, you'll pay with your life!"

Seeing that two of the four staff members slipped and the containment box with green vines almost slipped from their hands, Qin Feng frowned and stepped forward to steadily support the box.

However, when he stopped, he realized that it wasn't the staff member who slipped, but rather the vines inside the box that were wriggling restlessly.

As it was being moved and shaken, it even tried to break through the box and escape.

"You think you can just come and go as you please after entering this containment box? Do you really think Happiness City is some kind of urban ruin where you can come and go as you please?"

Qin Feng reached out and pressed the button on the box, and a hissing sound instantly erupted from inside.

In just four or five seconds, the struggling vines suddenly froze, completely stopping and no longer moving.

"Old Qin, you have quite a few good things at your checkpoint."

Upon seeing this, the two researchers at the door immediately stepped forward, their faces full of curiosity as they looked at them.

"Even our infection source research institute doesn't have anything this good, and you have this..."

"They're just small gadgets. I have limited equipment here, so I have to figure out some ways myself."

Qin Feng couldn't help but shake his head.

The research institute doesn't use such an old method; it uses special sound waves to suppress the activity of the infection source.

"I'll see if I can get a permit to work at the checkpoint this time."

"you?"

Qin Feng shook his head and chuckled.

The advantage of this place is that you can get access to new live sources of infection every day or two for research, but the disadvantages are also obvious.

Like the inspectors, researchers who choose to serve in the buffer zone are not allowed to enter the inner city on ordinary days. They can only apply for permission to return to the city when an infection wave hits.

At the same time, he had to apply for funding for the research equipment himself from the checkpoint. Most of his equipment was sponsored by Director Liu of the inner city; otherwise, it would just be an empty shell.

"What, you look down on me? I'll be at level two after the New Year too."

"Alright, alright, then come out and help me out. This place is always bustling with activity."

Qin Feng was too lazy to explain the pros and cons to the two of them, so he waved his hand and continued to supervise the loading.

About twenty minutes later.

The last source of infection was carried out. After a second check confirmed that there was nothing wrong, the doors of the two trucks slowly closed.

"Station Chief Harlin, I've finished loading the truck."

Taking out his defense communication device, Qin Feng dialed the nominal highest-ranking person in charge of the North Inspection Station.

"Funding? That's not a problem. We have more than enough now."

"Yes, don't worry, I will come back after the wave of infection is over, and I won't leave this place empty."

Harlem's empty promises remain as simple and unpretentious as ever.

Tell him that after the wave of infections subsides, he will return and receive 30,000 contribution points from the North Checkpoint branch.

But given the current status of the checkpoint in Happiness City, how easy is it to do?

Let alone allocating funds to the research institute, even repairing the internal facilities of the checkpoint is a struggle.

"Okay, let's go!"

Qin Feng dismissed the staff and invited the two researchers to get into the lead car.

The interior space is quite spacious, with eight seats, which is even more spacious than the Jinbei van.

The soldiers in charge of escorting the goods did not board the vehicles. Each vehicle had 10 soldiers, who were hooked to the cargo hold latches with hooks and locks, and were suspended outside the vehicles like the Flying Tigers.

Armed with weapons and equipment almost to the teeth, along with the four eye-catching characters 'Happiness Legion' on their chests.

Anyone who isn't tired of living would quickly slip away upon seeing this commotion from afar.

Two vehicles drove out of the North Checkpoint, one after the other.

"The last time I came to the buffer zone was 13 years ago, when I came to help clean up the battlefield."

"So many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and this place has changed a lot."

Sitting next to Qin Feng, Lü Jian sighed with curiosity, his gaze sweeping out the window.

Large Jinbei vans patrolling the roadside frequently roared past, heading straight into the alley, where they would immediately erupt into fierce gunfire.

For him, whose impression was still stuck in the era of residents fighting each other, it was like going to another place.

"It's been 13 years, it's time for some changes."

Qin Feng sighed softly, a sense of emotion welling up in his eyes. "Back then, in exchange for control of the buffer zone, the idealists completely relinquished some power in the inner city, pouring all their ideals into this area. Looking back over the years, the results haven't been bad at all."

"More and more elderly people in the buffer zone are now developing a sense of belonging here, which has led to the emergence of many strange and unusual community rules, some of which sound unbelievable."

"Oh, tell me?"

"There's not much to say. Whether it will work or not, we'll have to wait and see with this wave of infections."

As the truck entered the city, Qin Feng suddenly felt somewhat disheartened.

With only three hours remaining before the outbreak of the infection wave, the roadside epidemic prevention stalls had not yet closed and were still distributing antiviral powder to pedestrians.

Someone drank it on the spot, immediately vomited black blood, and collapsed to the ground convulsing a few seconds later, frightening the surrounding crowd into retreating.

At this point, staff members wearing protective suits will step forward and put the person directly into a body bag.

Is it scary?

It was truly shocking.

But none of the pedestrians queuing to receive the anti-epidemic powder backed down.

Clearly, by this point, everyone realized what was about to happen in the buffer zone.

However, no one dared to speak out, and without official information to verify their judgment, no one dared to break the silence.

"what?"

As the truck drove past the intersection, Qin Feng suddenly paused, staring out the window, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"what happened?"

"It's nothing, I just saw someone I know."

He spotted a familiar figure outside a building with the Tianyuan Mall sign not far away.

What's this guy doing here at this hour?

Qin Feng took out his defense communication device, tapped a couple of times, and couldn't help but shake his head.

This building houses more than 4,000 people and is now a powder keg; the probability of infection was almost infinite in the past.

"Should we remind him?"

After thinking for a while, Qin Feng edited a text message, but deleted and revised it several times before sending it. The original reminder of more than 300 words, including how to deal with the starfish infected and how to escape from the fusion, was ultimately reduced to four words.

Go home early!

"Who is this person that deserves your reminder, Researcher Qin?"

Lu Jian leaned over and saw the contents of the text message, and immediately found it strange.

Although Qin Feng was only a Level 2 Researcher, all the researchers in the institute knew that if his research philosophy hadn't been so incompatible with the scientific school, he would have been promoted to Level 3 Researcher long ago based solely on his professional abilities.

This is really awkward.

The Institute of Infection Sources is the core of the scientific faction, yet it's filled with researchers whose ideologies clash.

Let's deal with it. Qin Feng's professional competence is undeniable; nitpicking will only cause panic among the staff.

If we don't deal with it, he'll be like a thorn in the side of the research institute, an eyesore to everyone in the tech community.

They decided to put it together and exile him.

Out of sight, out of mind; Qin Feng himself was also comfortable, enjoying his freedom at the checkpoint branch.

"A prosecutor, um, an intern."

"Is an intern even worth reminding? He might just die in there this time."

Lu Jian couldn't help but click his tongue, then slapped his forehead, "Could it be Cheng Long's son?"

"Ah."

"Tsk tsk, then I won't ask. None of the Cheng family members are cowards. Cheng Wu is, but Cheng Long is even bolder than Cheng Wu. Our Happiness City almost had to change its city lord."

"He's different."

Qin Feng hesitated for a moment, "Cheng Wu is a staunch believer in the original intentions, but he also rigidly applied some of the ideas of the technology faction. He wanted to turn the buffer zone into a series of isolated prisons according to his ideas, which ultimately led to his being betrayed and abandoned by everyone. Even the people he trusted most were unwilling to carry out his ideas."

"Cheng Long. He's gone mad from trying to transcend the ordinary. He dared to set his sights on the city lord. He deserves to die. Fortunately, Ding Yishan cut ties quickly. Otherwise, the checkpoint would be under pressure from three factions at the same time. Even with Director Liu holding the line, the police department would have to reorganize and divide the power."

"But Cheng Ye."

"Cheng Ye? That's a good name. It means 'dragons fight in the wild.' Does Cheng Long intend to pass on his philosophy to his son?"

"No, he is the only person I have seen at the checkpoint who is still true to his original aspirations during my three years of duty."

"Beginner's sect?"

Lü Jian couldn't help but laugh. Now everyone knew what the situation was like inside the checkpoint.
It's a joke that a trainee prosecutor is a newcomer.

"Is he still clinging to some illusions and expectations, like his grandfather, who outwardly claims to give people enough human rights but in reality wants to strip everyone of their rights and make them puppets according to his ideas?"

"I don't know, but I never gave up and struggled."

Recalling his interactions over the past few days, Qin Feng smiled. "Anyway, he's very simple-minded. Compared to dealing with those old foxes, I'm at least willing to talk to him, well, talk to him more."

"Of course, Researcher Qin is a true believer in our institute. Strong people always appreciate each other."

The researcher, Jeremy Paul, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, his tone somewhat sarcastic.

However, Qin Feng and Lü Jian were too lazy to pay attention to him, and no one responded.

The truck continued forward until it reached Giant Wall Station.

As the most densely populated area in the buffer zone, Lü Jian and Paul were on edge almost simultaneously.

With the outbreak of infection less than three hours away, the safest place in the entire buffer zone is undoubtedly near the Great Wall.

The Happiness Legion, the strongest force in Happiness City, is stationed here. Even if a catastrophic infection wave were to occur, as long as there are no extraordinary earthbound spirits mixed in, the infection wave would never be able to break through the giant wall defense.

Conversely, this is also currently the most dangerous part of the buffer zone.

Dense crowds mean that infected individuals are also clustered together. The dense flow of people can instantly become a breeding ground for the spread of the surrogate starfish, and the chain reaction is unimaginable.

The truck slowly moved forward through the crowd.

Soldiers hanging from the carriages had to fire shots into the air from time to time to push back the surging crowds and make way for a narrow passage.

Fortunately.

No one dared to ram the truck until it reached the gates of happiness.

Lu Jian patted his chest, still shaken:

"Thirteen years ago, nearly 13 people launched an attack on the wall. This time, things have really changed."

Paul continued, cursing, "They've finally learned to be scared. These bastards have eyes like ants and wolves, all they ever think about is getting something for nothing and climbing the ladder in one step."

Has it changed?

Or are you scared?

Qin Feng pursed his lips, staring at the cold-looking alloy gate in front of him, and at the dazzling "world of lights" inside. He suddenly felt a little dazed.

The longer you stay outside, the more you feel the separation between the two places, separated by just a wall.

Where is the truth?
Beyond the giant wall lies a precarious buffer zone, where infected creatures lurk in every corner, and the rules crumble before the instinct for survival.

Within the massive walls lies the "City of Happiness," built of steel and order. Beneath the shimmering neon lights, however, lies factional infighting and ideological clashes, which, though devoid of swords and bloodshed, are all the more deadly.

He suddenly couldn't tell whether the bloodshed and cruelty outside the wall was more real, or whether the "stability" inside the wall, adorned with rules, was more like a dream.

"Comrade Qin Feng, please get out of the car for inspection and disinfection."

The soldier guarding the gate of happiness stepped forward and knocked on the car door, interrupting Qin Feng's reverie.

"Ok."

The car door opened, and under the watchful eyes of countless gun barrels, Qin Feng stepped through the gate of happiness.

In the imagination of the inhabitants of the buffer zone, crossing this boundary leads to a new world.

But the truth is the opposite.

After passing through this door, you will have to go through an isolation and disinfection workstation built inside the wall.

There are a total of sixteen steps. If any step is not met, the user will be sent back to the buffer zone.

"The substitute starfish has passed the infection test."

"Comprehensive testing of 4107 sources of infection has passed"

"The body's vital signs are within acceptable limits."

"Respiratory and circulatory toxin filtration meets standards."

"Blood analysis data meets the standards."

"Immune system stress response successfully activated"

"."

The sound of inspection indicators being checked rang out one after another.

A cold mechanical announcement sounded.

Qin Feng paid no attention to that; he simply raised his head and stared intently at the fiery red ivy that had taken up residence on the ceiling of the disinfection station.

Red blades wrapped around metal pipes scan humans in a special way, and staff at the disinfection station collect and report data based on the reactions of the blades.

In terms of the technology of the old days, this would seem like a fantasy.

However, in the new era, which had just been ravaged by extraordinary plants, it seemed quite ordinary.

Nowadays, almost every super-sanctuary city uses special extraordinary plants as gatekeepers. Even when faced with new sources of infection not recorded in the database, these plants can keep 99% of the threats out through special physiological responses.

Of course, compared to those extraordinary plants that once caused catastrophes, this plant, which is called "extraordinary," has long lost the ability to enable humans to ascend to the extraordinary after symbiosis.

A fiery red leaf fell.

Qin Feng raised his hand and caught it, and two streams of dark red blood gushed out instantly, landing on the leaves.

A faint golden-red light shimmered, and the veins of the leaves were clearly visible, gradually forming two Chinese characters.

Qin, Feng!
"Biotechnology certification approved!"

　P.S.: Still working from 8 am to 6 pm, no job cut, writing furiously, and I'll be able to release another batch of chapters in a couple of days~~~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)