Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 271: Core Authority, Dabo Fief!

"A Border Inspector?"Ding Yishan repeatedly muttered the title, occasionally nodding lightly and then shaking his head slightly. His eyes were profound, pondering over something unknown.

Halin, however, was much more direct. He immediately retorted, "If this Border Inspector defects from Happiness City, how should we respond?"

"Station Master Halin, don't you think that question is akin to asking how we should handle an Elder defecting from Happiness City?"

"..."

Cheng Ye's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm. "With all due respect, anyone who can reach that stage possesses capabilities that are undoubtedly at the absolute pinnacle of the wasteland. When that time comes, who can restrict him? And who would even have the qualifications to do so?"

"Indeed, you are right."

Ding Yishan gave a rare, explicit nod of approval. "If Happiness City truly manages to produce a Border Inspector, his significance will no longer be limited to just being an inspector for Happiness City. He will be a border inspector for human civilization, a border inspector for the entire wasteland. No matter where he goes, his abilities will pave the way for humanity to reclaim the wasteland and rebuild civilization."

As his voice faded, Halin still stubbornly shook his head. "Unfortunately, no one can achieve that. Even someone as powerful as Station Master Cheng Wu only proposed the concept of integrating containment and research. Just pushing those two aspects to the extreme is already an extravagant hope that generations have struggled to realize, let alone integrating field duty and external trade into the mix."

"No, they actually don't conflict at all."

Cheng Ye simply stood up, walked to the desk, and pointed out the window at the Central Inspection Station, which was already lit up for the night. "If an inspector can manage both outdoor containment and return to the city for research, then he will inevitably excel at checkpoint duties. His familiarity with Infection Sources would far surpass any inspector who grew up relying solely on training."

"As for external trade, can cooperation really be negotiated relying solely on smooth talking and a few negotiation skills?

"Obviously not. Experience traveling through the Wilderness and negotiation tactics are certainly important, but the core requirement is possessing valuable trade goods. Only with those can Happiness City's negotiations proceed smoothly, bringing back more resources for development."

"And as it happens, an inspector who has traveled the wasteland and excels at research knows best what is most scarce out there. If he can conduct targeted research to create such products, is there any fear of lacking partners or being unable to sell his goods?"

It had to be said that as the founder of the entire wasteland inspection station model, Cheng Wu's vision was truly far-reaching.

Even today, every word he left behind and every expected vision of the future he had were being validated by reality.

Containment and research absolutely could not be separated; they had to be advanced simultaneously.

Even if this path was incredibly difficult, they had to firmly cultivate inspectors to possess both of these abilities.

Unfortunately, he was forced out by Happiness City back then and left too early. Today, no one knew his whereabouts.

Perhaps he was living incognito on the other side of the planet, silently preparing for the arrival of the next era, waiting to reshape his glory and step forward to tell everyone they were wrong.

Or perhaps he had long since died in some remote frontier or a desolate island, leaving only a group of people to reminisce over what he had left behind.

And the various concepts he left behind were not inherited by future generations. Instead, they were shelved, becoming a pipe dream remembered only by a few.

Halin, having been refuted twice in succession, had a face full of surprise. He muttered softly, "But even when Station Master Cheng Wu was still here, he didn't truly expect anyone to achieve this. He merely pinned his hopes on the wisdom of future generations. It is essentially no different from us sitting here today, indulging in lofty talk."

"Therefore, I will put my words into practice."

Cheng Ye nodded slowly. He swept a commanding gaze over the two men, his tone incomparably resolute. "I will become that... Border Inspector."

If they wanted to limit Inspector Cheng's... no, Station Master Cheng's authority, then he would just throw the problem right back at them.

'I have the potential and the drive to obtain this power. Who will restrict me? Who would dare?'

'Some Transcendent?'

'Can they step out of the sanctuary city and travel freely through the Wilderness like I can?'

'Can they carry the Belief of Tan Ming, the top dog of Shi Province, and control an open path?'

'They want to deal with the Inspection Station?'

'What qualifications does this so-called Integrity Supervision Department have to investigate me?'

'Could their contributions possibly compare to my achievements in containing an Immortal Object and resolving a disaster for Happiness City?'

"Inspector Cheng, is this the answer you're giving to me and Station Master Halin for your debriefing, or is it your inauguration declaration for taking office at the Leaping Wilderness Inspection Station?"

Ding Yishan leaned back in his chair, resting his elbows on the leather armrests and crossing his fingers in front of him.

A flash of reminiscence crossed his face, his eyes carrying a hint of disbelief. "When I was young, I used to sneak into your grandfather's office to find him, even more often than I looked for my own father. Your grandfather wasn't exactly amicable. He would frequently scold me, telling me to get lost and stop bothering his work."

"But despite what he said, every afternoon during dinner, he would still spare ten minutes to chat with me while he ate. Of course, I was different from you. At that time, I was just the descendant of an ordinary inspector. Although I wasn't quite as useless as you were back in the Inner City, I wasn't outstanding either. So, everything he talked to me about revolved around the future and ideals."

"There is one sentence I remember exceptionally clearly. He said: 'The better the Inspection Station develops, the further it is from the progress of the era, meaning humanity is straying down the wrong path; conversely, if the Inspection Station is on the brink of crisis, it means the turning point for a new era is coming.'"

"I didn't understand those words back then, but over the years, reality has proven him right. Whenever the Inspection Station was developing smoothly, there would always be defection incidents, Mother Source invasions, or various unexpected disasters. But when the station fell into a state where no one cared, and the inspectors were forced out of the sanctuary city to lead pioneering expeditions, that period was precisely the start of a new era, and the station would welcome a new cycle of development."

Ding Yishan kept his gaze fixed, completely ignoring the slightly dumbfounded expression on Halin's face beside him. He asked in a deep voice, "So, do you think that right now, the next new era is already approaching?"

"Of course. That is beyond a doubt."

Cheng Ye nodded immediately. "If the current situation doesn't count as the sign of the next era, then what does?"

Inspectors were heading out to build satellite towns, and Happiness City had already expanded its pioneering efforts two hundred kilometers outward.

At this juncture, the messy remnants left behind from the previous era would naturally surface one after another.

And once these troubles were completely cleaned up, Happiness City would logically step into the next era, devoting all its efforts to pioneering and development.

"Very well. Then I will assume this is your... inauguration declaration to me."

Ding Yishan nodded in satisfaction, leaning forward slightly as he rummaged under his large desk to pull out a piece of hard cardstock.

This document was clearly prepared well in advance. Not only was it stamped with the Station Master's exclusive seal, but it also bore the signatures and seals of Deputy Station Master Halin, the two Duty Station Masters, and a whole slew of Phase Five and Phase Four stamps. Even Zhou Changhai's seal was conspicuously present. The procedures were so complete it was terrifying.

As for what was recorded on it, Cheng Ye hadn't yet been able to see clearly before Ding Yishan gently pushed the cardstock forward and spoke. "Alright, out of the four directions you mentioned, management ability is actually the most inconsequential part. If there truly comes a day when you can train the other three abilities to the ultimate standard you described, so what if I become your deputy?"

"As for the Starship, Zhou Changhai's defection, and the Integrity Supervision Department, you don't need to concern yourself. They are nothing but harmless little troubles. If we don't thoroughly resolve these hidden conflicts once and for all, how can we talk about stepping into Happiness City's next era? From now on, just do whatever you need to do. Whether it's returning to Dabo Town to lead the subsequent construction, or going out on external trade to expand your horizons, the Inspection Station won't impose many restrictions on you. If you need anything, apply directly through Mu Shuang."

At this point, he paused, his gaze becoming exceptionally solemn. "There is only one thing I want you to remember. If one day you also choose to defect from Happiness City, then I hope you depart honorably in your capacity as a Border Inspector, and not as an ordinary inspector merely riding on the Cheng family's name, fleeing in panic like a stray dog like Zhou Changhai did!"

Having said his piece, Ding Yishan swiveled his chair around, casting his gaze toward the brightly lit Inspection Station outside the window, saying no more.

The hard cardstock, covered in seals and signatures, lay quietly on the desk like a silent promise, as well as a heavy expectation.

Clearly, he had no intention of speaking further, nor did he want to let Cheng Ye know more about the Inspection Station's upcoming operational plans.

Whether it was the Starship or the Integrity Supervision Department, he didn't need to intervene.

The Inspection Station had been established for thirty-three years and had seen seven generations of Station Masters. For it to stand tall until today, it naturally wouldn't collapse just because a Phase Five inspector defected.

Looking at it over a longer time scale, this was just a minor setback, a necessary internal reshuffle.

Cheng Ye picked up the cardstock as Jiang Chuan quickly stepped forward to open the door for him.

Just before stepping out, he glanced back at Halin. This strict trainee instructor, the "boss" of the Westerner inspectors, and the key figure who single-handedly pushed the Inspection Station into an East-West rivalry, still bore that slightly stunned expression. He had clearly not yet recovered from the previous conversation.

"A new era is about to begin."

Cheng Ye strode out the door, leaving everything behind him.

The moment the door clicked shut, the shattering sound of a teacup hitting the floor echoed from within, and the faint sounds of arguing were entirely cut off.

By the time he reached the first floor, he couldn't hear the slightest noise from behind.

The East-West division led by Halin was finally drawing to a close. From the moment Ding Yishan asked if the "new era had arrived," it meant he had decided to terminate all the current modes of internal friction.

'Good luck, Station Master Halin~'

Cheng Ye thought silently as he walked out of the Station Master's small building, faintly glancing at the two silhouettes reflected in the window.

As an inspector brought up by Cheng Wu, Ding Yishan's methods and abilities had clearly never been fully exposed.

Halin, on the other hand, was of the next generation after Cheng Wu's departure; he was Ding Yishan's junior.

Right now, Ding Yishan could point at Halin's nose and reprimand him, lecturing him like a grandson. But in the future, would Halin ever have the chance to use his seniority from the previous generation to reprimand Inspector Cheng?

Obviously, there was no such possibility anymore.

At the exit of the Central Inspection Station.

Mu Shuang was already waiting in a disinfected off-road vehicle. Seeing Cheng Ye holding a piece of cardstock in his hand, she blinked and asked curiously, "Inspector Cheng, what is that?"

"Oh, I haven't even had the chance to look..."

Using the light coming from behind him, Cheng Ye raised the cardstock. His eyes landed on the header, and he couldn't help but feel surprised.

It was actually a rare triple-headed official document from the Inspection Station.

[Consultation Document Regarding the Early Full-Status Promotion of Trainee Inspector Cheng Ye]

[Consultation Document Regarding the Granting of 'Core Inspector' Authority to Trainee Inspector Cheng Ye]

[Consultation Document Regarding the Granting of the Independent Satellite 'Dabo Town' to Trainee Inspector Cheng Ye]

"What is it?" Mu Shuang leaned closer, curiously examining the document's headers.

The next second, the smile on her face instantly froze, replaced by utter astonishment. She completely froze in place.

Meanwhile, that vanished smile happened to transfer onto Cheng Ye's face.

More than ten seconds passed. Even after Cheng Ye had gotten into the car and sat in the passenger seat, Mu Shuang still hadn't snapped out of it.

It wasn't until Cheng Ye rapped on the car door that she jolted back to reality and looked over. Her eyes met a young yet composed face. "Let's go. I've already obtained what I need inside the city, but compared to what I truly want... it's still far from enough!"

Three days later.

September 5th.

A cargo truck slowly drove up in front of the Big Egg Research Institute.

But this time, it wasn't Shi Xu who came out to greet Cheng Ye as usual, but a squad of fully armed guards.

"Inspector Cheng, please step out of the vehicle for a pat-down, and put on the specially made equipment we have for inspectors."

The guards' attitude had taken a sharp turn for the worse compared to before, carrying an obvious vigilance.

Cheng Ye nodded and got out of the truck. Eight guards immediately surrounded him.

There were also armed guards nearby who actually clicked off their safety catches, guarding against the possibility of him going berserk and using Transcendent abilities!

Various detection instruments repeatedly scanned him. They even sprayed special liquid solutions on his skin and clothes, being so meticulous that not a single detail was missed.

The entire process lasted a full five minutes. It wasn't until every step was confirmed to be error-free that the tense expressions on the guards' faces slightly eased.

"Apologies, it's because..." The captain of the guards was about to explain when Cheng Ye interrupted him.

"I understand," Cheng Ye gave a slight nod. "Inspector Zhou Changhai's actions have severely damaged the image of inspectors. Everyone raising their vigilance is a responsible measure for all the researchers."

Seeing this, the guard captain said no more and fetched a black box from the side.

When the box was opened, the 'specially made equipment' inside was actually a set of pitch-black Hinge Shackles and handcuffs.

He wasn't a prisoner, yet he was being treated like one.

After the defection incident broke out, the reputation of inspectors had plummeted in just three short days.

So much so that even though Cheng Ye now had the authority to enter the Research Institute, he still had to be subjected to such restrictions.

"Pardon the offense!"

The captain picked up the shackles and handcuffs, securing them onto Cheng Ye's legs and wrists one by one.

It wasn't until the equipment let out a confirming 'beep' that the group of guards swiftly retreated to both sides of the road like an ebbing tide.

The chains were unusually heavy, estimated to be no less than a hundred kilograms.

Even stranger was that after putting them on, Cheng Ye could completely no longer sense the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse inside his Spirit Body Space. He only retained a faint connection to Little Flame.

'It's actually a method to restrict Transcendents?'

Cheng Ye felt surprised in his heart, but he didn't dwell on it. He got back into the truck and drove toward the entrance of the Big Egg.

When the truck parked in front of the coffee shop, Shi Xu finally hurried over with a flustered expression. Seeing the shackles and handcuffs on Cheng Ye's body, he froze instantly.

It took him four or five seconds to react. He hurriedly said, "Inspector Cheng, this..."

"I understand, and you understand too, don't you?" Cheng Ye said mildly.

"..."

"..."

Shi Xu paused, eventually letting out a long sigh and shaking his head without saying anything more.

He waved his hand behind him, and staff members immediately stepped forward to help unload the optical equipment from the truck.

Taking advantage of this gap, Cheng Ye walked to the side and asked curiously, "I want to know, how exactly did Zhou Changhai take away a level-five researcher? Logically speaking, shouldn't leaving the city require reporting to the higher-ups?"

"This matter... it's a long story."

Shi Xu's expression darkened. Leaning against a pillar, he whispered, "Zhou Changhai's father and Researcher Zhang Shun were sworn brothers who went through life and death together. Back then... never mind, there's no point recalling those past events now."

He paused before continuing, "Using this bond, Zhou Changhai said he wanted Researcher Zhang Shun to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Wenlu County to help him save face. Researcher Zhang Shun agreed, and the application to leave the city was personally approved by Director Yu. She even thought of letting Researcher Zhang Shun take a few days off to get a good rest."

Cheng Ye couldn't help but be stunned. "It was that simple?"

"Sigh, it's precisely because it was so simple that it actually succeeded."

Shi Xu sighed again and looked at Cheng Ye sincerely. "If Inspector Cheng found Runes in another place and asked me to go help, I would also agree without hesitation, even if there was a possibility that you wanted to defect and were coercing me to leave with you."

"Heh, hehe." Cheng Ye chuckled dryly, pretending not to understand.

He didn't dare entertain those words. With the Cheng family's "glorious history" lying right out in the open, even if he was just joking, someone might take it seriously.

"What about the investigation into the Starship? Does the Research Institute have any leads on that?" Cheng Ye pressed.

"We aren't in charge of that." Shi Xu shook his head. "The Happiness Legion has a specialized tracking department analyzing it, but the situation is very complicated. The Starship seems to have mastered a strange technology that looks like it can use Mist Holes to travel. All their traces and Essence vanished completely in Wenlu County, only to reappear over seven hundred kilometers away. After that, they headed straight toward Hai Province."

"Mist Holes..."

Cheng Ye softly muttered the words.

This thing was practically equivalent to a teleportation portal. If it really was mastered by the Starship, who could possibly stop them?

"Inspector Cheng, whether as a friend or a researcher, I advise you not to get involved in these matters." Shi Xu's face showed worry. "Right now, clearing your name is the most important thing. The troubles left behind by your father and grandfather have merely been shelved temporarily. Because of their outstanding achievements, you weren't implicated, but the lingering effects haven't completely disappeared. As long as you do something out of line, it will be very easy for someone to drag you into the mess and badger you to no end."

"I understand, don't worry," Cheng Ye nodded in agreement.

Once the equipment was fully transferred, under Shi Xu's lead, he dragged the heavy chains and walked into the Research Institute.

Seemingly to save his face, the entire Research Institute was completely empty on the way to the underground second floor's Containment Room.

It wasn't until he reached the entrance to the Containment Room that Yu Erlan stepped out from the side.

She was no longer wearing the researcher uniform from that day. Instead, she had changed into a sharply tailored black shirt and form-fitting jeans. The cuffs of her pants were casually tucked into black combat boots. Paired with her long purple hair, she looked increasingly cold, mysterious, and unapproachable.

Looking Cheng Ye up and down, Yu Erlan frowned slightly, but didn't say anything.

The two of them walked one after another to the third floor. The data from the lighting equipment had already been extracted and was currently being installed into Yu Yong's Containment Room by the staff.

As expected, an eccentric, sarcastic voice immediately rang out. "Hahaha, kid, I haven't seen you for a few days, so how come you've ended up even more miserable than me?"

"Let me take a look—containment chains forged from Happiness Alloy! Yo, you're getting quite the treatment. Even I, a Torch researcher and a Source-Binder of an Inverse State Mother Source, don't have the qualifications to wear this stuff. You've got a lot more face than I do! It really makes a man envious!"

"How about it, was I right? If you continue working for Happiness City, it'll be a dead end sooner or later. Why don't you join my faction? Let's turn Happiness City upside down together! Wouldn't that be exhilarating?"

"You're not talking, and you're not looking at me. I know you're angry. But so what? At most, you can come in here, pin me against the wall, and beat me up to make me suffer for a couple of days. But your suffering—who will ever know about it?"

Yu Yong clung to the wall of the Containment Room. While laughing maniacally, he stuck out his tongue, showing off that bizarre, liver-colored tissue.

It was covered in a dense mass of spiders. The sight was enough to make anyone's scalp tingle.

He seemed completely unhinged. The human parts of him were fading away, while the madness brought by the Infection Source had thickened considerably.

"This is an irreversible process. Every time the main body takes damage, it deepens his fusion progress."

Yu Erlan watched Yu Yong's rampage expressionlessly, her tone cold. "Right now, his fusion rate has exceeded 120 percent. Strictly speaking, he is no longer a Source-Binder, but a pure Infected Body."

"The fusion rate can exceed 100 percent?" Cheng Ye asked in confusion.

"Yes," Yu Erlan explained. "Your fusion rate is 99 percent, which means the Infection Source has only eroded your body but hasn't fully occupied your mind, so you are a Source-Binder. Once the fusion rate surpasses 100 percent, it shifts toward an Infected Body. Anything over 120 percent, and they no longer belong to the human category."

"So that's what it means."

Cheng Ye nodded in sudden realization, turning his gaze toward the raving Yu Yong inside the Containment Room. "In that case, the number of times I can torture him is also running out?"

"That doesn't matter. Even if the fusion rate rises to the maximum value of 200 percent, it's fine." Yu Erlan's tone remained completely placid. "We only need to hand him over intact to the Torch. As for whether he is a human or an Infected Body, it has nothing to do with us."

As soon as her voice fell, Yu Yong's madness intensified even further. The words shouting from his mouth were a disjointed mess, unable to even string together a complete sentence.

They could only vaguely make out a few key words... 'Item,' 'severe consequences,' 'bury everyone with me,' 'fuse the Mother Source,' 'Giant Creature,' 'the next era,' 'glorious golden age'...

'Huh? Why does this rhetoric sound so much like the Starship's propaganda?'

Cheng Ye stroked his chin and quietly opened his interface to glance at the Cooperation Level. It was still at a freezing zero percent.

'If I can break through this limit, should I take the opportunity to search for intel and see if this researcher who defected from the Torch has some hidden connection with the Starship?'

While he was lost in thought, a notification chime suddenly rang from Yu Erlan's wristwatch. "Director Yu, the light source parameters have been imported. Should we initiate it?"

"No need. Let me go inside first," Cheng Ye spoke up.

"Alright!"

Yu Erlan nodded. Without her seeming to do anything, the chains on Cheng Ye's wrists and ankles automatically snapped open, floating away before dropping to the side.

Footsteps from the researchers soon echoed from downstairs. Several people came running up, carrying the Cotton-padded Suit and armor from before.

Once Cheng Ye was dressed in the battle armor, a researcher handed him a red button. "Inspector Cheng, this is the button to activate the light source."

"Thank you."

Cheng Ye took the button. Under everyone's surprised gazes, a cruel smile slowly crept onto his face.

Before the door to the Containment Room even fully opened, he bent his body and fiercely charged inside. With a tone as familiar as if he were returning home, he shouted loudly, "Researcher Yu, I'm here again!"