Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 227: A Peaceful Night, The Responsibility of an Inspector!

Boom!Rumble!

Muffled thunder rolled in from the distance. Streaks of lightning flashed continuously across the horizon, briefly illuminating the pitch-black night sky before swiftly vanishing back into the clouds.

Dabo Town, shrouded in the darkness of night, shed its daytime busyness and once again fell into a peaceful tranquility.

However, this tranquility held entirely different meanings for the various people in the town.

For the patrol team members responsible for security, and for the Inspectors who had to actively step out of the town, screen the surrounding infection sources, and even dive into the bottom of the Whitewater River to contain Immortal Objects.

The Wilderness was incomparably dangerous and lethal.

Every step could lead into an ambush by an infection source. They could lose their lives at any moment in some inconspicuous corner, or collapse amidst bizarre pollution beyond their understanding, without even the chance to call for help.

But for those residents who only needed to move within a fixed perimeter.

The Wilderness was safe.

All the dangers seemed entirely unrelated to them. They worked from sunrise, clearing abandoned houses and building temporary facilities, and rested at sunset. Once they returned to their warm residential units, they could temporarily set their minds at ease.

They did not need to directly face the struggling Crab-men, nor did they have to think about risks that exceeded their cognitive comprehension.

As long as the sky did not fall, and as long as the Inspectors charging at the front lines did not collapse, all dangers remained within a controllable range.

Inside the small space at the top of the sentry tower.

Despite being exhausted to the extreme, Cheng Ye surprisingly fell into an incredibly deep dream.

In his dream, he was no longer a Happiness City Inspector charging at the vanguard. He had no Collector, no transcendent abilities. He was just an ordinary person living on an endless ice field.

Just as dawn was breaking and the morning sun had yet to pierce through the thick clouds, he had to follow a dense crowd toward a frozen river to mine a type of white stone called "Extreme Cold Ore".

The stones looked no different from ordinary bleached rocks, but if they accidentally touched the skin, they would instantly leave a scalding burn mark, causing agonizing pain that made one gasp for breath.

However, with the overseers' guns mounted on a nearby high platform, no one dared to slack off.

Cheng Ye gripped a freezing iron pickaxe, smashing it repeatedly against the rock-hard frozen ground. Even taking a drink of water required seizing the brief moment an overseer turned around, rushing against time to gulp down mouthfuls of icy river water.

He worked like this from sunrise to sunset. The biting wind whipped against his face until it hurt, and his fingers had long since gone numb from the cold. Finally, the overseer waved a hand, signaling everyone to stop working and line up to have their ore weighed.

But just as it was almost Cheng Ye's turn, a blinding, blazing white light suddenly flashed across the sky above.

The light was too intense, so bright that it was impossible to keep one's eyes open. Immediately after, like the precursor to a nuclear explosion, he watched helplessly as the silhouettes of the people lined up in front of him instantly vaporized in the white light, not even leaving behind a speck of ash.

And although it was a fleeting moment, in his eyes, it slowed down as if time had frozen. The details of every disappearing figure were terrifyingly clear.

"Ah, no!"

Seeing the white light about to spread to his own body, Cheng Ye cried out in shock, his body shooting upright uncontrollably.

Right at that moment, a streak of lightning flashed across the distant sky. The pale light seeped through the gaps of the sentry tower, making him instinctively think the white light was right in front of him. His heart violently constricted.

Boom!

It was only when the muffled roll of thunder followed closely, rumbling in his ears.

Cheng Ye froze for a moment before his stiff body slowly relaxed, his taut nerves gradually unwinding.

'So it was just a dream...'

He raised his hand, instinctively wanting to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, but his fingers met the thick layer of a helmet.

Pressing the switch on the visor, a "click" sounded, and the visor slowly retracted.

He took a few deep breaths of the moisture-laden air and slowly exhaled. After repeating this several times, he finally managed to purge that suffocating sense of deathly stillness from his dream out of his mind, little by little.

"Is this the lingering effect of the mental pollution?"

Cheng Ye carefully recalled the scenes, the images from his dream still clearly echoing in his head.

The white ice field, the extreme cold ore gleaming with a frigid light, his fellow workers vaporized by the white flash.

Even the scorching, burning sensation when the extreme cold ore touched his skin felt incredibly realistic. Just thinking about it made his arm itch faintly.

'Could it be that the Transcendent in Antarctica back then turned into a bomb right before they died, blowing away everyone around them?'

It was hard to say.

After human history was sealed away, even an Inspector like him lacked the clearance to trace back those concealed events of the past.

'I suppose the only way is to keep climbing the ladder. Only by ascending to a higher rank will I earn the right to know what truly happened during the Transcendent Era.'

Cheng Ye closed his eyes, replaying the feelings and details from his dream in his mind a few more times to ensure he missed nothing, before finally leaning against the wooden railing and standing up.

This sentry tower, built by Sun Dazheng and his team, was undeniably sturdy. Constructed entirely from hardwood, it stood thirteen meters tall.

The wooden pillars at its base were as thick as bowls, anchored deeply into the ground.

The outer layer featured three tiers of thick, interlocking wooden planks. The tower's body gradually narrowed as it went up, with a cross-wooden ring beam installed every three meters. This design not only distributed the weight evenly but also made climbing up and down convenient.

The observation deck at the top was encircled by waist-high wooden railings, its four corners reinforced with diagonal wooden struts. Standing here and gazing out, any movement within a few kilometers could be seen with crystal clarity.

Even without the mental vigilance of the Heart-Protecting Fire, the sense of security provided by this enclosed and sturdy sentry tower had allowed him to sleep exceptionally deeply.

"What time is it?"

Cheng Ye grabbed the Defense Terminal lying nearby. The moment the screen lit up, he was slightly surprised.

It was only just past eleven o'clock.

Calculating the time, he had only slept for a little over four hours—far from enough to replenish the mental exhaustion of his consecutive days of running around. Yet, that dizzying sense of fatigue from earlier had already vanished.

In the Wilderness, where the crisis had yet to be resolved, getting such rest could absolutely be considered a luxury.

He walked over to the searchlight, pressed the switch, and slowly turned the beam toward the riverside.

The river's surface was so calm that there wasn't a single ripple. The pebbles on the bank were clearly visible, and for the time being, there were no signs of Crab-men coming ashore.

He then looked up at the sky. The cloud cover wasn't overly thick, and he could even catch glimpses of a few faint stars through the scattered gaps. He probably didn't need to worry about another rainstorm.

This unexpected tranquility left him momentarily uncertain whether any more risks would emerge during the night.

'Did the Crab-men stay off the shore tonight because the Demonic Eye Sponge was heavily wounded by me and retreated after losing four-fifths of its tentacles? Or was it because those Petrification Curses I unleashed at the end took effect?' Cheng Ye's heart settled slightly.

At present, he didn't need to worry about being unable to see the Crab-men lined up by the riverside without having the Heart-Protecting Fire equipped.

Based on the intelligence provided by the Inspection Station, coupled with his own exploration during the day and voluntarily subjecting himself to mental pollution, he had managed to sort out the core logic behind it:

This phenomenon was essentially a defensive mechanism used by the Immortal Object to protect itself, rather than an active attempt to harm the humans, infected bodies, or infection sources within its domain.

Like a signal tower, it crudely divided reality into multiple "communication channels."

For instance, a human channel.

Or an infected body channel.

Before the cognitive impairment was broken, these different channels existed in a state of complete "isolation." This meant that humans couldn't see infected bodies, and infected bodies couldn't perceive humans, let alone communicate.

As for breaking this cognitive impairment, there currently appeared to be only two methods. The first was to do what Luo Kuke and Garcia did: tap into the human channel first, and then forcibly cut into the infected body channel through parasitism by an infection source. This allowed one to grasp the cognition of both channels simultaneously, no longer hindered by the barrier of invisibility.

The reason Luo Kuke managed to survive the pollution tide last night was because the targeted wave only erupted within the human channel. By switching to the infected body channel in the nick of time, he exempted himself from the wave's impact.

The second method occurred when the mental pollution entered its second stage, resulting in total channel chaos.

One might be in the human channel one second, automatically shift to the infected body channel the next, and then snap back right after, completely devoid of any discernible pattern.

Furthermore, the mental pollution from this Immortal Object differed from that of a Wish-Guarding Transcendent. Its ultimate goal was not control, but to obliterate the cognition of all living creatures, reducing them to primitive vassals devoid of self-awareness.

To put it bluntly, they would become "batteries" providing life energy for the Immortal Object.

Theoretically, as long as the conch's domain was expanded and the Demonic Eye Sponge wasn't actively provoked, the Crab-men wouldn't easily come ashore to slaughter. According to the Immortal Object's "logic," as long as the humans of Dabo Town spent enough time within its domain, they would automatically lose their cognition, willingly consume the poisonous water crystals, and transform into new infected bodies. There was absolutely no need for the Crab-men to intervene.

Humans, on the other hand, needed to contain the conch before this "cognitive collapse" threshold was reached. Doing so would completely eradicate the effects of the mental pollution.

Thinking up to this point, Cheng Ye sank his consciousness into his Spiritual Body Space to take another look.

He wasn't sure if it was influenced by Little Flame, but the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse was also sprawled out inside the space, sleeping soundly.

After becoming an infected body, even without the protection of the Heart-Protecting Fire, he could still attain the cognition of both channels.

He could see both humans and Crab-men alike, remaining entirely unaffected by the pollution.

"The fact that there aren't monsters sieging the town can be considered a blessing amidst misfortune," he murmured.

Cheng Ye meticulously scanned the surroundings a few more times before heaving a long sigh of relief, lowering his visor, and descending the sentry tower.

According to previous meteorological data, the rainband had gradually shifted out of Happiness City's vicinity. From now on, they wouldn't have to face the continuous days of torrential downpours and dreary rain they had experienced recently.

The area around Chuanshi was about to enter a season of crisp autumn air. Sporadic light drizzle, like the one falling now, was what constituted normal weather.

However, the impression left by the previous rainstorms was simply too profound.

So much so that Cheng Ye constantly harbored an inexplicable premonition—a feeling that another massive disaster was looming, set to arrive alongside extreme weather.

Stepping off the sentry tower, Cheng Ye had barely found his footing when he spotted Wang Kang leading a patrol team back from an alleyway next to the supermarket.

The team members gripped their standard-issue blades tightly, their footsteps light and cautious, clearly afraid of disturbing the resting residents.

"Brother Cheng, the searchlight on the tower moved just now. Was that you using it?"

"Yeah." Cheng Ye nodded, first instructing the patrol team, "Two of you head up to rotate shifts. Keep a close eye on the riverside. Blow the whistle immediately if you spot anything abnormal."

Once the two men voiced their compliance and climbed the tower, he and Wang Kang walked over to some nearby stone steps and sat down.

"Why didn't you sleep a bit longer? Looking at the weather, it shouldn't rain tonight. We can relax for now," Wang Kang couldn't help but say, noticing the faint dark circles under Cheng Ye's eyes.

"I woke up. Once I confirm there are no dangers in the latter half of the night, it won't be too late to catch up on some sleep."

Cheng Ye fished out a few pouches of blue nutrient paste from his backpack, tossing one to Wang Kang. Twisting off the cap of his own, he gulped it down his throat.

Drinking this stuff back in the Buffer Zone had only felt bland and tasteless, but out here in the Wilderness, its convenience truly shone through.

There was no need to set up a pot to cook or waste time preparing ingredients. Whenever hunger struck, simply tearing one open would replenish one's stamina, saving an immense amount of trouble.

After finishing the nutrient paste, Cheng Ye noticed Wang Kang's eyes flickering. It looked as though he had something to say but held his tongue.

He didn't press the issue, merely stating softly, "Hold on for a second. Everyone has had a busy day today. Let me go check on the residents and say a few words while I'm at it."

"Alright!" Wang Kang immediately nodded.

Cheng Ye stood up, secured his visor, and headed toward Residential Unit One, located on the outermost edge.

Most of the occupants here were married couples, with the corner beds allocated to the able-bodied youth.

The night was already deep. Standing outside the door, he could faintly hear the steady rhythm of breathing inside, exuding a heavy sense of slumber.

Yet, the moment he gently pushed open the door and quietly stepped inside, nearly thirty percent of the people in the room instantly woke up. They shot vigilant glances toward the entrance, their hands instinctively reaching for the tools resting beside their pillows.

It wasn't until they clearly saw Cheng Ye standing at the door in his protective armor that these people finally breathed a sigh of relief. One by one, they sat up, revealing friendly smiles on their faces.

Following their movements, the others who had been disturbed also woke up consecutively. Seeing Cheng Ye at the door and Wang Kang guarding outside—two slightly imposing figures—the atmosphere in the room settled down instantly.

During wilderness pioneering, the greatest fear was lacking a reliable leader to shoulder the burden. Once the hearts of the people fell into disarray, the danger would multiply exponentially. This was precisely why many small gathering places collapsed without warning.

If the founding leader died unexpectedly and their successor couldn't hold down the fort, people would immediately pack their bags and leave.

Once the population dwindled, infection sources would easily become active, leaving the remaining individuals to bear an even greater risk of exposure.

Even though they had only been in Dabo Town for two days, the "labels" Cheng Ye carried had already won everyone over.

This wasn't just due to his status as an Inspector, his prominent background, or his formidable combat power and judgment. It was largely because he always led from the front lines and remained calm and composed in the face of crisis. It made the crowd subconsciously believe that "following him meant safety."

"There's no need to panic, everyone. Just keep lying down,"

Cheng Ye pressed his hands down lightly in a calming gesture and simply opened his visor to reveal his face.

He could clearly sense that everyone's mental state was highly strung. Otherwise, they wouldn't have maintained such intense alertness right after falling asleep following a grueling day's work.

Since this was the case, he had to find a way to ease their tension and delay the outbreak of mental pollution.

Furthermore, considering he was practically half an infected body now and had shed his previous psychological burdens, it didn't really matter if he exposed his face to the crowd.

"Everyone worked incredibly hard and did a solid job today. I saw it all, and I'm very gratified,"

Cheng Ye's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears distinctly. "I can feel that you aren't treating this place as just a temporary mission checkpoint, but are genuinely maintaining Dabo Town as your own home."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present as his tone grew resolute. "As the Inspector in charge of this place and the one who brought you all to Dabo Town, I promise everyone that I will do everything in my power to protect you. I won't let infection sources breach our walls, nor will I allow infected bodies to launch surprise attacks. I will definitely ensure that everyone stays safe and sound."

"If there is danger, that danger will firmly be blocked at the gates by me!"

As his words fell, the people in the room nodded vigorously. The fatigue on their faces faded slightly, finally giving way to a genuine sense of security.

Cheng Ye felt a slight wave of relief in his heart. It seemed that stable order could truly counteract the mental pollution of an Immortal Object.

If the people's hearts had descended into chaos first, then even without waiting for tomorrow, someone would likely succumb to the pressure tonight and fall into the explosive state of cognitive impairment.

"Tonight, I will continue to lead the patrol team to ensure everyone gets a peaceful night's sleep."

"Once this assessment is over, I promise every family that you will be allocated your own independent room. This is a benefit for the first-generation pioneers, as well as a reward for your hard work over these past few days!"

Wow!

As his words fell.

The room, which previously only held the faint sound of breathing, instantly erupted into suppressed commotion. Someone was so thrilled they almost clapped, but upon seeing Cheng Ye make a "shh" gesture, they hurriedly reached out to hold down their companions, obediently reining in their movements.

However, everyone's breathing grew heavier, and a newfound brightness sparkled in their eyes, as if they had finally found a clear goal to strive for.

"Alright, go to sleep quickly, everyone. We still have to continue working first thing tomorrow morning,"

Cheng Ye said with a smile. "Our progress against the Red Zone hasn't been decided yet. Once the assessment is over, we'll have plenty of time to celebrate."

With that said, under the watchful gaze of over a hundred pairs of eyes, he slightly bent his waist and quietly exited Unit One.

A cool night breeze brushed against his face. Cheng Ye closed his visor once more, turning and walking toward Units Two and Three not far away.

He followed the exact same routine: quietly entering to observe the residents' reactions, using a few words to reassure them, and finally giving the promise of independent rooms.

Compared to the married couples and able-bodied youth in Unit One, the family structures in Units Two and Three were noticeably more stable.

When he entered, less than ten percent of the people were startled awake. After making his promise, the adults mostly just revealed gratifying smiles, their emotions remaining stable without much fluctuation. Only the children couldn't contain their excitement and had to be gently held down by their parents to quiet down.

'I didn't expect that prioritizing families from the start would yield such benefits...'

As he walked out of Unit Three, Cheng Ye couldn't help but sigh in realization. Back then, he had chosen to prioritize taking in family households simply for the long-term stability of Dabo Town. He never imagined that, by sheer coincidence, he had selected the demographic most capable of resisting an Immortal Object's mental pollution.

With family bonds and emotional attachments anchoring them, human minds became more resilient and far less susceptible to external interference.

Moreover, Luo Kuke had later mimicked his approach, selecting a similar demographic profile. This undoubtedly bought the two of them far more time to contain the Immortal Object and deal with the Demonic Eye Sponge.

"The intelligence from the Inspection Station stated that it takes 24 to 72 hours for an average person to enter the explosive state of cognitive impairment. Calculating it this way, we still have two days and two nights left..."

After inspecting all the residential units, Cheng Ye signaled Wang Kang to follow him. The two quickly walked over to the truck parked in the clearing.

Opening the rear doors and seeing the laboratory inside, Wang Kang didn't show much surprise.

Instead, as soon as the doors were shut tight, he immediately revealed a slightly nervous yet profoundly excited expression. "Brother Cheng, have we already been infected?!"

"What, does that make you happy?" Cheng Ye paused, swallowing the explanation that had just reached the tip of his tongue.

In truth, there were still benign infection sources inside the truck right now. Although they weren't A-Rank, merely the most common D-Rank, they were still capable of helping Wang Kang break through the mental pollution and cognitive impairment.

It was just that, unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to drag Wang Kang into the vortex of the Immortal Object.

Even though they both bore the title of Trainee Inspector, Cheng Ye's strength had long since surpassed that of Luo Kuke, a Third-stage Inspector who wasn't adept at combat. Wang Kang, however, was a genuine trainee. If he encountered a lone Crab-man, he still had to tread carefully.

"No, no, I'm just curious. Seeing you and Luo Kuke acting so tense all the time made me wonder."

Wang Kang hurriedly waved his hands and sat down on a nearby alloy stool, his tone turning serious. "I know I can't be of much major help. The best I can do is try to stabilize the residents in town so I don't add to your troubles. But Brother Cheng, if there's anything you need me to do, please don't hold back. You absolutely must tell me."

"You stabilizing the residents is already the greatest help you could give me."

Cheng Ye nodded slightly, turning to point at a testing instrument on the side. His fingertips tapped against the operating screen a few times.

Soon, a fully analyzed Demonic Eye Sponge tentacle popped out of the instrument, landing inside a transparent containment pod. "This is the infection source we have to face."

"There's something in there?" Wang Kang leaned closer, pressing his face against the containment pod to inspect it carefully, his eyes filled with confusion.

"It's easy if you want to see it, but you'll have to take a little risk. Are you willing?" Cheng Ye thought for a moment before deciding to leave the choice to Wang Kang.

"What kind of risk?"

"Voluntarily accepting parasitism from an infection source."

"Will I die?" Wang Kang paused, asking instinctively.

"Of course not. You just might have to lie in a hospital for a while and undergo purification treatment, like I did before."

"Then bring it on." Wang Kang barely hesitated, looking up at Cheng Ye with a resolute gaze. "Brother Cheng, I'm an Inspector too. I can't just hide behind everyone else forever."

"Xiao Kang."

"Yeah?"

"You've truly grown!" Cheng Ye smiled and shook his head, standing up to press a button on the other side of the instrument.

.

A hiss of venting cold air sounded out as a palm-sized containment box popped out, much smaller than the one that had contained the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse.

Through the glass chamber of the box, one could see a chunk of "iron" slowly squirming inside.

It looked somewhat similar to the Source Heart Flesh Iron that Luo Kuke used, but its abilities were different. The Source Heart Flesh Iron could temporarily turn the body into iron to boost combat power, while this one lacked any offensive enhancements.

Even so, Wang Kang still couldn't see the iron chunk inside. He could only follow Cheng Ye's instructions and press his right hand against the containment box's sensor area.

The box trembled slightly. The iron chunk inside instantly pressed against the glass wall, completing its fusion with Wang Kang's palm.

Immediately after.

An invisible wave rippled outwards. Wang Kang's legs suddenly began to tremble violently. The next second, he fell to his knees, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

It took two or three minutes before the trembling finally subsided.

He threw off his visor, gasping for air. However, an unnatural flush appeared on his face, and his eyes had gained a newfound clarity.

"Whew."

"D-Rank Benign Infection Source, Ten Thousand Step Iron. During the infection period, you will gain nearly infinite stamina. Well, as long as your body hasn't completely collapsed, you won't feel any fatigue."

Cheng Ye introduced softly. "Of course, removing it is also quite simple. Once we return to the Buffer Zone, the medical center can extract it artificially. The cost is that you might experience a period of weakness. The more extra stamina you use, the longer your weakened state will last."

This was an infection source he had specifically chosen for Wang Kang, focusing entirely on the tactic of running away if he couldn't win.

It offered no offensive bonuses, but it could save his life through boundless stamina. Facing the lumbering Crab-men, even if he couldn't defeat them, he could hold out long enough for Cheng Ye to arrive as backup.

"Infinite stamina?"

Wang Kang froze for a moment, then immediately stood up from the ground. He hopped on the spot a few times and swung his arms forcefully, his eyes lighting up instantly. "It feels like I'm really not tired anymore! Walking around on patrol all day had my legs aching like crazy, but now I don't feel a thing!"

Saying this, he suddenly looked at Cheng Ye, his eyes brimming with expectation and his tone carrying a hint of elation. "Brother Cheng, can't I just keep this infected state permanently? This feeling of never needing to catch my breath, never feeling tired no matter how I move—it's too awesome!"

Well, an infection that ordinary people would avoid like the plague, he actually wanted to keep permanently.

Seeing his complete lack of fear toward the infection, Cheng Ye didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Perhaps because he was a "soldier" that Cheng Ye had personally guided, this kid also possessed a certain obsession with power that could protect himself and elevate his strength.

"What are you thinking? Relying on the power of an infection source is a dead end."

Cheng Ye scoffed lightly, his tone carrying a note of reprimand. "The power gained from an infection source is temporary, and it slowly erodes the body. In the long run, it's a one-way ticket to the grave."

"If you really want to become stronger, follow Hall Master Miao and lay down a solid foundation. Only by cultivating step by step like him can you set foot into true Transcendent realms. That is the kind of power that truly belongs to you."

"Yeah, you're right, Brother Cheng!"

Wang Kang immediately nodded, tossing those unrealistic thoughts to the back of his mind. His gaze shifted toward the containment pod beside him holding the sponge tentacle.

This time, his eyes were no longer vacant. He could clearly see the object inside the pod and couldn't help but furrow his brow. "Ah, I can finally see it! Is this the tentacle of the Demonic Eye Sponge? Damn, why is there an eye growing at the tip? That's too disgusting!"

Cheng Ye was just pondering whether he should take this opportunity to explain the scale and risks of the Demonic Eye Sponge to Wang Kang once more, when a gentle knock suddenly came from the truck's cabin door.

Luo Kuke's voice echoed from outside. "Inspector Cheng, it's me."

"What's wrong?" Cheng Ye reached out and pressed the pod door release, causing the door to slowly rise upwards.

"I had the patrolmen keep an eye on your side. I told them to call me the moment you woke up. Tonight, are we still going to..."

Halfway through his sentence, he saw Wang Kang standing nearby. He instinctively paused, a hint of hesitation appearing in his eyes.

"Inspector Luo, I've been infected too!" Wang Kang immediately stepped forward, a touch of excitement in his tone. "I can see the infection sources now, and I can understand what you two are talking about. You don't need to hold anything back in front of me!"

This sheer excitement toward "infection" left Luo Kuke momentarily speechless.

He had seen far too many people panic after being infected. Someone like Wang Kang, who actively embraced it and even found it novel, was a first.

Well, if they were being honest, Cheng Ye was actually the first.

But he didn't dwell on it for long. He quickly regained his wits and looked at Cheng Ye. "So, are we still going into the water tonight? Or should we just guard the riverside?"

"Let's guard. As long as they don't come ashore, we won't go into the water!"