Power Struggle, The Chase for Genius Begins!

The accumulated water on the main roads of the Main Urban Area was finally cleared for the time being throughout the day.

The Dajinbei drove unimpeded. As it approached the Happiness Gate, two teams of sixteen Guards, totaling sixteen people, came forward from a distance.

"Thank you, Inspector Cheng, thank you for your support of the Crusader Legion. Please hand over the injured to us for arrangements from now on."

The captain at the forefront stepped forward, first giving Cheng Ye a standard modern military salute, then heavily pounding his right fist on his chest to show his sincere gratitude.

Dai Zun, on the stretcher, wanted to imitate him upon seeing this, but Cheng Ye pressed his right hand down: "Don't push yourself. Remember what Captain Wu said, you owe me your life."

"Of course, one call and I'll be there anytime."

Dai Zun forced a smile onto his pale face. Before he could finish speaking, the Guards lifted the stretcher and quickly disappeared behind the heavy city gate.

In the darkness, countless gazes were cast from the shadows, intertwined with greed and heat.

Some fell on Cheng Ye, making him feel a sense of being spied upon. He couldn't help but glare back, and those gazes suddenly retracted.

Even the driver of the Dajinbei couldn't help but swallow, staring blankly at the Fast Track slowly closing beneath the alloy gate.

That was the Inner City!

Many people struggled in the Buffer Zone their entire lives, rotting away in the Infected Tide without ever touching the doorframe of the Happiness Gate.

Yet, this end point was a starting point that some people could casually step into.

"Let's go. If it's convenient, could you take me to the Chemical Plant Staff Dormitory?"

"Convenient, of course, it's convenient!"

The driver nodded heavily, reluctantly retracting his gaze.

The Dajinbei turned around in front of the Happiness Gate and gradually moved away from "happiness."

Night, ten o'clock.

The tires rolled over the wet road surface, slowly stopping beside the iron gate of the Chemical Plant Staff Dormitory, which was covered in vines.

Just as Cheng Ye's fingers were on the door handle, he caught sight of two figures floating under a streetlight a hundred meters away out of the corner of his eye.

He instinctively narrowed his eyes to get a better look. On the left was Luo Xiaoxue, and on the right was...

Zhou Changhai?

Cheng Ye froze, almost thinking he was mistaken.

Why would a fifth-stage Inspector from the Dongren Faction at the Checkpoint come to the Chemical Plant Dormitory late at night to see Luo Xiaoxue?

But as the two approached, the dim yellow streetlight gradually outlined the man's facial features.

The iconic horse face, a hideous scar on his jaw, it really was Zhou Changhai!

What was he doing here?

The metal car door slammed against the car body with a clang. Cheng Ye strode out, stopping about five paces in front of the two.

"Sister Luo, Inspector Zhou."

"Oh, Inspector Cheng, off work already?" Before Luo Xiaoxue could speak, Zhou Changhai's eyes lit up and he strode forward, acting as if he had expected this. "Speak of the devil, I was just talking about you with Instructor Luo, and here you are."

Instructor Luo?

Cheng Ye's mouth twitched. He suppressed his curiosity. "Inspector Zhou, why are you here so late?"

"Oh, it's nothing major. Just that something unexpected happened at the station today. You know, Station Chief He sacrificed himself."

A hint of grief flashed through Zhou Changhai's tone. "As a fifth-term inspector, I have to represent the station and visit the family to clarify things, so everyone doesn't worry."

"I see. Inspector Zhou, you've worked hard."

Cheng Ye nodded gently. "Brother B is out on duty, and I was just about to come and explain the station's situation to Sister Luo, to reassure her. You beat me to it."

"Ah, no need to be so formal with me." Zhou Changhai laughed heartily. He suddenly took a step forward and patted Cheng Ye's shoulder. The scar twisted into a grotesque arc as he smiled. "Back in the day, your father and I had a life-or-death friendship in the exploration team. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Zhou."

Uncle Zhou?

Cheng Ye didn't know about the previous situation at the checkpoint. His peripheral vision caught Luo Xiaoxue subtly pursing her lips.

Clearly, the "life-or-death friendship" between Zhou Changhai and Cheng Long was probably more diluted than the rainfall in Xingfu City these past two days.

This old guy is really shameless.

No, why is this guy trying to get so close to me?

He's up to no good!

"Uncle Zhou is right," Cheng Ye put on a perfectly measured smile. "I was just thinking about addressing people by their titles when at work. I didn't realize I was off duty now. It's rest time. Unlike you, Uncle Zhou, who is still thinking about visiting families late at night. You're truly a model for the station."

While this sounded like flattery, it subtly drew a line between "workplace" and "private relations."

After this backhanded compliment, the hidden barb made Zhou Changhai's smile freeze for half a second.

But after all, he was a fifth-term inspector, already a seasoned veteran.

Zhou Changhai maintained his smile as if nothing had happened and turned to Luo Xiaoxue. "Instructor Luo, since Cheng Ye is back, I won't disturb you any further. Don't worry, the Hydroelectric Station is very safe, unlike the station."

"Thank you for your concern, Inspector Zhou."

Luo Xiaoxue nodded politely. The two of them escorted Zhou Changhai to the end of the street and watched him get into the Dajinbei parked in the shadows. The headlights cut through the night as the car drove towards the city.

"What's he doing here?"

Cheng Ye paused. "He Fei just died, and they're already rushing to get someone promoted?"

Within the Inspectorate's system.

Going from Trainee to First Class was a hurdle.

Three stations, nine evaluation forms, and a Field Mission with a B-rank or higher evaluation, without any major incidents in between. It typically took ordinary inspectors about two years to complete this step.

Going from First Class to Fourth Class was another hurdle.

Three stations, with 300 shifts at each, meaning a minimum of 900 days. No major incidents were allowed during this period, or the count would reset.

Additionally, one needed to accumulate enough contributions and wait for an opening.

For example, if a Fourth Class Inspector position opened up at the station and five people met the requirements, the one with the highest contribution among the five would be promoted first.

As for going further, from Fourth Class to Fifth Class, that wasn't something ordinary inspectors could aspire to.

According to regulations, two generations of one's family must have worked at the Inspectorate, which was the so-called "endorsement."

Without this background, even with an explosive contribution value, it was useless. Liu Bi was stuck at Fourth Class precisely because he didn't meet this condition and didn't even qualify to compete for Fifth Class.

And Fifth Class Inspectors were the prerequisite for becoming a Station Chief.

"Eh, you guessed it?"

Luo Xiaoxue shook her head speechlessly. "It's not just him. All four Fifth Class Dongren Inspectors at the station came today, and it was as if they had an unspoken agreement, arriving at staggered times."

"All four of them came?"

Cheng Ye was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected them to immediately start vying for the position on the very day He Fei died tragically.

"Were their reasons similar?"

"Mhm, they all just wanted Liu Bi to vote for them."

"Did they make any offers?"

"Mhm? You know quite a bit, don't you?" Luo Xiaoxue eyed him up and down strangely. "You were quite the force at the North Checkpoint today. Each of those Fifth Class Inspectors had to mention you to me a couple of times."

"Naturally. Who in this station doesn't know about my relationship with Brother B?"

Cheng Ye's smile froze.

Damn it, just like Li Maitai said, there really was nothing new at this Inspectorate.

And Raul's secrecy was terrible. Didn't he say no one would know?

He didn't even wait for him to get off work that evening before these matters had already reached Luo Xiaoxue's ears.

"They didn't tell you the details, did they?"

"No, they just said you went to the West Checkpoint and lectured those second-generation brats, then went into an Isolation Pod, and with a few words, discovered an Unknown Infected, easily defeating it and proving your professional ability, bringing glory to the Dongren."

Luo Xiaoxue showed a playful expression, "Not bad, you really dare to stir things up. Sister Luo underestimated you."

"Uh..."

Cheng Ye hesitated, let out an awkward laugh, and didn't dare to mention that he had also saved a Crusader warrior just before clocking out that evening.

His day had truly been eventful.

"If Station Chief He hadn't been ambushed by an Unknown Infected, this wouldn't have been a big deal for me."

"It was just an infected person locked in a cage. Sister Luo, you don't know, when I went there, that guy's head was pointed. Although he was stout, he looked like he'd taken too much beast medicine. How could he be considered normal?"

"As for those second-generation types, I only scared them a little. I didn't expect them to be so cowardly."

Cheng Ye babbled on, and the two chatted for a while downstairs.

Perhaps it was He Fei's Death that made Luo Xiaoxue suddenly realize that there was no absolutely safe place in the Buffer Zone.

Whether going to the North Station or the South Station.

Whether they could survive ultimately depended on their strength and means, plus a bit of luck from fate.

Therefore, she had come to terms with Cheng Ye's stubborn choice to go to the North Station.

People are strange. Some Obsessions suddenly become clear in the face of life and death.

Cheng Ye couldn't find the right words to describe this psychological change. He could only say that from the moment they descended into the Wasteland, everyone should be prepared to die at any moment.

The only difference was whether they would die with a bang or just wait to die in a corner.

"Sister Luo, I've been on duty all day today, and I think I have to take a day off tomorrow for that study session. I'll head back tonight, okay?"

"Go ahead. Do you think Zhou Changhai called you 'Instructor Luo' for nothing?" Luo Xiaoxue tidied her hair, a helpless smile on her lips. "I have to go to the study session tomorrow too, and I even have to give a lecture on stage as an instructor."

"That's great. I'll definitely be there to support you."

They didn't discuss the situation at the Checkpoint, nor the dangers at the Station.

The two chatted and laughed for a while.

Cheng Ye stood in place, watching Luo Xiaoxue walk into the Staff Residential Area until her figure disappeared into the entrance of the building. Only then did he turn and step into the deep night.

From the Chemical Factory Residential Area to the Electronics Factory Residential Area was a good dozen kilometers.

As he jogged back, Cheng Ye felt an unbearable heat surge through his body. The flame that had been suppressed in his heart for so long finally flared up.

Finding skills would at most shorten the gap between him and the old guys, but he was still worlds away from being a genius.

But talent was different. This was something that could directly bridge the fundamental chasm, something that could allow him to completely escape mediocrity.

"Iron Physique!"

The two words tumbled around on his tongue, and Cheng Ye could almost taste the scorching heat.

Was he excited?

Of course, he was excited!

But no one knew better than him that this was merely the beginning.

ps: As it turns out, people still read stories when they're told steadily. Thank you all for your positive reviews; each one greatly encourages San Jin!

ps2: I'll be setting up my bowl on Tuesday. Please give me Votes and Follow-up Reading!!