Rights Run Away, Border Inspector!

Though everyone was unsure of each other's identities, anyone living in the Apartment Blocks within the Buffer Zone was either wealthy or influential.

Seeing Cheng Ye return with so many Materials, the other residents on the fifth floor poked their heads out, also starting to panic.

"Kid, where did you buy all this?"

Someone came over to ask. Cheng Ye pointed towards the pedestrian street outside the Windows. "The Flea Market. Hurry and go grab some, or there won't be anything left if you go late."

"Grab?"

"What else? The Infected have already mixed in. Do you think these tin doors can stop them?"

Cheng Ye kicked the cracked Hinges on the ground. The auntie who had asked the question instantly turned pale, and the several middle-aged men who had gathered were also terrified.

In less than five minutes, a flurry of footsteps echoed in the stairwell.

People from every household grabbed their bags to rush out for supplies. Soon, footsteps could also be heard from downstairs.

Cheng Ye leaned out to look. Good heavens, the entire Electronics Factory Residential Area had erupted.

Even though many people had already reinforced their doors and windows, seeing this commotion, how could they resist rushing out to grab supplies?

"In a way, Station Chief He Fei has also stimulated consumption?"

What a dark joke.

Cheng Ye was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood the reason.

After he went out in the morning, he learned that although Inspectors could screen out 99% of Infected threats, there were always a few who slipped through the cracks in the Buffer Zone.

It was rare for people to be infected, but rather for an Infection Source to be brought in, causing internal infections.

This was especially frequent in spring and winter, with an outbreak occurring roughly every one to two weeks.

In summer and autumn, it was hit or miss; sometimes there were several outbreaks a year, and sometimes it was a peaceful year.

But the reason for this huge commotion and the nationwide scramble this time was the sacrifice of the Station Chief.

The last time a Station Chief died on duty was 13 years ago.

The constant influx of Infected caused riots that lasted for more than three months, with a cumulative death toll exceeding ten thousand.

If one also counted the people who fled in the chaos, the population of the Buffer Zone was almost halved by 40%, severely weakening it.

Now that He Fei had sacrificed himself, it was inevitable that some people would bring up the past and connect the two events.

Moreover, since the beginning of the year, Infected activities had been frequent, and Natural Disasters also descended often. With all these signs intertwined, who wouldn't feel a sense of dread?

After everyone had left, Cheng Ye patrolled the stairwell once before returning to his door and beginning to chant silently.

"Reinforce the door, reinforce the door, reinforce."

As before, the Collector's thoughts were allowed to roam freely, searching the materials on the ground for a course of action.

A scan flashed with blue light.

A panel automatically popped up, displaying pleasing text.

[Dilapidated Dwelling (lv.0)]

[Description]: A dilapidated dwelling with only basic living functions and zero defense coefficient.

[Course of Action]:

1. Basic Reinforcement (Reinforce door and window frames, fill wall cracks, giving it basic defensive strength)

Estimated Action Points: 1 (Sufficient materials and tools acquired, Point cost reduced)

2. Advanced Reinforcement (Fully utilize all materials, reconstruct door frame with alloy support structure, install crisscrossed grilles at window positions, significantly enhance defensive strength, capable of withstanding Common Infected attacks)

Estimated Action Points: 2 (Sufficient materials and tools acquired, Skill check passed, Point cost reduced)

3. Perfect Reinforcement (Modify structure, implant Isolation Alloy framework, install pressure-sensitive sealed cabin door, giving it basic Shelter attributes, capable of withstanding common Infected attacks)

Estimated Action Points: Locked (Prerequisites: Materials; Engineering Machinery)

[Please, Collector, select a course of action!]

"Skill check passed, this means my Engineering knowledge is sufficient."

Cheng Ye was greatly surprised.

Although Civil Engineering had become a low-tier major in modern times, its utility in the Wasteland was very significant.

Just like now, even the most difficult Perfect Modification could be met, it just required materials and engineering machinery.

"However, modifying the framework is still too overpowered. The foundation of these Apartment Blocks is right here. With this ability, I could build a new one outside. The Action Points required would probably be astronomical."

Without almost any hesitation, Cheng Ye decided on Course of Action 2.

It only cost one more Action Point, but it maximized the use of materials and directly stated it could withstand Common Infected attacks.

Totally worth it!

With a thought.

The magical Time Stop space reappeared. The moment control of his body vanished, Cheng Ye's perspective suddenly zoomed out.

In the magical third-person perspective, as if on hundredfold speed, the dilapidated door frame was quickly cleared, and the cracks, hollows, and gaps in the walls were filled with a special Adhesive Gel.

Bricks were embedded at intervals around the wall, serving as anchor points for the alloy pipes.

Four high-strength alloy pipes were installed along the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the opening. Special adhesive was injected at each joint.

He lit it with a lighter, and a puff of smoke rose. Combined with angle brackets, the alloy pipes were fused into a seamless door frame.

The previously precarious, rusted door frame was reborn through this reconstruction. And the heavy security door, which required two people to carry, was installed by Cheng Ye in the blink of an eye.

After dealing with the entrance, he moved quickly to the windows. Steel bars of varying lengths were interlocked at a 45-degree angle, weaving a diamond mesh, similar to modern security windows.

The ends of each steel bar were embedded in the wall and connected to the building's main structure with expansion bolts.

[Action Complete!]

The mysterious sensation receded.

Cheng Ye felt a flash of light and shadow before his eyes. The materials on the ground disappeared, replaced by a heavy security door standing imposingly in front of him.

"This is amazing!"

He fumbled in his pocket for the key that came with the door. For some reason, his hand trembled slightly.

Only when the key slid into the keyhole and turned with a light click, accompanied by the crisp sound of mechanical interlocking, did he dare to confirm that it was all real!

That broken iron door was truly a thing of the past. Now, a security door that greatly enhanced his sense of safety greeted him!

He slowly pushed it open, the inherent weight of the door panel inexplicably reassuring him.

He closed the door, and an unprecedented sense of security enveloped him. His taut nerves finally relaxed.

"This is what it means to be alive!"

He was so excited that he couldn't help but curse, suppressing the joy in his heart.

He felt as exhilarated now as he had been terrified last night.

The locking knob clicked into place.

The specially designed small opening window on the security door was just large enough to accommodate a muzzle, allowing him to fire without opening the door.

Cheng Ye stared at the small window, already calculating. Once the rewards for the Rotten Vine mission came through, he had to get his hands on a shotgun.

Then, anyone who dared to scratch at the door would be sent to see God with a blast, no questions asked.

As for the possibility of shooting the wrong person? Sorry, take it up with the checkpoint.

"Now I can finally get a good night's sleep."

Cheng Ye sat on the bed, exhaling a long, turbid breath, as if to expel all the anxiety accumulated over the past few days with this sigh.

"You're lucky. The person you saved last night really wasn't an Infected."

Inside the venue, which had been converted from a cinema, as soon as Cheng Ye sat down, Li Maitai squeezed his eyes and leaned over, plopping down beside him.

This old scoundrel.

Why is he so familiar?

Cheng Ye glanced around and indeed, many inspectors cast strange looks.

One Dongren, one Xiren. In this environment, it didn't look like they could be together.

"Don't mind them," Li Maitai turned and shot a glare at those people, then turned back to Cheng Ye with a smile. "These people spend all day thinking about picking sides and climbing up, unwilling to diligently accumulate contributions."

"We're the same kind of people, diligent and responsible, the backbone of the checkpoint!"

(°°)!

Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, amused by Li Maitai's thick skin. "That backbone, what happened last night, do you know?"

"Hmm, I heard there was some trouble with Station Chief He Fei's corpse disposal. They weren't clear about the abilities of this unknown infection source, which led to some spread. It shouldn't be a big problem, a Transcendent has already stepped in."

"Transcendent."

Cheng Ye repeated the word, a fierce desire flashing in his eyes.

It was no longer a survival need to fill his stomach, but a ravenous craving for a higher level of power that sprang from the marrow of his bones.

Just one talent, Gene Ancestral Reversion, had caused his strength to change drastically.

What about a Transcendent?

What kind of world would that be?

"It seems you are also someone who pursues the limits of individual strength."

Li Maitai saw Cheng Ye's longing and shook his head with a smile. "With your background, abilities, and methods, if nothing unexpected happens, the checkpoint will surely have another Fifth Stage Inspector in the future. If you're even luckier, I might see Station Chief Cheng take charge and unite East and West before I die."

"Are you buttering me up in advance?"

"No, this Contribution System of our checkpoint is designed for people like you, giving you the greatest advantage."

Li Maitai paused, his gaze fixed on Cheng Ye. "I know you grew up in the Inner City, where identity verification wasn't required. But after these two months outside, you should understand the weight of this badge, right?"

"Hmm..."

Cheng Ye thought for a moment and didn't reply.

He hadn't actually encountered a situation where his Inspector Identity Badge was useless. Even when he went to the Super Materials Shop to forge weapons, the other party, upon hearing the word "Inspector," was willing to give him a 50 Contribution Points discount.

Noticing his hesitation, Li Maitai was surprised. "Huh? This Rank System doesn't restrict Interns, did Liu Bi not tell you?"

"No."

Cheng Ye shook his head lightly. It wasn't that Liu Bi deliberately didn't tell him, but given the abilities he had shown before, he wasn't even confident about his first field mission. Knowing these things would only add to his troubles.

However, to his surprise, Li Maitai was "exceptionally" willing to share today. Before Cheng Ye could even ask, he sat down next to him and began to talk volubly:

"Intern, Phase One, Phase Two, Phase Three!"

"Every time you advance in rank, your Badge Level will also change. It's not just a change in title; the preferential treatment you receive will also change."

"Phase One Inspectors can freely enter and exit any facility under Xingfu City's jurisdiction. For example, the Crusader Legion you encountered last night, the factory they guard, you can enter whenever you want. No one will stop you, including the Hydroelectric Station."

"Phase Two Inspectors, take your badge to surrounding Sanctuary Cities and settlements. As long as they have trade with Xingfu City, they must unconditionally fulfill your requests. Of course, don't make any absurd demands; be reasonable. You don't need to worry about the reward afterward; it will all be paid for by the Station's public funds."

"Phase Three Inspectors, that's when things get truly remarkable," Li Maitai suddenly lowered his voice. "Phase Three Inspectors represent a true qualitative leap. Infected Tides come once or twice every winter, but as long as you hold a Phase Three Badge, you can directly enter the Inner City and don't have to suffer in the Buffer Zone!"

"Huh?"

Cheng Ye looked up sharply. Didn't they say that once you became an Inspector, you'd be forever cut off from the Inner City?

"Don't be so surprised, as if we're criminals."

"The public announcement that Inspectors cannot enter the Inner City is a way to appease the public. We need ordinary people to feel that we are on the same front line as them, that we can withstand the Infected Tide together. This will reduce our workload."

Li Maitai smiled like an experienced veteran. "Don't think this system is crude, and don't think hiding in the Inner City is easy. Those who manage to reach Phase Three either have connections or brains. Even if they go anywhere in the Wasteland, they can still thrive."

"There are less than forty Phase Three Inspectors in our Station in total. If we lose some every winter, how can this operation continue? Are we supposed to rely entirely on selecting new recruits each year to guard the gates?"

"This is the most crucial area of the Buffer Zone. If we bring in new recruits every year, how can the higher-ups guarantee their loyalty? How can they ensure that Inspectors are willing to risk their lives to stop the Infected?"

The logic made sense.

Cheng Ye took a long time to recover, and some long-standing contradictions in his mind were finally resolved.

But at the same time, new questions arose.

"Since it's for safety, why do the higher-ups require Inspectors to undertake dangerous field missions?"

"Cheng Ye, I need to correct you. Undertaking field missions is not a requirement from the higher-ups."

Li Maitai tapped the table. "This is the power that our Station's First Generation Inspector and Second Generation Inspector, two generations, fought tooth and nail to obtain from the higher-ups of Xingfu City."

"It is because of this power that we Inspectors can carry the banner of Xingfu City, allowing our Authority to extend beyond this small Buffer Zone and radiate into the outside world."

"Do you think going out is dangerous?"

"Wrong!"

"You'll understand when you leave the buffer zone and enter the outside world."

"Whether it's the gangsters occupying ruins or the dangerous scavengers who hunt living people, they all have to act according to our whims. Because with just a word from you or me, we can cut off their supply lifeline. Without bullets, tools, and energy, the lives of these people are just a matter of time."

"When you reach those settlements, you'll discover that the lords there will treat you like a god from the moment they meet you, wishing they could kneel and lick your boots. Why? Because they need you to put a green checkmark on their inspection form, bringing their settlement within the trading scope."

"Even in a small shelter city, the city lord will have to make time to entertain you, trying every way to satisfy you and gain a larger trading quota."

He paused, his tone laced with a hint of mockery:

"But what if we stay cooped up in this buffer zone? Call it a Xingfu City inspector if you want to be nice, but call it like it is, and we're just gate security guards. If the higher-ups frown, we'll be running around like headless chickens to appease them."

"Only by leaving here can you, I, we, become true Wasteland Border Inspectors, and only then will we have the right to decide where the borderline of human civilization should be drawn!"

ps: Thank you all for your monthly tickets and follow-up reading support. I have nothing to repay you with but more updates (the new book period limits to two updates, but not word count. This chapter is 4k+, equivalent to two updates for other new books. I'm exploiting a loophole, hehe.)

ps2: The worldview will gradually expand, and we won't be stuck guarding the gate forever~

ps3: Still asking for votes and follow-up reading~