Transcendent Opportunity, Right Beside You!

Li Maitai, uncharacteristically unlike a hoodlum, seemed to glow as he spoke his last words.

He perfectly embodied the idea that true loyalty only arises from shared interests and deep interdependence.

"As you say."

Cheng Ye frowned in thought. "But the Central Station's field mission board only lists deliveries, reconnaissance, patrols, and cooperation with Inner City operations?"

"What else do you think 'taking sides' is for?"

Li Maitai scoffed. "For us Dongren, Director Ding assigns field missions. For us Xiren, Director Halin assigns them. If you plan to stay neutral like me, you'll have to slowly complete these grunt field missions to earn contributions."

"But if you take sides, you'll never finish all those lucrative assignments. There are plenty of ways to get contributions."

So this was the benefit of taking sides?

Cheng Ye shivered, suddenly beginning to understand the entire logic of the Checkpoint system.

"Your Grandfather, Cheng Wu, was one of the founders of Xingfu City."

"Back then, he was a genuine high-level official in Xingfu City. It's just a shame he could never awaken his Transcendent abilities, which is why he and a group of elders voluntarily moved to the outer districts, what is now our Buffer Zone."

Cheng Wu again?

Cheng Ye couldn't find this name in his inherited memories, and he even had very few memories of Cheng Long.

This was because after the original body turned ten, he would only see Cheng Long once every two or three years.

Moreover, their meeting place wasn't the Inner City. They would exchange a few hurried words at the Happiness Gate Passage before Cheng Long would make an excuse and leave.

"This Checkpoint system was built by that group of people. Strictly speaking, if the First Generation Inspectors hadn't risked their lives back then, Xingfu City wouldn't exist today."

"The Inner City, being perfectly protected, was able to develop rapidly during the chaotic early New Era, absorbing a large population and driving industrial progress. One step ahead led to another, and it directly became the overlord of Shi Province and even surrounding provinces."

"Now, many Sanctuary Cities and even settlements are trying to emulate our Checkpoint system, but they can't grasp the subtle differences."

"Because their inspectors are just lapdogs kept by the Inner City, appendages of power. It's not cooperation for development. They lack the tough individuals willing to fight for power, nor do they have strong-handed inspectors. Thus, their systems collapse at any moment due to various problems!"

Appendages, cooperation.

A world of difference between those two words.

Cheng Ye glanced at Li Maitai with a strange look. "What's the current situation then?"

"Inspectors are naturally becoming worse with each generation. However, as long as the Old Guards in the Station are still alive, it's not yet a case of appendages. But we're getting further and further away from cooperation. Don't you see how many people here are vying for power and profit?"

"Mhm, the high-level officials in the Inner City are also becoming worse with each generation. The infighting is quite fierce now. One faction advocates for embracing Transcendent abilities again, cultivating elite Combat Power to fight violence with violence and clear out the Infected."

"The other faction advocates for developing technology and industry, gradually expanding the borders, and establishing a secure joint survival zone to block the Infected."

Li Maitai spoke, then suddenly chuckled, "Of course, there are also Neutral Faction members like me, Idealists, who just want to bring happiness and safety to the residents. Things like reducing utility fees, controlling prices, and various pro-people policies are all done by the Neutral Faction. They are also the biggest supporters of our checkpoints."

"Mmm."

This time, Cheng Ye didn't retort.

The Idealists of Xingfu City had indeed helped him greatly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to activate the Collector in a year or a half, let alone quickly charge and search.

And speaking of scoundrels, Li Maitai was better than those who blindly picked sides and tried to Climb Up, specifically mentioning Garcia.

"The Old Guards you mentioned, how many are left?"

"About a third. They're basically all out on field duty and won't be back until autumn."

That's 50 people?

Cheng Ye nodded slightly. Three checkpoints, eight people per station, only 24 Inspectors needed for rotation in a cycle.

If the old Inspectors occupied the positions long-term, Newcomers would have no chance to get hands-on experience.

Moreover, the number of Infected was lower in summer and autumn, which was perfect for leaving a gap for learning.

This was also why he could immediately go on duty upon reporting to North Station. The old Inspectors would naturally make way for Newcomers.

"What about my father? What kind of person was he?"

"Your father..."

Li Maitai swallowed and quickly shook his head, returning to his Old Scoundrel mode of being untouchable. "I can't comment on that. He's a very capable person. If not for some special reasons, your father would definitely have been the Chief Station Master in the future. There's no other possibility."

"Hmm, if you want to know, you'll have to ask Liu Bi. He's Fourth Stage, I'm Third Stage. There are things he can say casually that I can't comment on."

"Alright."

It seemed Cheng Long definitely hid a big secret, especially regarding the Civilization Collector he left behind.

"By the way, can I bring my family into the Inner City?"

Cheng Ye suddenly threw out a new question.

"Of course not," Li Maitai said decisively. "Xingfu City's High Level allows Inspectors to take refuge out of consideration for their personal contributions. Your family hasn't risked their lives for the city, so why should they be allowed in and out?"

"Not even Fourth Stage, Fifth Stage?"

"Don't talk about Fifth Stage, even Director Ding can't bring his family. This is a strict rule set by the first generation of Inspectors back then. It's a matter of principle."

"A strict rule? Then what about your family?"

"They're in the Inner City, of course." Li Maitai showed a look of surprise. "The rule says you can't bring family members in, but it doesn't say family members can't be Inner City residents. My wife and children are all inside... Wait, weren't you raised in the Inner City? Why would you ask such a question?"

So the reason my previous body could grow up in the Inner City was this?

Cheng Ye suddenly understood.

He had thought Cheng Long had found a way to send his previous body into the Inner City, never imagining that Cheng Long had entered the Inner City to start a family.

"I don't know about these things, no one told me."

Cheng Ye shook his head.

His previous body's mother had died in childbirth, and his memories only contained a few blurry photos. On top of that, his father, Cheng Long, had abandoned his only son in the Inner City and paid him no mind.

This was why, the very first day he stepped out of the Inner City, he was scared to death by the "real" world outside.

"Oh," Li Maitai patted his head and made a gesture as if to slap his own mouth twice in apology. "Sorry, I misspoke."

"What about Fourth Stage? What privileges do they have?"

"Fourth Stage." Li Maitai hesitated for a moment, then finally squeezed out four words through gritted teeth, as if filled with resentment.

"Transcendent Opportunity!"

Dong.

Dong!

The Class Bell suddenly ringing in the venue immediately drowned out the clamor.

It wasn't just the rotating Inspectors attending the Study Session; dozens of Observers wearing Blue Armbands and some Staff from important positions were seated in the back rows.

The stand for the Projector Equipment scraped harshly against the concrete floor.

Cheng Ye, however, heard none of it, still immersed in the bombshell news Li Maitai had dropped.

Compared to Transcendent Opportunities and the purpose of the Inspectors' field missions, the ability for Third Stage to enter the Inner City was indeed nothing.

"Xingfu City is actually raising Special Infected?"

Cheng Ye was horrified.

According to Li Maitai, this wasn't about letting humans get infected by the S-Series Virus and using the virus's abilities to foster and guide transcendence. Instead, Xingfu City was secretly cultivating and raising Special Infected.

The Transcendent Plants attached to the Special Infected grew extremely slowly, only harvestable once every 5-8 years.

After harvesting, the yield determined the distribution quantity.

For the Fourth Stage Inspectors in the last round, each person received nearly 5g.

Although this dose sounded very small, it still had a chance to activate the latent transcendent genes within the human body.

Each person's activated supernatural gene seemed to be different.

The last time someone at a checkpoint successfully activated a supernatural ability was 11 years ago. The Duty Station Chief at the time, Liu Kun, awakened his ability and directly entered the Inner City's "City Defense Department" to serve as its Director.

It was precisely because he had joined Xingfu City's High Level that the checkpoint's status was greatly elevated.

The Public Security Bureau, which could have once restrained the checkpoint's power, was repeatedly stripped of its authority and finally disbanded 8 years ago. Since then, the checkpoint had become the sole dominant force!

Going further back, there was the Chief Station Master before Ding Yishan took office 13 years ago, which was also the last time a Duty Station Chief sacrificed his life.

Regan Carl!

No one knew how he activated his supernatural ability.

But after that, he rapidly resigned as Chief Station Master and transferred to become the Industrial Zone Executive.

Now, with immense power, he was one of the core representatives of the Tech Faction in the Inner City.

With both of them soaring through the ranks, possessing supernatural power and holding important positions of authority, it was inevitable that the inspectors' desire to Climb Up would be continuously stimulated.

"So, what the East West Factions are fighting over now is... the supernatural and the power after becoming supernatural?"

With enough information, Cheng Ye suddenly understood the root cause of the East West conflict.

Fourth Stage, Fifth Stage, Duty Station Chief, Deputy Station Chief, Station Chief.

With each rank climbed, power wouldn't undergo a qualitative change, but one could obtain more Transcendent Plants to activate supernatural abilities.

The last Transcendent Opportunity was 5 years ago, and Ding Yishan had been in office for nearly 10 years.

Logically, he should have already obtained a Transcendent Opportunity but failed to seize it.

Now that the Dongren were weak, Halin would definitely not let this opportunity to Climb Up pass him by.

"Also, the supernatural was right beside me all along?"

Realizing that as long as one diligently improved their rank, they would eventually obtain the supernatural.

Cheng Ye's heart burned with passion, but he wasn't thinking of steadily climbing to the position of Station Chief and waiting for the Inner City's bestowal.

Instead, he intended to use his Search Ability to directly seize a fully formed supernatural ability!

Before, he didn't know who was supernatural, but now, through Li Maitai, he finally knew two important targets.

"Liu Kun!"

"Regan Carl!"

"One from the East, one from the West, don't let me, this Inspector, catch you one day."

Chanting these two names repeatedly, Cheng Ye firmly etched them into his heart. He then forcibly suppressed all distracting thoughts, quelling the surging restlessness within.

Even the weakest transcendent ability would be far superior to genetic talents like the Iron Physique, at least at LV3 or LV4. His current Collector was simply incapable of searching for such things.

The immediate priority remained focused on advancing his rank and getting through the intern period as quickly as possible.

"Cheng Ye, Cheng Ye!"

Seeing Cheng Ye still lost in thought, Li Maitai lowered his voice and nudged him twice under the table with his knee.

"The supervisors are here. Don't slack off. If you get singled out as an example, you'll be in trouble."

"Supervisors?"

Cheng Ye looked up and followed Li Maitai's gaze. Two people were entering through the venue's exit.

On the left was Qiao Yuan, a Fifth Stage Inspector from the East Faction. On the right was Dario Haven, a Fifth Stage Inspector from the West Faction.

Sensing Cheng Ye's gaze, Qiao Yuan gave a slight nod, returning a somewhat friendly look. However, his face still bore the "aloof" expression common among leaders as he scanned the venue.

Dario Haven's reaction, however, made Cheng Ye pause. Noticing Cheng Ye looking, the West Faction's Fifth Stage Inspector actually offered him a smile, his eyes kind, as if looking at an outstanding junior of his own.

Huh?

Was he hallucinating?

Cheng Ye quickly averted his gaze. He had a faint feeling that if they continued to make eye contact, this guy would definitely come over and strike up a conversation.

"Don't look around. Listen carefully. Even if it's boring, pretend to be serious."

Li Maitai's "art of slacking off" had reached perfection. Though his lips weren't visible moving, his voice was clear.

"Yesterday, I heard someone was caught sleeping and made an example of, forced to answer questions on stage. If it were just our own people, it would be one thing. But with so many Observers and Staff watching, it was utterly humiliating."

As he spoke, a burst of applause suddenly erupted from the area where the East Faction inspectors were gathered in the front row.

Cheng Ye's gaze sharpened, and he quickly joined in the applause.

He hadn't expected the first lecturer of the day to be Luo Xiaoxue.

Although Liu Bi was considered a maverick among the East Faction, when it came to the honor of their own faction, the East Faction members showed him ample respect. Even the East Faction's Observers and Staff joined in the applause.

In contrast, the West Faction seemed rather indifferent to Luo Xiaoxue's appearance.

Some even curled their lips in apparent disdain.

"Don't be surprised. This is just the beginning. The next Transcendent Opportunity is still over a year away. Once winter passes and spring arrives next year, that's when things will get serious, real combat will break out."

Li Maitai never got involved in faction disputes. At this moment, however, he joined Cheng Ye in applauding, drawing glares from many West Faction members.

He seemed to be enjoying himself, as if he had found a sense of belonging.

Each lecturer only had five minutes. Luo Xiaoxue chose a Hydrophilic Infected she had personally encountered and concisely explained how to deal with it.

After Luo Xiaoxue stepped down, the curtain at the back entrance was lifted, and the next lecturer walked up.

Judging by his appearance, he should be an old Warrior, but both the East Faction and the West Faction treated him with extreme indifference.

No one applauded to welcome him, and no one gave any feedback until he finished speaking.

Although from Cheng Ye's perspective, the old Warrior's methods for dealing with the infected were not without merit.

"Truly a realistic hierarchy."

Cheng Ye sighed inwardly, his gaze suddenly focused on the curtain entrance, where he saw a group of lecturers preparing to go on stage outside.

Huh? Am I seeing things? Didn't Uncle Dong say last night that he was going to fulfill his last wish?

Why was he invited here too?

ps: Here's 4k words. Actually, this background should have been revealed later, but many Reader Lords were curious, so I sped up the pace and released it. And since it's still the free period, I can write more about the setting to avoid being called a filler author when the book goes on paid chapters.

ps2: There's another chapter in the afternoon, 4.5k words. I can't add more chapters, so I'll just write more in each one!