"This is amazing!"

As he fished out the key that came with the door, for no reason at all, Cheng Ye's hand trembled slightly.

Only when the key slid into the lock and turned with a soft 'click' of mechanical engagement did he dare to confirm that all of this was real!

The rusted metal door was truly a thing of the past, and what greeted him now was a security door that vastly increased his sense of safety!

Slowly pushing it open, the heavy weight of the door provided a sense of inexplicable security.

Shutting the door, a sense of security enveloped him like never before, and his tense nerves finally relaxed.

"This... this is what living feels like!"

Too excited, Cheng Ye couldn't help but swear to tone down the joy in his heart.

As scared as he was last night, now he felt equally invigorated.

The latch clicked into place with a "click."

The special window on the security door was just the right size to fit a gun barrel through, enabling him to shoot outside without opening the door.

Staring at the small window, Cheng Ye started planning. Once the reward for the rotting vine task came through, he would have to get a shotgun.

By then, whoever dared to scratch the door, he'd send them to see God without saying a word.

As for the possibility of a mistake, sorry, you can talk to the checkpoint about that.

"Finally, I can get a good night's sleep."

Cheng Ye sat on the bed, exhaling a long breath as if to release all the accumulated tension and anxiety with this sigh.

...

"You're lucky; the person you saved last night wasn't infected."

In the renovated auditorium of the cinema, Cheng Ye had just sat down when Matthew Lee smugly shuffled over and plopped down next to him.

This old rogue.

How is he so naturally familiar?

Cheng Ye looked around, and sure enough, many inspectors were casting them strange glances.

One Eastern person, one Westerner; in this environment, it really didn't seem like they should be together.

"Ignore them," Matthew Lee gave those people a sideways glance before turning back with a smile, "This group is always scheming, trying to climb up instead of diligently accumulating contributions."

"You and I are the same kind, diligent and responsible, the backbone of the checkpoint!"

(๑°⌓°๑)!

Cheng Ye was momentarily stunned, amused by Matthew Lee's thick skin, "So... backbone, what happened last night, do you know?"

"Well, I heard Station Chief He's body disposal had some issues. Not knowing the abilities of this unknown infection source led to some spread, but it shouldn't be a big problem, as the Extraordinary are involved..."

"Extraordinary."

Cheng Ye mulled over these two words, a burning desire flashing in his eyes.

No longer was it a mere need for survival, but a burgeoning desire from the bone marrow for higher-level power.

Just possessing a gene-reverting talent had dramatically transformed his capabilities.

What about the Extraordinary?

What kind of world would that be?

"Seems like you're someone who also has an ultimate pursuit for individual power..."

Seeing Cheng Ye's longing, Matthew Lee shook his head with a smile, "With your background, ability, and means, barring any accident, the checkpoint will definitely see a new Fifth-stage Inspector; if luck favors a bit more, I might even see Station Chief Cheng rise before I die and unify East and West."

"Sucking up in advance?"

"Not really, our checkpoint's contribution system ensures that people like you have the greatest advantage."

Matthew Lee paused, his gaze fixing on Cheng Ye, "I know you grew up in the Inner City, where no identity verification was needed, but in these two months outside, you should understand the weight of this badge, right?"

"Hmm..."

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

Indeed, he hadn't encountered situations where an Inspector's badge wasn't effective; even at the Super Material Store for crafting weapons, the mention of being an Inspector earned him a 50 Contribution Points discount.

Noticing his hesitation, Matthew Lee was slightly surprised, "Ah, even though this hierarchy system doesn't limit what interns know, hasn't Liu Bi told you?"

"No."

Cheng Ye shook his head lightly. It wasn't that Liu Bi intentionally withheld information, but given Cheng Ye's previously demonstrated abilities, he wasn't confident about his first field assignment, and knowing such things would only add to his worries, wouldn't it?

However, to his surprise, Matthew Lee seemed "exceptionally" willing to share today, and before Cheng Ye could inquire, he started talking on and on:

"Intern, First-stage, Second-stage... Fifth-stage!"

"With each promotional tier, your badge level changes, not just in name but in the advantages you receive."

"A First-stage Inspector can freely access any facility under Happiness City jurisdiction, like the Cross Legion guarding the factories you encountered last night. You can enter anytime without any obstruction, including power plants."

"As a Second-stage Inspector, take the badge to surrounding Shelter Cities or settlements; as long as there's trade with Happiness City, your requests must be unconditionally met. Of course, don't make nonsensical demands; know your limits. You don't need to worry about post-event compensation as the station's public expenses will cover it."

"By the time you reach Third-stage Inspector, it's quite something..." Matthew Lee suddenly lowered his voice. "Third-stage Inspector is a real qualitative change. Infection waves come one or two times every winter, but as long as you hold a Third-stage badge, you can directly enter the Inner City and don't have to endure being in the Buffer Zone!"

"Hmm?"

Cheng Ye suddenly looked up. Wasn't it said that Inspectors were completely barred from the Inner City?

"Don't look so surprised, like we're guilty or something."

"The official stance claiming Inspectors can't enter the Inner City is just to pacify the public. It's to make ordinary people feel we're on the same front, enduring the infection waves together, thereby lessening our workload pressure."

Matthew Lee gave a knowing smile, "Don't think this mechanism is crude. Nor should you think hiding in the Inner City is easy. Those who make it to Third-stage are either resourceful or intelligent. Even out in the wasteland, they flourish."

"Our checkpoint has less than forty Third-stage Inspectors. If we lost a batch every winter, how would we sustain this place? Should we rely solely on annual newcomer selections to guard the gates?"

"This is the most crucial area of the Buffer Zone. Introducing new people every year, how can the higher-ups ensure the loyalty of newcomers? How can they ensure Inspection Officers are willing to risk everything and block infected bodies?"

The rationale was clear.

It took Cheng Ye a long time to regain his senses, finally resolving some long-standing contradictions in his mind.

Yet simultaneously, new questions emerged.

"If it's for security, why do the higher-ups require Inspectors to undertake dangerous field operations?"

"Cheng Ye, I need to correct you; field operations aren't higher-ups demands."

Matthew Lee tapped on the table, "This power was fought for by our Inspection Station's first-generation and second-generation Inspectors, struggling immensely to wrest it from Happiness City's upper echelons."

"Just having this power allows our Inspection Officers to carry the banner of Happiness City, letting that influence extend beyond this small Buffer Zone, impacting the external world."

"Do you think going out is dangerous?"

"Wrong!"

"Once you step out of the Buffer Zone and into the outside world, you'll understand."

"Whether it's marauding factions occupying ruins or scavengers treating humans as prey, they all have to consider our stance because just a word from you or me can sever their material lifeline. Without bullets, tools, or energy, the survival of these people is merely a matter of time."

"At those various settlements, you'll further notice that their lords will see you as a deity the moment you meet, eager to lick your boots. Why? Because they need you to tick a green check on the inspection form, incorporating their settlement into the trading sphere."

"Even at smaller Shelter Cities, the City Lord must make special time to entertain you, finding ways to please you to secure more trading quotas."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of disdain:

"But if you just hide in this Buffer Zone? At best, you're referred to as a Happiness City Inspector, at worst a gatekeeping security guard. If the higher-ups frown, we'd all have to run ourselves ragged to accompany them."

"Only by stepping out can you, me, we, truly be legitimate Wasteland Border Inspectors; only then can we have the qualifications to decide where the boundary of human civilization should be drawn!"

...

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