It was rare for Matthew Lee not to act like a troublemaker; as he said the last sentence, he seemed to be glowing.

He perfectly illustrated that only mutual interests and a strong bond create truly meaningful loyalty.

"According to you..."

Cheng Ye frowned, thinking, "But on the Central Station's field task board, there are only delivery, reconnaissance, patrol, and cooperation with Inner City actions?"

"What did you think taking a side was for?"

Matthew Lee sneered, "Your Eastern People's field tasks are arranged by Station Chief Ding, our Westerners' tasks are arranged by Station Chief Harlem. If you plan to stay neutral like me, you'll have to slowly complete these laborious field tasks to accumulate contributions."

"But if you take a side, there are endless cushy tasks, ways aplenty to earn contributions."

So that's the benefit of taking sides?

Cheng Ye shivered, suddenly understanding the entire logic of the checkpoint.

"Your grandfather, Cheng Wu, was one of the founders of Happiness City."

"Back then, he was really part of the top tier of Happiness City, but unfortunately, he never awakened to become Extraordinary, so he and a batch of Elders voluntarily moved to the Outer District, which is now our Buffer Zone."

Cheng Wu again?

In the inherited memories, Cheng Ye couldn't find that name, not even many memories of Cheng Long.

Since the original body was ten years old, they often met once every two or three years.

And the meeting place was not in the Inner City; the two hurriedly exchanged a few words at the Gate of Happiness passage, and Cheng Long would use an excuse to leave.

"This checkpoint was built by that batch of people. Strictly speaking, without the first generation of Inspectors risking their lives back then, Happiness City wouldn't be what it is today."

"The Inner City was perfectly protected, allowing it to develop rapidly during the chaotic New Era, attracting a large population, promoting industrial progress. Fast steps made it the unrivaled dominator of Stone Province and surrounding areas."

"Now, many Shelter Cities and even settlements are trying to learn from us to set up checkpoints, but they can't grasp the subtle differences."

"Because their Inspectors are just Inner City's watchdogs, appendages of power, not collaborators for development, with no hard-nosed fighters risking their lives for power, nor forceful Inspectors, so the system collapses anytime due to various issues!"

Appendage, collaboration.

The two words represent a world of difference.

Cheng Ye gave Matthew Lee an unusual look, "So what's the current situation?"

"Inspectors are certainly declining with each generation, but as long as the old guys in the station aren't all dead, it won't strictly be called an appendage yet. However, we're getting further from collaboration as more people are vying for power."

"Yeah, the top tier of Inner City is also declining with each generation, now it's quite fierce. One faction advocates embracing the Extraordinary again, cultivating elites to eradicate Infected Bodies with violence."

"Another faction advocates developing technology and industry, gradually expanding the borders to establish a safe, united living circle, blocking Infected Bodies from entering."

Matthew Lee chuckled suddenly, "Of course, there are also idealists like me in the neutral faction, just wanting to bring happiness and safety to the residents. Initiatives like reducing water and electricity bills, controlling prices, and launching welfare policies are all from the neutral faction, and they're the strongest supporters of our checkpoint."

"Hmm..."

This time Cheng Ye didn't comment.

The idealists of Happiness City indeed helped him significantly; otherwise, he couldn't have activated the Collector within a year and a half, let alone quickly charging and searching.

And for someone like Matthew Lee who seems to mess around, he's better than those mindlessly climbing the ranks, like naming Garcia.

"How many of the old guys you mentioned are there?"

"About one-third, mostly out on field tasks, they'll return sporadically by autumn."

That means 50 people?

Cheng Ye nodded slightly, three checkpoints, each with 8 people, rotating only requires 24 Inspectors per cycle.

If the old Inspectors occupy positions for too long, newcomers have no chance to take over.

And during summer and autumn, Infected Bodies are fewer, leaving room for learning.

This is also why he reported to North Station and immediately started duties, as old Inspectors would default to giving newcomers a chance.

"What about my father, what kind of person is he?"

"Your father..."

Matthew Lee swallowed, quickly shaking his head and reverting to an uncommitted mode, "I can't really judge, he's an extraordinary person. If not for some special reasons, your father would definitely have been the future Station Chief, no other possibility."

"Yeah, if you want to know, you'll have to ask Liu Bi, he's Fourth-Phase, I'm Third-Phase, he can say certain things that I can't comment on."

"Alright."

It seems Cheng Long definitely has a big secret, especially regarding the left-behind Civilization Collector.

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

Cheng Ye suddenly threw out a new question.

"Of course not." Matthew Lee decisively answered, "The high echelons of Happiness City grant Inspectors asylum based on personal contribution, your family hasn't risked their lives for the city, why should they have entry privileges?"

"Even Fourth-Phase, Fifth-Phase can't?"

"Not even Fifth-Phase, even Station Chief Ding can't bring family. It's a dead rule set by the first generation of Inspectors, a matter of principle."

"A dead rule... what about your family?"

"Of course, they're in the Inner City." Matthew Lee showed surprise, "The rule says not to bring family in, it didn't say family can't be Inner City people. My wife and kids are inside... wait, didn't you grow up in Inner City? Why would you ask this kind of question?"

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