Cheng Ye grabbed his backpack and pushed the door open, stepping out.

He thought his outfit, which only exposed his eyes, was peculiar enough to stand out. But once he hit the streets, he was surprised to find that roughly a third of the passersby were dressed similarly.

Had everyone already heard about the Stand-In Starfish?

Of course not.

According to Liu Bi's explanation last night, even the frontline military police wouldn't be aware of the spread of the Infected Body before the outbreak. Information would be released in stages, and it would only be made public at the last moment when the situation was irrecoverable.

The current notification described it merely as an emergency drill in response to the death of the duty station chief.

Nevertheless, people instinctively knew what was going on.

Whether or not the Infected Body had infiltrated, and whether it might trigger a minor infection wave were unknowns.

You could trust the leaked information, but only so much.

That's why some people chose to be fully armed, believing it's better to be safe than sorry.

"Sir, during the A-level epidemic prevention status, we need to track your movements. May I ask, are you going..."

Two Western military police officers stopped him as he exited the community.

"To work."

Cheng Ye fished out his identity badge from his pocket. The military police officer passed it over the Defense Communication device, then respectfully handed it back to him.

"Thank you for your contribution to Happiness City. May God bless you!"

Cheng Ye nodded and accepted it, silently sighing in his heart.

Since Happiness City wasn't planning to enforce control through violence, but instead maintain a veneer of peace, they probably had some confidence in curbing the infection wave.

If they could develop a method to eliminate the infection source within three days, the crisis could be largely mitigated.

Otherwise, the Buffer Zone would swiftly become a paradise for Infected Bodies and collapse entirely.

On his way to North Station, Cheng Ye stuck to the walls to avoid crowds, making sure even his clothing didn't brush against others.

At the bus stop, in the distance, he spotted a lean figure washing the bus. It was none other than Master Tian.

"The water's stopped, and you're still washing the bus?"

"Can't help it, it's a habit. Even without water, it's doable."

Master Tian chuckled, then suddenly gave a peculiar sniff and said, "Sir, you... injured?"

"Yes, sparring with someone. Inevitably picked up a few scratches."

"I've got a special trauma medicine here, care to try? Maybe it'll be more effective than what you're using."

"Sure, thanks."

Cheng Ye nodded. As he boarded, Master Tian handed him a small bottle from the compartment.

Seeing Cheng Ye wearing rubber gloves, with his extended arms wrapped in rags, Master Tian seemed momentarily surprised, but quickly returned to a normal expression.

He sat in the middle of the bus.

Opening the cap, inside was a thick, dark green ointment, resembling a modern common herbal balm.

Since he'd chartered the bus again, Cheng Ye ignored appearances, directly taking off his pants to apply it on his thigh.

Master Tian glanced through the rearview mirror and couldn't help clicking his tongue, "Sir, is your body made of iron? With a wound in that place, you still have the strength to walk?"

"Stop calling me sir, and drop the formalities, call me Cheng Ye or Inspector Cheng."

"Alright."

Master Tian readily addressed Cheng Ye's inspector status, "Inspector Cheng, with my ointment, you should recover in about five days, provided you avoid further confrontations."

"Five days?"

Cheng Ye was taken aback, as Miao Yang had mentioned just yesterday that such an injury would require at least ten to fifteen days for recovery.

"About that, your mass-market medicine is too weak. Mine has multiple types of Mutated Crystal powders mixed in, it's potent."

"Oh, don't you feel it?"

"Feel?"

Cheng Ye was puzzled for a moment, then deactivated his Iron Body.

In an instant, a chilling sensation seeped from the bluish-purple wound, both aching and itchy, yet in a way that felt strangely satisfying, almost provoking a cry.

Goodness, this stuff is intense!

"When traversing the Wasteland, particularly heading to the ruins outside, you must carry this kind of medicine. Without it, getting injured is a hassle."

"How much?"

"With the added crystal powder, it's not cheap, a fair 80 Happiness Coins!"

You're really asking for it, aren't you?

Cheng Ye thought to himself, but his hands deftly fished out the coins from his pockets, not forgetting to ask, "Do you have any more, I'll buy them all!"

Before the big battle, supplies were necessary.

Weapons and equipment were one thing, consumables certainly couldn't be left out.

"I have another bottle at home. This medicine's shelf life is just half a year. If you need it, I'll prepare and deliver it to you."

"Give me two... make it three bottles."

"Deal! I'm here running the bus every day this month, just come and pick it up anytime."

Master Tian agreed with a smile, "You know, third-rate assassins have no other skills, but they're definitely adept at staying alive."

Cheng Ye didn't respond to that, instead, he opened his panel to take a look.

[Master Tian, 21%, searchable range: Intelligence]

"Collaboration this low, there's an issue here."

He mused silently, deciding that once this infection wave blew over, he must retain a search opportunity for this "Master Tian."

Miao Yang only had ordinary, common medicine, yet a mere bus driver could provide potent remedies?

What nonsense about being a third-rate killer.

Cheng Ye hadn't taken it to heart. In the Wasteland, one couldn't underestimate any passerby, lest this person be another hidden legendary figure.

"Inspector Cheng."

"Hmm?"

"Still think you can run?" Master Tian asked abruptly, eyes still fixed on the road ahead.

Cheng Ye paused, not responding verbally, but gently shook his head.

His movement reflected in the central rearview mirror, Master Tian's lips curled into a wry smile, but he said nothing more.

Having applied the ointment, Cheng Ye leaned against the window, closing his eyes for a while.

Despite having paid the charter starting price, no one was willing to spend 2 coins to board on the way.

"Inspector Cheng, we've arrived!"

"Thank you."

Cheng Ye reactivated his Iron Body, disembarking the bus under Master Tian's admiring yet complex gaze, appearing as if nothing was amiss.

Being the first shift of the morning, he avoided the hassle of handing over with the Western Inspectors.

From afar, the guard saw him approaching and pressed the button to open the isolation gate in advance.

"Inspector Cheng." The tall guard greeted respectfully.

Cheng Ye nodded in response, his gaze sweeping across the wall guards. This time, no one deliberately avoided his gaze, but most of them carried an unnatural look in their eyes, purposefully keeping their distance.

He passed through the isolation gate into District E.

Cheng Ye slowed his steps, moving along the wall to the window of the reporting room.

Glancing inside, it was just as he expected—Jamie had already left the inspection station.

Sitting inside now was a young red-haired man, bored out of his mind, picking at the Defense Communication, playing the built-in Tetris.

Suddenly noticing a shadow cast at the window, the red-haired young man jerked his head up, about to start cursing.

But he caught a glimpse of Cheng Ye smiling as he lifted his mask, immediately startling him into standing at attention.

"Inspector... Inspector Cheng!"

"Where's Jamie?"

"He... he..." The red-haired youth was so frightened that cold sweat burst from his forehead, his tongue tying into knots.

"Jamie wasn't feeling well, so I arranged for him to go home."

Raul walked out from the archives, smiling, "Rest assured, Inspector Cheng, you will never see Jamie again on the days you are on duty at North Station."

"Is that so?"

Cheng Ye murmured, glancing again at the red-haired youth in the archives.

The latter was so scared he took two steps back, almost tripping over a chair and falling to the ground.

"Him?"

"Jamie might have said something he shouldn't have, scared him, I'll help you clock in."

Raul entered the reporting room, took Cheng Ye's badge, and lightly swiped it—this was the clock-in.

"Thanks."

Cheng Ye tugged at the corner of his mouth, as if only a day on the job had given him the reputation of being notorious.

However, he glanced around at the other workstations.

With his excellent memory, he immediately noticed that only less than twenty percent of the people he saw the other day were still there, the rest had been replaced.

"My father reorganized District E, and those whose abilities didn't meet the standard were sent back."

Raul explained, "It has nothing to do with you, don't worry."

"Oh."

Cheng Ye nodded, took his badge, and turned away, putting all these things out of his mind.

A bunch of spoiled heirs hiding in the inspection station wasn't an issue, but making things difficult for an inspector was crossing the line.

Even though he was only an intern inspector, he wasn't someone these people could mess with at will.

Sending them back directly was good, saving further trouble.

Toward Quarantine Area A.

As the sky cleared, the air was still moist.

The crowd waiting to leave the city suddenly swelled, nearly twenty Big Golden Cup trucks formed a winding line in the waiting area, like a silver-gray gluttonous snake, with their back doors uniformly open, and various small industrial items placed under waterproof tarps.

A buying frenzy had erupted in the Buffer Zone, and it was not much different in the gathering places outside.

A sudden rainstorm had sharply intensified the survival crisis, everyone urgently needed basic supplies to survive.

Taking out goods for trade at this time not only allowed for markup sales but often could trade for treasures that scavengers wouldn't usually part with.

As for the dangers... for speculators who've staked their lives, compared to profit margins and pressing demand, danger was the last thing they feared.

"Inspector... Inspector Cheng, do you need to check?"

Seeing him approach, several young people checking the shipping list were extremely nervous.

The Western drivers standing by exchanged glances, since when did these fearless heirs become so afraid of an Eastern inspector?

"No need, you guys just check yourselves."

Thinking that these people might carry Stand-In Starfish to the neighboring gathering places, Cheng Ye could only pray silently in his heart.

However, after a few more steps, as he reached the isolation passage, someone blocked his path.

It was a burly man.

His exploded blond hair was dazzling under the sun, a heavy silver chain hung around his neck, jingling with his movements, and his exposed forearms bore twisted devil and angel tattoos, reminiscent somewhat of The Beatles in Cheng Ye's memory.

"Hello, Inspector Cheng, I am Arthur Amir."

The man introduced himself, "Inspector Liu has already briefed me, but the day before yesterday I was on duty and couldn't manage to greet you."

A familiar name, Cheng Ye thought for a moment and immediately realized.

"Are you that... gunner Arthur?"

"It's me, the machine gun post also operates on a rotating schedule, I just happen to be on duty with you this week."

Arthur grinned, "Rest assured, as long as I'm here, even if the sky falls on the inspection station, before I die, I won't let a single infected body, a single person, rush at you!!"

"Is that so?"

Arthur's honest demeanor formed a striking contrast with his Beatles-esque look.

Cheng Ye smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, not taking his promises to heart at all.

In the Wasteland, the last thing you should trust is human nature; if he had just crossed over, he might have believed Arthur's words, truly believing he had no time to meet.

But with two days gone by, not a single call from the Defense Communication, did they think he was naive?

"This guy is quite the character, it seems the meeting with Dario yesterday has already spread, though I didn't expect Arthur to know too."

"But then again, a guard always climbing upwards to become a sentry gunner, second only to an inspector, couldn't do it without some smarts and ability, or he'd have been pulled down long ago."

His thoughts turning, Cheng Ye didn't show it, smiling broadly, "Arthur, the favors from the past are the past, I won't let you take any risks for me."

"Rest assured, if I come to you, it'll undoubtedly be promoting you to better prospects, there's no need for such dangers."

At these words, Arthur indeed instinctively gave a courteous assurance.

Though it was their first meeting, the two talked like they were old friends for several minutes before stopping, as if they had known each other for years.

"Alright, you go on duty, it's getting late."

"Yes!"

Dismissed by Cheng Ye, Arthur respectfully retreated.

However, as he turned the corner of the wall, his face changed slightly, his eyes flashing a trace of unfathomable gravity.

Interesting indeed, no wonder this Inspector Cheng, with only an intern status, managed to reverse the situation in two days, not only unaffected by the Westerners, but even extending an olive branch.

With such skill, such deep calculation...

"Moving upward, could he possibly make me an inspector in the future?"

Watching Cheng Ye's back as he left, Arthur licked his lips, decisively turning back to the sentry tower.

He had to admit, he did feel a momentary stir.

...

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