New Era, July 11, Year 35.

8:03 PM.

The wind gradually subsided, but the rain became more torrential.

Huge raindrops fell from the high sky, spreading circles of splashes on the ground.

The vast North Inspection Station was now completely locked down, with all exits blocked by heavy steel barricades.

In the open space of Zone F, two 9.6-meter trucks parked quietly in front of a two-story building.

More than a dozen staff members were busily and orderly moving differently sized and material containment boxes out of the building.

The truck's rear compartment was opened.

A rush of cold air hit them, inside was a tightly partitioned grid, specially designed for storing the sources of infection.

"Handle with care! The sources of infection inside are not that stable!"

Qin Feng stood by the door, occasionally reminding them loudly while directing the staff to load the trucks in an orderly manner according to the labels.

No matter how many days this wave of infection lasted, the inspection station had to "close down" for a week as per regulations.

To prevent any unexpected spread of the contained infection sources, they had to be fully loaded onto trucks and taken back to the Inner City Research Institute.

"Hey you there, this Armored Vine inside is specifically ordered by Director Liu, if it's damaged, you'll have to pay with your life!"

Seeing two staff members among the four slip, nearly dropping the box containing green vines, Qin Feng's brows furrowed, and he dashed forward to steady the box.

Only then did he realize that it wasn't the staff members who slipped, but that the vines inside the box were writhing restlessly.

As the box was being moved, the vines even tried to break through and escape.

"You think you can just come and go as you please, as if Happiness City is a city ruin?"

Qin Feng pressed a button on the box, causing a hissing sound to erupt from inside.

Within four to five seconds, the struggling vines suddenly stiffened and went completely still.

"Old Qin, you seem to have some real goodies at this inspection station."

The two researchers at the door stepped forward full of curiosity.

"Our Infection Source Research Institute doesn't have such good stuff, but you..."

"They're just small gadgets, I have limited equipment here and have to come up with some methods myself."

Qin Feng couldn't help but shake his head.

The research institute doesn't use such ancient methods, it uses special sound waves to suppress the activity of infection sources.

"This time, I'm going to see if I can apply to come here to work at the inspection station."

"You?"

Qin Feng shook his head and chuckled.

The benefit of this place is the frequent access to live infection sources for research, but the disadvantages are obvious too.

Like the inspectors, researchers stationed in the Buffer Zone cannot enter the Inner City except during an infection wave when they can apply for permission to return to the city.

Moreover, research equipment must be applied for funding through the inspection station; most of his equipment was sponsored by Director Liu from the Inner City, or they'd just be worthless shells.

"What? You look down on me? I'm already at level two after the year."

"Alright, alright, then come out and help me. This place is quite lively every day."

Qin Feng was too lazy to explain the pros and cons, waved his hand, and continued supervising the loading.

About twenty minutes later.

The last source of infection was carried out. After a second check confirmed everything was correct, the truck doors slowly closed.

"Station Chief Harlem, the trucks are loaded."

Taking out his Defense Communication, Qin Feng dialed the nominal highest authority at the North Inspection Station.

"Funding? Don't worry, we have enough now."

"Yes, rest assured, I'll be back after the infection wave passes, I won't let this place go vacant."

Harlem's promises were as simple as ever.

Telling him that after the infection wave, three thousand Contribution Points would be allotted to the North Inspection Station branch.

But with the current status of the inspection station in Happiness City, how easy is that?

Not to mention allocating funds to the research institute, even refurbishing facilities within the inspection station is a stretch.

"Alright, let's go!"

Qin Feng dismissed the staff, invited the two researchers to board the lead truck.

The interior was quite spacious, with enough seats for eight people, more than the Big Golden Cup's seating capacity.

The soldiers responsible for escorting didn't get on the trucks; each vehicle had ten soldiers, hooked onto the truck's latches with hooks, hanging outside like the Flying Tiger Team.

Armed to the teeth, with the striking words 'Happiness Corps' on their chests.

It's unlikely anyone in their right mind would dare approach this spectacle and wouldn't quickly clear out of the way.

The two trucks drove out of the North Inspection Station in procession.

"The last time I came to the Buffer Zone was 13 years ago, back then I was here to help clean up the battlefield."

"It's been so many years, and this place has changed quite a bit."

Lv Jian, sitting next to Qin Feng, said with curiosity and wonder, his eyes scanning outside the window.

Every now and then a speeding Big Golden Cup on duty would roar past, charging straight into an alley, immediately followed by intense gunfire.

To someone like him who still had memories of the era of civilian fights, this felt like landing in another place entirely.

"Thirteen years, some changes were bound to happen."

Qin Feng sighed softly, a sense of nostalgia in his eyes, "Back then, to exchange for control of the Buffer Zone, the Idealist Faction completely relinquished part of their Inner City powers, throwing all their ideals into this area. Looking back, the results haven't been so bad."

"Now more and more long-time residents of the Buffer Zone are developing a sense of belonging here, and quite a few strange community rules have emerged, some of which sound unbelievable."

"Oh, tell me about them?"

"There's not much to say; whether they work or not can only be proven in this infection wave."

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