HBWnovel Chapter 216: Returning to Dabo, A Miraculous Merit!
Chapter 216: Returning to Dabo, A Miraculous Merit!
Creak, creak——
The truck inched forward slowly, every meter feeling as though it were battling an invisible resistance, the chassis occasionally emitting muffled sounds of scraping metal.
Inside the camp, dozens of monitoring devices were pointed uniformly toward the direction the truck was entering. Everyone stared intently at the jumping data on their screens.
Thanks to Cheng Ye coming and going as a "calibration anchor," the truck was able to carry a monitoring sphere meant for detection straight into the Immortal Object's domain.
This was the only way to monitor the internal Mental Pollution intensity without triggering an Infection Tide.
The detector mounted on the front of the truck transmitted real-time data via a wired connection to the rear of the vehicle, which had not yet fully entered the domain.
Even so, the Immortal Object's domain was disturbed. A faint energy fluctuation swept over the truck repeatedly like a radar scan, carrying a subtle sense of oppression.
"We have it! We finally have data!"
Shi Xu suddenly shouted, his voice filled with unconcealed excitement. However, when he clearly saw the numbers on the screen, the smile on his face froze instantly. A sudden chill gripped his heart, making the legs of everyone around him go weak.
The screen clearly displayed rows of terrifying data that made their hearts sink:
[Current Infection Source Activity Intensity: 2.77]
[Current Infection Source Active Essence Count: 16]
[Current Maximum Infection Source Activity Intensity: No Obvious Value Data]
[Current Mental Pollution Intensity: 16.715]
[Current Mental Pollution Range: No Obvious Value Data]
[Current...]
Skipping over the calibrated Infection Source data, the pollution count had actually broken past level fifteen, reaching a rare level sixteen!
What kind of concept was this?
Taking a Walker's domain influence as an example, the pollution count could only reach this level within a five-hundred-meter radius around them.
Once beyond five hundred meters, the value would drop off a cliff.
Yet right now, the truck was at least several kilometers away from the Rongdong beneath the White Water River.
At such a vast distance, the pollution intensity was already this terrifying?
"Everyone, do not panic!" Shi Xu took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the shock in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "This is the Immortal Object sensing our detection and actively increasing the intensity of its domain influence. Its passive pollution is not inherently at level sixteen."
Although the logic was sound, no one present could relax.
If an Immortal Object capable of actively releasing level-sixteen pollution had to be pacified using human lives, how many would it take?
It would likely require at least two hundred thousand of the Drifters currently stranded on the outskirts of Happiness City, waiting to be settled, just to deplete its energy.
More importantly, with such an active Immortal Object, what would its point-blank pollution intensity reach?
Level seventeen?
Or level eighteen, teetering on the edge of the Extinction-level?
Just as everyone was fraught with worry, Cheng Ye's intermittent voice suddenly crackled through the communicator, carrying a distinct tone of struggle: "Team Leader Shi... I-I'm already feeling that 'sudden whim', I'm afraid... I cannot drive any further."
Shi Xu's expression changed drastically. He immediately grabbed the communicator, his voice urgent, "Inspector Cheng! That is enough! You do not need to go any further! Just drop the detector, leaving it behind the truck is fine!"
"Understood." Cheng Ye's voice remained steady, showing not the slightest hint of fear at having stepped back into the Immortal Object's domain.
The next second, the truck slowly came to a halt. Cheng Ye lightly stepped on the brakes and reached out to press a red button on the dashboard.
Hiss—a pressure release sound echoed as the detector secured to the outside of the truck's chassis detached, landing heavily on the ground with a thud.
It was a metal sphere the size of a graphite disc, trailing a slender data cable behind it to transmit data from within Dabo Town.
This was the pinnacle achievement of Happiness City and current human technology for Wasteland exploration. Let alone level-sixteen pollution, it could accurately sense and calculate the specific Mental Pollution intensity of an Extinction-level Infection Source.
In addition, it could detect the density of Infection Sources over a large area, essentially acting as an amplified Infection Source detector.
However, just like ordinary Infection Source detectors, it still had significant shortcomings in accuracy. It could not pinpoint the exact location of a single Infection Source, only providing a rough regional scope and intensity calculation.
Furthermore, taking the Starfish Epidemic Fusion Entity as an example, even the weakest beginner-level Fusion Entity possessed an infection activity intensity of 3.
The current value of 2.77 indicated that no Fusion Entities had appeared around Dabo Town for the time being.
But remembering Cheng Ye's description of 'densely packed Crab-men standing by the river', none of the people present dared to breathe a sigh of relief.
Many ants can bite an elephant to death.
These Crab-men had clearly already been affected by the Immortal Object's Mental Pollution, but they were still in the first stage.
Once they entered the Outbreak Stage of the second phase and could clearly "see" the humans active within Dabo Town, a fierce battle would inevitably break out.
Although the truck was loaded with weapons, the problem lay in the fact that once casualties occurred, the Residents would inevitably panic. They would very likely follow suit into the second stage, falling into cognitive-distorting madness.
If this attracted a pollution tide, it would be an absolute catastrophe. When that time came, other than Cheng Ye, no one would survive.
"All right, Inspector Cheng has successfully entered. All we need to do now is trust him."
Shi Xu stood up, his gaze sweeping over the panicked crowd as he tried to stabilize morale. "An Immortal Object hasn't appeared around Happiness City for seven years. Right now is a perfect opportunity for us to collect data and make simulated deductions. We cannot waste it."
Without hesitation, he quickly issued orders: "Team One, immediately retrieve the geological reaction data for the downstream White Water River and begin matching the infection spread model!"
"Team Two, focus on collecting the Immortal Object's energy intensity fluctuations. Feed the data into the supercomputer to calculate its activity frequency!"
"Team Three, deploy to the upstream White Water River immediately and monitor the internal energy reaction changes of the water body in real-time!"
"Team Four, you are responsible for tracing the pollution source downstream of the White Water River. Check if any Infected Bodies have been missed..."
As the series of commands fell, over a hundred people in the camp immediately sprang into action.
Unused equipment was swiftly moved away and redeployed to other monitoring points.
Under the Immortal Object's influence, the underwater environment could not be easily altered, lest it trigger a pollution tide or even cause the Infection Source inside the Rongdong to jump straight from its awakening state to an eruptive state.
However, on land, the temporarily drafted Happiness Corps was out in full force, coordinating with the Blood Dragon Legion to conduct continuous patrols. They cleared potential threats near Dabo Town to ensure no unauthorized personnel or Infected Bodies could enter the town's perimeter.
High above the Wilderness.
Elder Qian glanced at Liu Kun, who was still encased in a block of ice beside him, and spoke lazily, "Let's go, it's about time for us two old men to head back. We have an agreement, the funding for his recovery this time goes on your tab."
"Hmph, such a weak second state, he got off easy." Elder Zeng snorted coldly, his figure suddenly blurring slightly.
The next second, as the light distorted, his entire person completely vanished.
"Oh, so it was just a projection?"
Elder Qian paused for a moment, then smacked his lips. "It seems I really must find the time to visit the Research Institute..."
Muttering to himself, his body also gradually faded, taking the frozen Liu Kun along as they both disappeared into thin air.
The task of containing the Immortal Object would take three to five days at the quickest, and at the slowest, it might drag on for half a month.
As for whether Cheng Ye could accomplish it, the two Elders did not actually care.
After all, the value of this Immortal Object was already clear. The only remaining question was "how much of a price to pay", rather than "can it be done".
Inside the Station Master's office at the Central Inspection Station.
"Sir, we just received news that Inspector Cheng has re-entered Dabo Town." Jiang Chuan knocked lightly on the door, pushed it open upon receiving a response, and bowed respectfully to report.
Behind the desk, Ding Yishan remained expressionless. His fingertips continued to glide slowly over the documents, his gaze focused intently on the official business at hand. He only gave a faint "Mm" in response, as if acknowledging an insignificant matter.
The office fell into a brief silence, broken only by the soft rustling of turning pages.
After a moment, Ding Yishan finally looked up, his tone remaining calm. "Can Police Chief Liu's phone still be reached?"
"We have tried calling several times, but it remains unreachable."
"What about the Police Department? Is there any news from them?"
"The Police Department just sent a notice. Deputy Chief Zhang Zhi will temporarily act as the head of the department's daily operations. They said Chief Liu received orders to execute a secret mission, but the specific details were not disclosed."
"Understood, you may leave." Ding Yishan waved his hand, his gaze returning to the documents.
Jiang Chuan acknowledged the order and withdrew, gently closing the office door behind him.
The instant the door clicked shut, Ding Yishan's steady breathing suddenly deepened. He abruptly stood up from his chair, strode quickly to the floor-to-ceiling window, and gripped the window frame tightly with both hands.
The calm and indifference that had been plastered on his face moments ago vanished completely, leaving only unconcealable fury surging in his eyes, causing the very air around him to feel a few degrees colder.
Scenes flashed uncontrollably through his mind before finally settling into stillness.
After Liu Kun left the Inspection Station, perhaps influenced by his ideals, or perhaps because no one dared to play these convoluted games with him anymore, his actions had become increasingly "direct". His grasp of Social Etiquette had grown more and more simple-minded, even to the point of stubbornness.
'Did he really think he could just outright refuse things he didn't want to do?'
'Did he think that by improving his strength, he could uphold his so-called "rules" entirely on his own?'
Gazing out the window at the Drifters still undergoing inspection and the Inspectors on duty, a trace of reminiscence inevitably flashed through Ding Yishan's eyes, only to be quickly replaced by complex emotions.
After a long while, he took a deep breath, slowly relaxing his clenched fists, and forcefully suppressed the surging emotions back into the depths of his heart.
He simply rubbed his temples, an uncontrollable murmur escaping his lips, his voice as soft as a passing breeze, "Station Master Cheng, the judgment you left behind back then still hasn't been proven wrong to this day..."
The heavy truck tires rolled over Dabo Town's already shattered ground, leaving two distinct tracks on the uneven road.
Some concrete blocks that were barely passable for pedestrians were directly crushed by the wheels, sending gravel flying before rolling away. Having driven forward for less than a hundred meters, Cheng Ye had no choice but to step on the brakes and pull the handbrake.
He could not go any further. Continuing to drive would not only block Dabo Town's sole main road, but it would also churn the already complicated terrain into a worse mess. If they encountered danger, even their retreat path might end up entirely blocked.
He pushed the door open, nimbly jumped out of the vehicle, and waved to the two people at the distant granary entrance.
Luo Kuke and Wang Kang finally reacted, hurriedly running toward the truck.
Luo Kuke, in particular, who always maintained the steady composure of a Third-stage Inspector, rarely showed such dishevelment. His footsteps were even somewhat chaotic.
Seeing this reaction, Cheng Ye felt a deepening sense of lament.
In the power arena of the Happiness City Inspection Station, Luo Kuke was a veteran at playing political mind games. But out in the Wilderness, everyone's identities seemed to be wiped clean, returning them all to the same starting line.
Whether they were an Inspector, a Drifter, a lord of some Gathering Place, or a key official of a shelter city, in the face of unknown Infection Sources and the ever-looming threat of annihilation, status held no meaning.
The only thing that spoke volumes was strength.
"Inspector Cheng, you have returned!"
Upon getting closer, Luo Kuke slowed his pace, forcing a rather awkward smile onto his face.
Although his smile was somewhat strained, the genuine excitement in his eyes could not be hidden.
Wang Kang was much more straightforward. In truth, he still had not fully understood what had happened last night, but none of that mattered.
As long as he could stand by Cheng Ye's side, his perpetually hanging heart immediately settled, and all his anxieties dissipated into thin air.
"Brother Cheng, since you left so suddenly last night, can today's assessment still proceed normally?" Wang Kang leaned in, looking at the truck with curiosity.
"Hmm?"
Cheng Ye paused for a moment before he couldn't help but laugh, turning his head to look at Luo Kuke. "Of course it can proceed, and it must proceed. Wouldn't you agree, Inspector Luo?"
Luo Kuke was stunned, a look of realization flashing across his face before he immediately nodded. "We still haven't determined a winner yet. Has the assessment prompt from above been issued?"
"It has. We will be drawing the questions at ten o'clock shortly." Cheng Ye played along, taking the opportunity to reveal some information. "The pollution source that erupted last night has also been investigated. It's inside a Rongdong beneath the White Water River. It's highly likely that this assessment's mission will be related to it."
"Understood." Luo Kuke responded decisively.
Knowing that Cheng Ye did not intend to involve Wang Kang or have him use a Benign Infection Source to evade the area's pollution, he had no objections.
The fewer people who knew the Immortal Object's information, the less likely it was to trigger another outbreak of the pollution tide.
Moreover, since this involved diving underwater to explore the Rongdong, Wang Kang's strength was simply insufficient.
It was better for him to stay on the surface and maintain order for the assessment.
Besides, Benign Infection Sources were not one hundred percent guaranteed to block pollution. Weak-rated Infection Sources would most likely fail against an Immortal Object's pollution.
As for the strongly rated ones, their prices were each more severe than the last. Unless it was an absolute last resort, no one was willing to use them.
"Then what is loaded inside this truck..." Luo Kuke's gaze fell on the truck's cargo container, already forming a guess in his mind.
"They're all good things we can use. You'll find out shortly." Cheng Ye smiled, not giving a direct explanation, and instead asked, "Are the Residents inside all right? Has there been any trouble?"
"Everyone is fine!" Wang Kang immediately chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "I told them to go back and rest first, saying the assessment was delayed. Everyone was very happy, and no one threw a temper tantrum."
"That impressive?" Cheng Ye paused, instinctively glancing over at Luo Kuke.
Unexpectedly, Luo Kuke wore an embarrassed expression. Clearly, during the time he was away, some things had happened in Dabo Town that he was unaware of.
However, not in the mood to ask for details right now, Cheng Ye immediately put away his smile, his tone turning serious, "Then notify everyone to get up and prepare to start the assessment! Today is considered the official first day, and there's still plenty of work to do."
Even though he wanted to urge the Residents out of bed, it wasn't until Wang Kang's scheduled eight o'clock notification that Cheng Ye reappeared in front of the crowd.
Seeing him return without the Able-bodied Youth who had gone out on patrol last night following behind him, the Drifters were inevitably somewhat confused.
But this confusion didn't need any explanation at all. They just needed to walk to the main road and look outside. Upon seeing the two-box truck parked at the intersection, the people from the red and blue zones exchanged a few private words and immediately found a convincing reason for themselves.
Those who were taken away had definitely received rewards, so the contents of this truck were naturally welfare meant for those of them who had stayed behind.
This was a good thing, a tremendously good thing.
"Ahem, everyone, please be quiet!"
Cheng Ye stood at the front of the truck, dragging a speaker out from the cargo area and connecting it to the power port below.
Raising the microphone, he spoke loudly, "Because Dabo Town suffered an Infection Source attack yesterday, and the specific origin of the Infection Source has yet to be ascertained, the assessment content has been temporarily adjusted!"
"The core objective after this adjustment is focused primarily on 'survival rate.' I expect that from now on, everyone will control their hands, feet, mouths, and... brains. Leave the task of investigating and containing the Infection Source to us Inspectors. Does everyone understand?"
The crowd below blanked for a brief moment before erupting into enthusiastic applause.
If Luo Kuke had said this, perhaps some might have questioned it, but coming from Cheng Ye, everyone felt reassured.
"Of course, the other core element of the assessment remains infrastructure command. That point will not change."
Cheng Ye shifted the topic, continuing, "Additionally, Happiness City has confirmed the identity of the crab Infection Source that appeared yesterday. Its full name is the Abyssal Water Cave Crab, and its infection symptoms are primarily..."
He deliberately paused, emphasizing his tone, "A special warning is needed: this Infection Source can spread through freshwater. Do not come into direct contact with the water of the White Water River recently, and do not drink untreated raw water."
Upon hearing 'spread through freshwater,' a wave of uproar inevitably rippled through the crowd. No one expected this thing's transmission method to be so insidious.
But seeing the truck full of supplies behind Cheng Ye, and recalling his logically clear, fully transparent disclosure of information, the crowd's panic was quickly quelled.
In today's Wasteland, experiencing Parasitism from an Infection Source was no longer anything new.
Some people would even proactively utilize the abilities of low-risk Infection Sources to assist with migration or labor, and could rely on them to save their lives in critical moments.
To put it bluntly, as long as it was not an unknown Infection Source, and as long as there were clear countermeasures, it was no different from catching a cold or fever.
Who didn't suffer a headache or a minor fever over the course of a year?
"Regarding infection testing, everyone will prioritize collecting their own urine shortly. We will use the table salt we've prepared for preliminary testing. Inspector Wang will give you a detailed explanation on the specific operational methods."
Cheng Ye continued making arrangements, his tone composed, "If you test positive for infection, there is no need to panic. The Abyssal Water Cave Crab's infection is not fatal, and the removal method is very simple. Just follow my arrangements."
"All right, everyone disperse now and return to your respective zones. Inspector Wang, please organize everyone for testing. It will still be a little while before Inspector Garcia returns, so you will also have to keep a close eye on the temporary coordination of the red zone."
"Don't worry, Inspector Cheng!" Wang Kang immediately stepped forward, raising his voice to the crowd. "Everyone follow me. Go line up to collect the table salt for testing first. Group up by families and come one by one. Don't push!"
Among the over nine hundred people, there were families, lone Able-bodied Youths, and married couples. Getting everyone to cooperate was indeed no easy feat.
However, as long as the most critical element—trust—could be secured, managing them became incredibly simple.
Once the crowd followed Wang Kang away, Cheng Ye paused, lifting his chin toward Luo Kuke to gesture for him to follow to the truck's rear tailgate.
Clack.
With the soft sound of the latch popping open, Cheng Ye gave a light pull. The electric assist mechanism engaged, slowly unfolding the heavy tailgate.
Unlike what one would imagine of a space crammed with supplies, the interior was extremely orderly, looking more like a temporary operations room.
The entirety of it was constructed from a gray alloy gleaming with a cold light. Upon closer inspection, it was astonishingly made entirely of Happiness City's highest grade Happiness Alloy.
The entire left wall of the cargo container was embedded with a massive spliced display screen, which was currently lit up with an image:
The central main screen loaded a holographic map of Dabo Town. Every alleyway and every temporary defensive barricade was clearly marked.
At the same time, the Residents who had just left were already displaying as individual moving white dots on the screen, with a green light dot at the very front representing Wang Kang.
The sub-screens on either side displayed the radar's operational status and Infection Source analysis records respectively, the data still ticking away in real-time.
On the right side was an integrated chemical console with various Infection Source analysis instruments neatly arranged. As long as a specimen was inserted, it would automatically run an analysis. Even if it was an unknown Infection Source, it could detect the Infection Source's basic Traits. It would not be an exaggeration to call it a miniature Inspection Station.
Luo Kuke's gaze swept over the area rapidly, skimming past two folded jet skis at the entrance, before finally landing on two half-person-tall metal crates at the innermost part of the container.
When he clearly saw the markings on the surface of the crates, the surprise on his face instantly morphed into sheer disbelief.
He was so stunned that he stood completely frozen, muttering involuntarily, "This... Extinction-level, how is this possible?"
There was no text on the two metal crates, only a black "Happiness Great Wall" insignia stamped on them.
Others might not understand the meaning, but how could a Third-stage Inspector like Luo Kuke not understand?
Yellow markings corresponded to the Disaster-level, red corresponded to the Ruin-level, and black was a designation only used when dealing with Extinction-level threats!
No matter what was packed inside, they were top-tier equipment exclusively deployed for handling Extinction-level Infection Sources.
"This is the protective equipment the two of us will be using to go into the water, issued according to Extinction-level standards."
Cheng Ye narrowed his eyes in a smile, unashamedly appreciating the shock on Luo Kuke's face. "What, is it that unusual?"
"Unusual! Of course it's unusual!"
Luo Kuke nodded continuously, his tone still filled with disbelief. "A set of Extinction-level protective equipment costs at least a million Contribution Points to manufacture, and we can only rely on imports from Torch..."
"Objects are dead, but people are alive." Cheng Ye put his smile away, his tone turning serious. "Issuing us Extinction-level equipment, you should understand what this means, right?"
"Mm..." Luo Kuke nodded lightly, yet the excitement in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest. "It seems the pollution source in the White Water River's Rongdong holds a value even higher than I imagined?"
"Its value is not just high." Cheng Ye's words were like a heavy bomb smashing directly onto Luo Kuke's heart. "This is an Extinction-level mission from the Inspection Station. As long as we complete it, the two of us will receive an Extinction-level merit each."
Thump!
Luo Kuke's entire body trembled. The look of surprise in his eyes was instantly filled with a fervent, blazing desire, and even his breathing grew rapid.
An Extinction-level merit!
He had originally believed that climbing to become a Third-stage Inspector would be the absolute limit of his life.
With no family background and no tyrannical personal strength, only being adept at the political maneuvering of interpersonal management, taking another step up would require nothing short of a massive miracle.
But if he possessed an Extinction-level merit, the next time he competed for Fourth-Stage Inspector, his backbone would be so unyielding that it couldn't bend at all!
'No, this is the miracle itself!'
Feeling the rapidness of Luo Kuke's breathing, Cheng Ye ultimately couldn't help but laugh.
Wealth and prospects move the hearts of men. This was true for the lowly Drifters, and was it not equally true for high-ranking Inspectors?
He turned and jumped onto the truck, sitting down in front of the central command console. Following the steps Bai Wei had previously explained, he clumsily navigated the touchscreen and typed in the commands.
The Inspector armor issued by the Inspection Station was embedded with a tracking Chip, allowing for real-time signal transmission.
He had not dared to activate the detection outside the town earlier for fear of alarming the Immortal Object's domain. However, now that they were within the town's perimeter, the signal would not suffer from any interference.
"A detection radar capable of recording human Essence... this thing has truly surpassed the realm of what old era technology could comprehend." Cheng Ye looked at the interface loading on the screen and sighed in a low voice.
The holographic map of Dabo Town unfurled completely.
Within a few seconds, a massive blue dot of light lit up in the White Water River area.
The location was not far away; it was perfectly wedged about six or seven hundred meters upstream from the pier's Drainage Outlet, remaining completely stationary without the slightest deviation.
Cheng Ye stared at the dot of light for a moment, firmly memorizing the coordinates, only to turn around and find Luo Kuke still standing in a daze at the container's entrance, lost in thought.
It wasn't until his gaze swept over him that Luo Kuke shuddered violently, completely snapping back to his senses.
"Inspector Cheng!" Luo Kuke jumped into the container, his tone several times more solemn than before. "To deal with a target at the level of an Immortal Object, we must twist together into a single rope; we absolutely cannot act separately again. No matter what orders you have next, just instruct me directly. I will listen to your every word!"
"Hmm? Orders?"
Cheng Ye was momentarily taken aback before breaking into a wry smile.
Luo Kuke's level of self-awareness was much higher than he had anticipated. Perhaps this keen ability to assess the situation was a prerequisite for high-ranking Inspectors to establish themselves in the arena of power?
However, an Extinction-level merit was to Luo Kuke the foundation for "charging from the third stage to the fourth stage." It was a promotional opportunity he might never encounter again in his lifetime—it was a miracle.
Naturally, it could also allow a Trainee Inspector to effortlessly climb all the way up to become a high-ranking Inspector.
As long as this mission was successful, their future statuses within the Inspection Station would be equal. Furthermore, because the potential Cheng Ye displayed was so exaggerated, Luo Kuke had clearly realized he needed to latch onto his coattails early on.
Their eyes meeting again, Cheng Ye nodded lightly and pointed to the two black metal crates inside the container:
"Then... put on your gear and let's go. It seems our Inspector Garcia doesn't have such bad luck after all!"