Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 245: The Infection Cost, A New Era of Change Begins!

Cui Qiao quickly sent someone to deliver clothes. While they spoke, she acted perfectly normal, as befitted her role as vice director.However, the two young female assistants trailing behind her still had obvious, faint blushes on their cheeks.

'Where is your professional conduct?!'

'Damn it, Inspector Cheng's innocence is gone just like that!'

Cheng Ye felt a bit helpless. He secretly made up his mind that before his next field mission, he had to secure a set of clothes that could expand and shrink along with his body size.

The Obsidian Battle Armor utilized similar technology. Setting aside its core function of concealing one's aura, a simple stretchable design shouldn't be too hard to achieve.

Otherwise, ending up stark naked after every transformation in the Wilderness was simply too awkward and troublesome.

After he changed clothes, Cui Qiao began explaining the exercise regimen to offset his cost. "Based on your physical fitness assessment, moderate-intensity exercise is divided into three categories: running, weightlifting, and rowing."

"Running requires completing two thousand kilometers at a pace no slower than fifteen seconds per hundred meters, which will take about ten days. This is our most recommended method. Running is a passive exercise, and as long as your daily recovery is sufficient, it is the easiest to stick with."

"Weightlifting requires using a barbell of no less than one hundred and fifty kilograms to complete at least one hundred and forty-four hours of training, which equates to six days. During this time, your heart rate must be maintained above one hundred and seventy beats per minute. It is the most difficult to endure, but it takes less time."

"Rowing is the fastest method, only requiring one hundred and thirty hours of endurance, but..."

Cui Qiao paused, her tone solemn. "I strongly suggest you first experience the level of agony the cost brings. When the bone-deep muscle pain flares up, you might not be able to exert enough force to even move the oars."

"Then I will run," Cheng Ye decided.

Cheng Ye changed into a quick-dry athletic suit, rubbing his still-bald head.

Compared to the latter two, the actual time spent running wasn't long. At a pace of fifteen seconds per hundred meters, two thousand kilometers would only take eighty-three hours.

If he ran for sixteen hours a day, pulling a "Forrest Gump," he could finish it in just five days.

Moreover, weightlifting and rowing required constant monitoring of heart rate and intensity, which was far too troublesome.

Not to mention, he was only doing this to offset the cost. His physical enhancement was naturally supported by the physique talents he had acquired; he didn't need deliberate weightlifting to get stronger.

"Understood. Do you plan to run indoors or outdoors?" Cui Qiao asked.

"Outdoors. Running laps in here is too boring." Cheng Ye glanced around the testing ground. Although there was enough space, running in circles for sixteen hours straight every day would be sheer torture.

"Then please follow me."

The group headed up to the surface. Returning to the front of the building, the overhead lighting system was already simulating the bright daylight of the outside world.

The perimeter of the entire Revival Medical facility was exactly eight kilometers long. To finish two thousand kilometers, he only needed to run two hundred and fifty laps.

The medical team quickly sprang into action, bringing in various monitoring devices to set up the area.

Rather absurdly, they set up a supply station every two kilometers along the route, making for a total of four stations.

Six staff members manned each supply station: two were responsible for monitoring data, two were on standby for emergencies, and the remaining two specialized in providing massages to alleviate pain.

It was also worth mentioning that aside from the standard nutrient paste—the yellow, blue, and black pouches...

Here, Cheng Ye saw a new type of nutrient paste.

A red pouch!

"Are you saying that the nutrition in this single pouch is ten times that of a yellow pouch? And it has potent anti-fatigue properties?"

"It can even... repair internal damage?"

Cheng Ye rubbed the red pouch, his eyes flickering with calculation.

'This is some good stuff!'

'Happiness City truly has immense wealth and resources. They hide far too many treasures that I didn't have the clearance to access before.'

'If I can get my hands on a batch of this, I won't need to gorge myself like a gluttonous Taotie, downing hundreds of pouches at once whenever I fuse talents or equip skills in the future.'

"Yes, the cost price for one pouch is one hundred and fifty Contribution Points,"

Cui Qiao explained with a smile. "However, since you are an Inspector of our Happiness City, as long as you do not take them out of the Revival Medical area, you can drink an unlimited supply."

'Heh.'

'She spoke politely, but they still restrict taking it outside.'

Cheng Ye grinned, baring his teeth. One hundred and fifty points were enough to fully charge his Collector; he wasn't yet extravagant enough to casually drink such high-priced nutrient paste.

'Still, if I really want to take some out, given my current status and contributions, applying for a batch shouldn't be too hard, right?'

Cui Qiao didn't notice his wandering thoughts and continued laying out the precautions. "During your run, we will have personnel stationed the entire time. We absolutely will not let anyone disturb you."

"You do not need to worry about any outside affairs. A daily summary of information will be placed by your bedside."

"If you have any needs, you can tell me at any time. Currently, there is a total of sixty medical personnel and two hundred and forty staff members dedicated exclusively to serving you."

"If you feel pain, press the yellow button on your chest. This administers a temporary painkiller injection, which can be pressed at most once per hour. If it becomes truly unbearable, press the red button. We will rush to the scene immediately and adjust your pain relief plan."

"If you have any specific cravings for dishes, fruits, or uniquely flavored foods, just let us know. We will dispatch them immediately to guarantee they are fresh and delicious."

"If you require any entertainment activities or have any other kinds of requests, you can tell us. We will immediately arrange personnel to serve you and guarantee your satisfaction."

After rattling off all the precautions in one breath, Cui Qiao bowed slightly. All the medical staff behind her followed suit, bowing in unison.

"Inspector Cheng, thank you for your hard work for the development of Happiness City!"

"Even though we have various auxiliary means to help you complete your cost offset, ultimately, you must personally endure the core agony!"

"Mhm."

Cheng Ye gave a slight nod.

His interface flickered before his eyes. Only four hours remained before the forced execution of the cost.

He had no intention of waiting for the timer to run out. Instead, he proactively pressed the red button to initiate the cost.

Squelch—

A distinct sound of muscle twisting suddenly rang out, echoing clearly in the ears of everyone present.

The next second, the sharp "crack-crack" of bones followed closely behind, sounding as if they were being crushed under an unbearable weight and were about to snap.

The cost of an Infection Source was, in essence, more like an alternative modification mechanism.

Especially with an ability like the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse's power to expand and shrink; every use overtaxed the body. The repayment of this cost was achieved through targeted exercise to strengthen the physique, ensuring that the restrictions on utilizing parasitism grew fewer, and the power exerted became greater.

It could be said that if one could repeatedly endure the cost of the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse without breaking down, then in the future, even without using the ability, they would still possess strength and physical fitness far surpassing ordinary people!

Thud!

Following a violent spasm in his thigh, Cheng Ye fell to one knee. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead like pearls falling from a broken string.

'Pain!'

'An agonizing, bone-piercing pain!'

It felt as if someone had grabbed his shoulders and ruthlessly wrenched them to the left, while someone else yanked his legs to the right. His waist endured an immense twisting force, hurting so much it felt like he was about to be ripped in half.

His spine constantly deformed and twisted, and the muscles on his thighs surged visibly, forming undulating, wave-like patterns beneath his skin.

'Is this the cost of using an Infection Source?'

'It really packs a punch!'

Cheng Ye clenched his teeth tightly, forcefully bracing himself to stand up. Compared to the utter helplessness of facing an overwhelming threat, what did a little pain amount to?

It was nothing more than...

"Equip, Iron Physique!"

His Skill Bar flickered slightly, and the words "Iron Physique" lit up.

The excruciating, heart-tearing pain from a moment ago dissipated by more than half in an instant, leaving behind only a mild, needle-like prickling sensation.

Without the contrast of the prior severe pain, an ordinary person would find even this prickling unbearable. But at this moment, the agony was reduced by at least seventy percent, leaving a mere thirty percent for him to endure.

'Even against the standard version's cost of the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse, the Iron Physique can only reduce the pain by seventy percent... Wouldn't the cost of the Transcendent version be even harder to withstand?'

Cheng Ye was secretly alarmed, but right now, he had no mind to dwell on such things.

Under the reverent gazes of the medical staff, he started moving his legs, gritting his teeth as he broke into a run.

It was visibly obvious that a distinct trail of moisture appeared on the ground wherever he ran.

That was not just dripping from his forehead; it was seeping out from the surface of his body entirely. He looked like a drenched rag being continuously wrung dry.

"Inspector Cheng is indeed no ordinary man. He is even much stronger than his father..." Cui Qiao couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Cheng Long was also considered a regular at Revival Medical. He would occasionally be sent in, bearing terrifying injuries.

In terms of sheer willpower, the two might be on par.

But in terms of strength, the gap was vast.

Thinking this, she turned her head and ordered loudly, "Hold your posts diligently. If Inspector Cheng has any requests, I don't want to see anyone slacking off, understand?"

"Yes, Director Cui!"

The massive medical team responded in unison, then took up their assigned positions according to the prior arrangements.

For the next five days.

Almost every morning at five o'clock on the dot, a running figure would appear on the open grounds of Revival Medical.

This figure seemed entirely tireless, running non-stop from five in the morning until ten at night.

Some were astounded, some were deeply curious, but most felt profound awe at the immense suffering carried on that figure's shoulders.

Building Two, sixth floor.

Luo Kuke sat by the window, quietly watching the running silhouette below. Envy and lingering fear intertwined in his eyes.

Both of his legs had been amputated. In the future, he could only rely on alloy prosthetics. The scene of running to his heart's content, like the man below, was destined to remain out of his reach.

Yet, whenever he watched Cheng Ye run by, a long trail of sweat always remained on the ground, looking as if the floor had been mopped over and over.

That made him feel incredibly grateful. He didn't have to think hard to realize just what kind of inhuman, horrifying agony Cheng Ye was enduring at this very moment.

"If it were me, I'm afraid I would have been on the verge of breaking down long ago."

"This Cheng Ye... This Cheng Ye..."

Luo Kuke murmured to himself, casually grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds to snack on as he turned on the radio to listen to a wuxia novel from the Old Era.

His gaze tracked that figure, which seemed to know neither fatigue nor pain, and he began to seriously ponder how he, a Third-stage Inspector, should maintain a good relationship with this "novice" Inspector once he was discharged from the hospital.

Building Two, fifth floor.

Garcia was already out of critical danger, but ultimately, his two arms couldn't be saved, and he had been forced to undergo amputation.

The cost of using a Benign Infection Source was simply too heavy. Unless it was a matter of life or death, no one would be foolish enough to use an Infection Source to combat another Infection Source.

Even after his repeated pleas, and even with Revival Medical's specialized technology, they still failed to preserve his arms.

The window was wide open, and the gentle breeze fluttered his empty sleeves back and forth, conveying an indescribable sense of desolation.

"Stop looking and eat something."

A voice sounded from behind him. Garcia turned his head blankly, only to see a tall, blond man holding a peeled apple.

He was momentarily stunned before forcing an ugly smile, opening his mouth to take a small bite of the apple.

Despite it being just a tiny chunk of flesh, he chewed on it for half a minute without swallowing.

"You only paid the cost of two arms to purge the Infection Source. You are still human; you are a normal person."

The blond man broke into a grin, his tone shifting. "But he is different. He will have to repeatedly taste this kind of suffering for the rest of his life, degrading into something Non-Human. He is grouped into the Faction of the Source-Binders, and will even be permanently severed from ever attaining Transcendent Power."

"Think carefully about it; you are the lucky one! The power of an Infection Source is a curse. Only Transcendent Power is a true, mighty force that can be perfectly controlled by oneself!"

"Calvin, I am just an ordinary Second-stage Inspector. You have no need to recruit me so aggressively." Garcia shook his head gently.

"No, facts have proven that you have never been ordinary, and your future will be even less so."

Calvin dropped his smile and spoke solemnly, "Thirteen Inspectors have already joined us. As long as you have a Ruin-level quota, once a seat opens up above, you can immediately be promoted to a High-Tier Inspector within the Inspection Station. We will even help you climb up step by step to seize more power."

Garcia's eyes flickered, and he asked slowly, "What do I need to pay in return?"

"It's very simple. You only need to voice your support for certain slightly risky proposals at the appropriate time."

Calvin spread his hands, a hint of teasing in his tone. "You wouldn't actually think that our Transcendent Faction wants to bring Happiness City to ruin, would you?"

"Alright... are you certain that after I join, I will truly be able to obtain Transcendent Power?"

"Of course." Calvin nodded heavily, a flash of fanaticism crossing his eyes. "The next era is approaching rapidly. Since Happiness City has already embarked on a path of outward expansion, it means this world will no longer remain as peaceful as it has been for the past decade. Our period of recuperation is about to end."

"A new war will descend, and new conflicts will erupt. Those without strength will only be reduced to cannon fodder. The developmental path that Happiness City previously clung to is bound to change. In this great upheaval, do you want to be an insignificant piece of cannon fodder, or will you join us... and become a great pioneer of change?!"

"Change..."

Garcia muttered this word repeatedly, unable to control the flashes of memories racing through his mind:

The utter helplessness of being caught in the maelstrom of power struggles.

The despair of facing a powerful Infection Source with no means to resist.

And the endless desolation of having his destiny tightly gripped in the palms of others, forced to passively submit!

These memories pricked at his heart like needles, making him want to clench his fists. But the absence of his arms only provoked him further, as if an invisible voice were screaming at him: You are already a cripple!

'A cripple?'

A moment later, he fiercely gritted his teeth. A glimmer of sheer resolution flashed through his eyes as he gave Calvin a heavy nod:

"I... accept your offer!"