Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 249: The Big Egg and the Special Transcendent Mother Source!

Bearing Cheng Ye's suggested revisions, Lin Xu left in a hurry. Judging by his posture, he would probably be pulling an all-nighter to adjust the plans.Cheng Ye himself hadn't expected that the engineering "Master Craftsman" he had planned to spend a fortune recruiting from the Buffer Zone Public Works Department would deliver himself right to his doorstep. To top it off, the man was Wang Kang's stepdad. This coincidence was truly outrageous.

However, as his status and power grew, the difficulty of recruiting talent had indeed plummeted.

People like Lin Xu didn't even need to be actively courted; they brought their teams and approached him on their own, willing to leave the safety of the Inner City for a satellite city.

Of course, the connection with Wang Kang and Su Xiu played a part, but more likely, Lin Xu had sniffed out an opportunity to soar with the wind in the construction of the satellite city—even if it meant giving up the blissful life that outsiders so desperately envied.

But what about the engineers working under him? That was twelve people, which very likely meant twelve families.

'It's hard to say. People on the outside are racking their brains trying to squeeze in, while those on the inside are desperate to get out.'

'Anyone who can cough up 1,000 Contribution Points to enter the Inner City is already capable, aside from a few lucky ones. It makes perfect sense that they'd be willing to take a gamble when an opportunity arises.'

Thinking of this, Cheng Ye felt even more deeply moved.

That night, because his room was occupied, he had to squeeze onto a small bed with Wang Kang. He slept terribly, finding it nowhere near as comfortable as the hospital wards at Revival Medical.

'In the future, I need to build a Grand Hotel in Dabo Town. I can't just settle for a Small Inn.'

He calculated inwardly, 'Once the waterways are cleared, there will definitely be passing travelers. It will earn money and promote Dabo Town at the same time.'

At the break of dawn, Cheng Ye dragged himself out of bed, washed up, and left the residential community alone.

Today was Saturday. All the major department systems in the Inner City were on holiday, strictly enforcing the Two-Day Weekend System.

There were few pedestrians on the road. Only a couple of Sanitation Workers in Yellow Reflective Vests were chatting on the sidewalk, offering him a friendly greeting as he approached.

Here, there was absolutely no distinction between high and low professions. After all, the Department of Livelihood provided for everyone's food and drink. Without the stress of making a living or worrying about safety, people treated each other with far more kindness.

The Inner City had no public buses or private cars either. The space wasn't large to begin with, and public transportation would only disrupt this tranquility.

If someone owned a bicycle, they would jokingly be called a "Busy Person" and become the butt of their colleagues' jokes.

Cheng Ye had originally wanted to browse the streetside shops, but they were all closed for Saturday. The signs hanging on the doors read "Opens at 2 PM," taking relaxation to the absolute extreme.

'Well, if anyone can remain vigilant in times of peace in an environment like this, they're truly impressive.'

Cheng Ye withdrew his gaze and turned toward the only school in the Inner City.

Dabo Town would definitely need to establish a school to cultivate talent in the future. Although the cycle was long, as long as they survived the first cycle, there would inevitably be an explosion of talent later on.

Walking along the familiar road, he saw that the school was also closed for the day. Its overall appearance somewhat resembled a Modern High School.

Two guards stood watch at the entrance. Seeing his tall stature and an aura unlike that of an ordinary person, they didn't step forward to send him away, allowing him to wander inside and measure this sole talent cultivation ground in Happiness City with his footsteps.

Three teaching buildings, a large sports field, and a laboratory building. The facilities couldn't be considered luxurious. Presumably, the people in charge of education also understood that maxing out the hardware didn't guarantee good results.

When the sky was completely bright, around eight o'clock, Cheng Ye finally left the school and headed in the direction of the Research Institute.

He wasn't unfamiliar with this route. His predecessor had visited the Research Institute a few times in the past. Although he had only ever reached the outskirts, he remembered the way clearly.

After passing seven or eight blocks, walking onto the main road, and turning onto Research Avenue leading to the east end, he soon spotted the Identity Verification Guard Post.

As soon as he entered this area, his Face-Concealing Cloak unexpectedly deactivated automatically, revealing his true appearance.

Cheng Ye thought for a moment and simply handed over his Inspector Badge. After the guard scanned it, his tone and attitude instantly became respectful:

"Inspector Cheng, please wait a moment. Team Leader Shi will be here shortly to personally escort you into the Research Institute."

"Alright."

Cheng Ye took back his badge and leaned against the door of the guard post to wait.

There were definitely many secrets hidden within the Research Institute, so outsiders couldn't be allowed to casually wander inside.

However, during his brief wait, two Small Refrigerated Trucks suddenly drove down the road in the distance.

Cheng Ye accidentally locked eyes with the person in the passenger seat and froze for a moment. He hadn't expected it to be Qin Feng!

The trucks stopped fifty meters away from the inspection area. Qin Feng pushed the door open and stepped out, followed by someone in a researcher's uniform. The two of them walked toward the entrance one after the other.

"Researcher Qin!" Cheng Ye stepped forward to greet him first.

"Inspector Cheng? What are you doing here?" Qin Feng stopped in his tracks, his face full of surprise.

An inspector entering the Inner City wasn't exactly fresh news, but why would a Trainee Inspector be here?

Seeing Qin Feng's completely clueless expression, Cheng Ye immediately figured it out. It seemed Qin Feng truly hadn't been involved in the matter regarding the Immortal Object.

"Oh, I came in to handle some business, and I figured I'd drop by the Research Institute to see a friend."

"A friend?" The researcher behind Qin Feng suddenly chuckled. "Inspector Cheng, how come I've never heard that you had a friend at the Research Institute?"

"And you are?" Cheng Ye asked, furrowing his brow.

"His name is Lü Jian. He's a First-Level Researcher at the Research Institute and is considered a member of my team. He'll be joining the Inspection Station's research team moving forward."

"I see. Hello, Researcher Lü." Hearing that he was on their side, Cheng Ye relaxed his furrowed brow and proactively nodded in greeting.

"Hello." Despite Lü Jian's earlier words, he took the initiative to extend his hand, and the two shook hands lightly.

After exchanging pleasantries, Cheng Ye's gaze fell on the refrigerated trucks and he asked, "What are you doing with these?"

"It's like this: recently, the Inspection Station has been taking in more and more Drifters, and Infection Sources have been piling up without us even realizing it. But our Inspection Station hasn't built enough Containment Rooms yet, so we can only periodically send these Infection Sources to the Research Institute for preservation. If we leave them alone, they will quickly lose their viability, and then they'll completely lose their research value."

While explaining, Qin Feng pulled a pass from his pocket and handed it to the guard at the gate, allowing him to inspect the contents of the cargo hold.

"Have there really been that many Infection Sources lately?" Cheng Ye pressed.

"Yes. That previous large wave of Drifters was already dispersed among the various satellite cities. The ones arriving now are scattered individuals, but the proportion carrying Infected Bodies is actually much higher. Over the past week, the infection detection rate has steadily hovered around eight per thousand."

Eight per thousand? That figure was nearly ten times higher than before!

Cheng Ye clicked his tongue inwardly. It seemed that while he had been busy in Dabo Town and then bedridden at Revival Medical for a few days, the situation outside was far more turbulent than he had imagined.

"Inspector Cheng, you still haven't said what you're actually doing at the Research Institute."

Lü Jian chimed in from the side, his tone laced with even deeper curiosity. "Besides, as a Trainee Inspector, you logically shouldn't have the authority to enter the Research Institute, right?"

"Of course he has the authority!"

A cold, stern voice suddenly rang out from the side, causing Qin Feng and Lü Jian's expressions to change simultaneously.

The two looked toward the sound and saw a middle-aged man riding an Electric Scooter, gliding silently over from the outer corridor of the Research Institute and coming to a stop in front of them.

It was Shi Xu!

A Fourth-Level Researcher at the Research Institute—a full two ranks higher than Qin Feng.

Even though Qin Feng had been pushed out to the Buffer Zone due to factional ostracization, logically, he should have been promoted to the third level long ago.

However, Shi Xu had also been stuck at the fourth level because his research project on the Immortal Object had long failed to yield a breakthrough.

Within the Research Institute, the hierarchy was even stricter than at the Inspection Station.

Being one rank higher made you a superior.

Being two ranks higher meant Shi Xu could unilaterally veto any research projects proposed by the two without even needing approval.

"Director Shi... what brings you here?" Cold sweat instantly beaded on Lü Jian's forehead. Seeing the obvious displeasure on Shi Xu's face left his heart pounding with anxiety.

"Inspector Cheng is a distinguished guest of our Research Institute. Director Yu has already granted him special privileges equivalent to a Second-Level Researcher. In terms of rank, he is technically your superior."

Shi Xu coldly reprimanded Lü Jian. It wasn't until Cheng Ye raised a hand and waved it gently, signaling him not to take it too seriously, that his expression softened slightly. Turning to Cheng Ye, he said politely, "Inspector Cheng, please come inside!"

Under the dumbfounded gazes of Qin Feng and Lü Jian, Shi Xu—who was usually known for his strictness and never gave anyone a pleasant look—actually handed his Electric Scooter to the guard of his own volition. Then, he personally accompanied Cheng Ye from the entrance toward the Big Egg building of the Research Institute.

How... how could this be possible?

Qin Feng stared blankly at their retreating backs, but a flash of indescribable shrewdness soon darted through the depths of his eyes.

Lü Jian was completely stunned. Shi Xu's words echoed repeatedly in his mind: Cheng Ye, a Trainee Inspector, actually had higher authority than a First-Level Researcher like him?!

"Inspector Cheng, please forgive me. The news of your successful containment of the Immortal Object still needs to be kept strictly confidential. It cannot be made public for the time being," Shi Xu explained in a low voice, his tone softening.

"I understand." Cheng Ye nodded slightly, then immediately pressed, "So how is the Immortal Object doing now?"

"Its internal energy has been drained, but its overall vitality is still reasonably maintained. We've already reached a Trade Agreement with Kindling Shelter City. They are currently organizing a transport convoy and will rush over to Happiness City to collect the Immortal Object very soon."

"We sold the Immortal Object?" Cheng Ye froze in shock, his footsteps subconsciously halting as his face filled with surprise.

"Indeed, we did." A bitter smile surfaced on Shi Xu's face, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "We currently lack the foundation to study the Immortal Object. It's not something we can make a breakthrough on the moment we get our hands on it. Rather than leaving it shelved, it's better to make a deal with Kindling and have them exchange core technologies for it. This way, both sides get what they need and reap a harvest."

"A deal..." Cheng Ye's expression instantly darkened.

He never imagined that the Immortal Object he had risked his life to bring back would be immediately flipped and sold to Kindling Shelter City by Happiness City.

He had originally thought this item would aid in Happiness City's development, but now it seemed his efforts had been in vain. This outcome was truly difficult for him to accept.

But before he could dwell on it, Shi Xu's next words sent his emotions into a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

Upon hearing the crucial information, his darkened expression quickly eased, replaced by profound joy. "You mean we traded for a technology even more formidable than the Happiness Alloy? And on top of that, we also secured a B+-Grade Technology equivalent to the core technology of the Kindling Terminal?"

"Exactly! Inspector Cheng, your efforts were absolutely not in vain!!! These tangible technologies are the true key to driving Happiness City's development," Shi Xu nodded emphatically.

Although trading away the Immortal Object meant the research group he led was back to square one—making another breakthrough unlikely in the short term—

From the perspective of Happiness City's overall interests, the benefits brought by an A-Grade Technology and a B+-Grade Technology were simply beyond imagination.

More importantly, these two technologies were precisely what Happiness City needed most urgently. Their practical value was immeasurable.

"As for the specifics of that A-Grade Technology, my clearance as a Fourth-Level Researcher isn't high enough to know the exact details. However, it is certain that it will massively aid our Agricultural Industry moving forward. Furthermore..."

Shi Xu changed the subject, adding with a smile, "That B+-Grade Technology was specifically exchanged for satellite city construction. It will help us solve numerous construction challenges. Dabo Town, which you're in charge of, hasn't officially broken ground yet. It might just become the very first satellite city to apply this technology."

"Hearing you say that actually makes me even more curious."

Cheng Ye couldn't help but laugh. His mood over the past few minutes felt like a roller coaster—plunging down only to shoot back up, completely unpredictable.

Thinking about it carefully, since Happiness City lacked the capability to analyze the Immortal Object at present, exchanging it for core technologies that could be immediately put to use was indeed the wisest choice, rather than letting it gather dust.

Since Happiness City had taken some detours in its development over the past few years, seizing this opportunity to make up for lost time might gradually bridge the gap with other shelter cities.

Not to mention, the newly acquired technology would benefit the construction of Dabo Town. He had struck gold!

Approaching the Research Institute, he saw it was divided into two dome buildings: a large one and a small one.

The ones Cheng Ye had visited in the past were always the Small Egg. As for the true Infection Source Research Institute—the Big Egg—he hadn't possessed the qualifications to enter it when he was just a student.

Stepping foot here now marked his very first close encounter with this core structure.

To his surprise, an elegantly styled Cafe was situated right at the entrance of the Big Egg. Its exquisite decor and relaxed atmosphere were a far cry from the solemn image he had expected of a scientific research facility.

"Inspector Cheng, would you like some coffee?" Shi Xu asked.

"A glass of juice is fine."

Cheng Ye pointed casually at the menu. With his current physical constitution, the stimulating effects of coffee were practically negligible. A refreshing glass of juice would be much more pleasant.

Taking the orange juice handed over by the server, the two walked through the Cafe and headed deeper into the Research Institute.

As they walked, Shi Xu smiled and said, "Over all these years, ever since the Big Egg was built, you are only the twelfth Inspector to enter the Infection Source Research Institute."

"I'm quite honored then."

While replying, Cheng Ye looked around curiously, carefully examining the internal structure of the Big Egg.

Immediately after the entrance was a Disinfection Room. As soon as he stepped inside, a cool breeze carrying the faint scent of disinfectant washed over his face, followed by a fine, dense mist of sanitizer spraying down.

What was special was that this mist seemed to possess a mind of its own. It precisely avoided the cup of orange juice in his hand, evenly coating only his exposed skin.

Even on the areas covered by clothing, the disinfectant seeped through the gaps in the fabric, flowing gently across his skin to complete a comprehensive sterilization.

Passing through the Disinfection Room and looking up, the sight within the massive dome was breathtaking.

Three tiers of Circular Corridors were nested one above another, each embedded with countless Transparent Observation Windows. Light Strips on the ceiling emitted a soft, pale blue cold light, casting a delicate shimmer against the metallic walls.

Erected squarely in the center of the building was a Silver Cylinder roughly ten meters in diameter. Countless slender pipes extended from the top of the cylinder to the corridors on each floor. Occasionally, a pale green liquid would sluggishly course through these lines, much like a dormant lifeform maintaining a faint "breathing" rhythm in the silence.

Following his gaze to the cylinder, Shi Xu introduced, "Those are the Core Nutrient Delivery Pipes. Currently, all the Infection Source samples preserved in our Research Institute rely entirely on the liquid within these tubes to maintain their vitality, providing the foundation for our research."

"Does it come from a specific Infection Source?"

"You're only half right." Shi Xu decided to build a little suspense.

"A Transcendent Mother Source?" Cheng Ye quickly realized, asking tentatively.

"Exactly! Only an Infection Source can truly understand another Infection Source, and only their energies can be shared with one another. The Transcendent Mother Source can absorb the food we provide, convert it into the purest Life Energy, and then supply it to all the Infection Source samples through these pipes to sustain their survival."

Shi Xu shared the facts frankly, but Cheng Ye's heart gave a sudden lurch.

'Eating food and converting it into Life Energy?'

'This sounds like almost the exact same ability as the Starfish Epidemic, only it can be transferred to others...'

'What I lack the most right now is endurance. Whether I am locked in combat or recovering afterward, I can only rely on external forces like Treasures to make up for my weaknesses.'

'If I could acquire the Trait of this Transcendent Mother Source, wouldn't that mean...'

"Team Leader Shi, could you fetch me a sample of this liquid to look at?"