Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 256: Research Team and the Great Tianyuan Expansion!

Arriving empty-handed, returning fully loaded.After parting ways with Director Yu and returning to the surface, Cheng Ye realized it was already midday.

Although the autumn sun was not exactly scorching, the Autumn Tiger had lost none of its ferocity, and the temperature steadily climbed.

Even wearing short sleeves and possessing a physique far surpassing that of an ordinary person, he still felt a trace of unbearable, stifling heat.

"Inspector Cheng, you saw the physical Burning Chive, didn't you?" Shi Xu hurried over, raising an eyebrow with a smile. "I apologize. Anyone who hasn't obtained the proper clearance truly has no right to know about the existence of the Burning Chive."

Cheng Ye nodded in agreement. "It is the rules, and more importantly, it is the core secret of Happiness City!"

"Heh, the Inspectors of our Happiness City always have a great mindset!"

As a Fourth-Level Researcher, Shi Xu was already one of the core members just below the Research Institute's management, yet his attitude was incredibly humble.

Cheng Ye gave it a brief thought and roughly figured out the reason.

While Shi Xu's research direction into Immortal Objects was undeniably important, without Inspectors going out for containment and bringing those items back to the Research Institute, even the best research plans meant that even the cleverest housewife could not cook without rice.

Although the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch would sooner or later be traded by Happiness City to Kindling Shelter City, who could say for sure that he wouldn't bring back another Immortal Object in the future?

'If the Dabo Town Research Institute can really be built, maybe I can rope Director Shi into going over there to stabilize the situation...'

Cheng Ye secretly calculated in his mind as he watched Shi Xu arrange for personnel to retrieve the light device that suppressed the Ghost Shadow Spider, along with its controller and related data.

This set of equipment was quite massive, especially the controller, which reached a staggering four meters in length.

"This contains multiple sets of precision spectrum generators and frequency modulation modules, capable of simulating specific pulsed light across different wavelengths. Currently, we have only determined that the Ghost Shadow Spider has strong stress reactions to three specific frequencies of light, but we haven't yet found a wavelength that can completely suppress its abilities," Shi Xu explained in detail.

"No problem, just leave it to me!" Cheng Ye confidently agreed.

Seeing his overwhelming confidence, Shi Xu was filled with curiosity but refrained from asking further questions. He immediately arranged for a medium truck to come over and helped load the entire set of devices.

Afterward, at Shi Xu's warm invitation, the two went to the Research Institute Cafeteria to grab a bite to eat.

Most of the researchers in the cafeteria simply grabbed a few packets of Nutrient Paste and turned to leave, unwilling to waste too much time on eating.

Only a few counters offered meal order services, which required the Contribution Points issued by the Research Institute to redeem.

Sitting at the dining table, looking at the incredibly lavish four dishes and one soup that Shi Xu brought over, Cheng Ye suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, as if he had returned to that night many days ago, sitting in the cafeteria eating with Li Changfeng.

At that time, Li Changfeng was full of anticipation, hoping that one day he could step out of Kindling Shelter City to see the vast outside world.

Then what was Shi Xu, sitting right in front of him, anticipating?

"Inspector Cheng, quickly, have a taste! I specifically asked Chef Liu to make this himself. He is the top chef in our Research Institute; even when the Elders find their meals bland, they will specifically come over to taste his cooking," Shi Xu greeted warmly.

The four dishes were stir-fried seasonal vegetables, braised prawns in oil, steamed pork with preserved vegetables, and pan-fried cod.

The soup was mushroom chicken soup.

These were truly substantial dishes. The stir-fried seasonal vegetables were fresh, tender, and crisp. The freshly cooked braised prawns in oil were coated in an amber sauce, their aroma piercing straight into the nasal cavity. The pan-fried cod had a golden, crispy skin, while the fish inside was so tender it practically oozed juice, complemented by a garnish of lemon slices to cut the grease and enhance the flavor. The final dish, the steamed pork with preserved vegetables, was a bright red hue; the perfectly layered slices of meat had absorbed the savory aroma of the preserved vegetables, making one's appetite surge just from looking at it.

Cheng Ye picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of the steamed pork, and placed it in his mouth. He was instantly enveloped by an indescribable deliciousness.

His taste buds seemed to be completely activated as the sweet, mellow flavor exploded in his mouth, leaving an endless aftertaste.

"I hope that by this time next year, the majority of the people in Happiness City will be able to eat a meal like this."

Much like Li Changfeng back then, Shi Xu did not pick up his chopsticks. He merely watched Cheng Ye continuously grab food, his eyes full of expectation.

He chuckled, a trace of reminiscence passing through his gaze. "In the past, Happiness City was actually more progressive than any other shelter city. Any research team could apply for funds to launch scientific projects. What a pity. Pests emerged from within us, and a large portion of the funding was poured into a bottomless pit. In the end, it only ended up benefiting outsiders while delaying our own development."

"And this bottomless pit was?" Cheng Ye blinked, asking casually as he didn't want to appear too deliberate.

Unexpectedly, Shi Xu didn't try to hide anything, stating bluntly, "It was deciphering the virus scattered by the Giant Creatures."

"It was originally a grand subject. If successfully deciphered, the entire world would undergo a drastic change, all conflicts would immediately halt, and we would find a way to eradicate the spreading infection sources. It's just a pity... A goal that might not even be achieved by combining the power of all humanity—how could we possibly advance it with just our small Happiness City?"

"I was a firm opponent back then. At a time when the shelter city desperately needed iterative technological breakthroughs, pursuing this kind of theoretical research with no short-term returns—and potentially no long-term results either—was simply too unwise! It's hateful..."

As he spoke, Shi Xu's emotions gradually grew agitated. His expression shifted several times before he finally said in a deep voice, "The Inspection Station had a traitor like Xiao Shuntian, and our Research Institute also had Michael Jones. He used to be the only Deputy Director of the Research Institute and had a tacit understanding with Director Long. But later, he chose to betray us and flee, taking all the research results and defecting to another shelter city."

"Where did he go?" Cheng Ye didn't put down his chopsticks, maintaining a casual, conversational tone to keep the atmosphere from becoming too heavy.

"The other side of this planet... Natural Village Shelter City."

Shi Xu practically squeezed the words through his teeth. "Although Natural Village Shelter City's current breakthroughs in artificially cultivating treasures can be considered the realization of those past research results—proving his research direction wasn't wrong—even so, it cannot cover up the fact that he betrayed Happiness City and took our nuclear technology with him!"

"Natural Village Shelter City's technological breakthroughs actually rode on the coattails of our Happiness City?" Cheng Ye put down his chopsticks and scooped a small bowl of chicken soup.

The soup was a clear golden color, with a few floating goji berries adding a touch of color, exuding a subtle and lingering aroma.

He purposely scooped a bowl for Shi Xu as well. The two took small sips, completely at a loss for words for a moment.

After a long while, Shi Xu slowly raised his head. The melancholy in his eyes dissipated, replaced once again by an obstinate gleam:

"That is why, Inspector Cheng, I will absolutely not give up on my research subject. The pioneers of the previous era exhausted their life's blood exploring the foundational laws that construct the material world. Ultimately, they discovered the strong nuclear force, the electromagnetic force, the weak interaction force, and gravity—the Four Fundamental Forces that serve as the cornerstones supporting the macroscopic universe and microscopic particles. Yet, even so, they spent their entire era unable to touch the essence of higher-dimensional existence. This became an eternal regret stretching across the history of human cognition."

"And our generation of researchers carries the mission of breaking through the boundaries of cognition. If the ultimate proposition of the previous era was how matter is constituted, then our mission is to decipher how the transcendent exists. After nearly twenty years of experimental verification and rune deconstruction, I can be one hundred percent certain: Runes are absolutely not meaningless symbolic totems. They are the core nexus of the transcendent system, the crucial medium for bonding, driving, and reconstructing transcendent elements. They might even be the bridge connecting the material laws and the transcendent laws! Giving up on them is equivalent to humanity giving up the key to unlocking the next era of civilization!"

"Moreover, Kindling Shelter City has already proven this point to us. Those Kindling Rail Mountains were formed by their breakthroughs in Source Guidance Technology, achieved through deciphering runes!"

Mentioning Kindling Rail Mountain, the obstinacy in his eyes shifted once more, ultimately morphing into a touch of unwavering resolve:

"Whether it's today or tomorrow, even if I die at the research bench, I will persist in deciphering runes. One day, I will use the latest technological results to prove that my choice was not wrong! It is only due to a lack of support that I have been marching in place for years like it was a single day."

'Huh?' Cheng Ye was somewhat astonished. The value of runes was something even a layman like him could clearly perceive. Did the Research Institute actually not support Shi Xu's deciphering research?

"Did the Research Institute not allocate dedicated project funds for you?"

"No."

Shi Xu shook his head, his tone full of helplessness. "Ever since Michael fled, project funding was changed to a voting system.

My project constantly ranks at the bottom, so I can at most receive sporadic funding of a few tens of thousands of points. Let alone researching Immortal Objects and runes, this little bit of money isn't even enough to buy scraps of basic consumable materials."

Speaking up to this point, his gaze suddenly shifted, looking straight at Cheng Ye with obvious anticipation.

Cheng Ye immediately understood, feeling slightly surprised inwardly. "Director Shi, you wouldn't be thinking of researching the rune in my hands, would you?"

"Once the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch is sent away, the only highly valuable rune I will have access to for research will be the one in your hands!"

Shi Xu nodded repeatedly, his tone growing a few degrees more urgent, even shifting from addressing him informally to using a highly respectful honorific.

This shift in address fully expressed his urgency and the importance he placed on it.

Cheng Ye suddenly fell silent. Looking at the undisguised dedication and resolve in Shi Xu's eyes, along with that nearly stubborn persistence, it was as if he was looking at a researcher grasping at his only lifeline in a desperate situation.

Shi Xu was truly a pure researcher.

His nearly obstinate persistence was likely not just for the sake of breaking through technical barriers, but even more so to prove his worth to everyone.

"I just mentioned to Director Yu earlier that I want to build a branch of the Research Institute in Dabo Town."

Cheng Ye spoke ponderously, "If the subsequent interrogation of Yu Yong yields substantial progress, we should be able to get the Research Institute's backing."

Shi Xu froze for a moment before instantly catching on. He nodded hastily. "If you need me to be stationed there and lead a team, just say the word, Inspector Cheng!

However, I must remain at the Main Institute for this current period. I need to take advantage of the time before the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch is traded away to strive for some breakthrough research."

"No problem. The construction of the branch institute probably won't begin this winter. We will have to wait until next spring."

Cheng Ye didn't speak in absolutes. Shifting the topic, he added, "Additionally, I myself am also quite interested in runes. Aside from the two in my hands, I might be able to find more rune samples for you later on."

As soon as these words came out, Shi Xu's eyes instantly lit up. He immediately replied, "I also have a sixteen-person core research team under my command, plus forty intern researchers! We can dive into the work at any time!"

"Director Shi's willingness to join is a massively good thing for the branch institute. But let's be straightforward and get the ugly truths out of the way first."

Cheng Ye picked up his chopsticks again, his tone turning serious. "I don't have much funding at the moment. At the very least, in the early stages, I won't be able to sponsor you to purchase those 'imported' instruments in bulk. However, I will figure out a way to build a suitable research environment for you."

Cheng Ye deliberately emphasized the word "imported".

Having come into contact with so much, he had long since seen through it. The so-called "imported" label was essentially a disguised technology harvesting tax. The moment anything had that label slapped onto it, its price would multiply by at least tenfold.

Furthermore, having instruments didn't guarantee immediate results. The imported equipment circulating on the market was highly likely to be a generation behind anyway. It would be better to independently research and develop from scratch.

With his Civilization Collector, which could both analyze biological traits and record and decipher runes, there was absolutely no need to hand over hard cash to other shelter cities.

"Inspector Cheng, you must be joking. Could it be any worse than my current situation?"

Shi Xu shook his head helplessly, though a trace of excitement shone in his eyes. "For this research, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of Contribution Points actually make little difference. What we need more is recognition, a team united in efforts, and most crucially... mutual trust!"

"Rest assured, I'm certainly not afraid of Director Shi fleeing with the research results."

Cheng Ye nodded repeatedly, discreetly opening his interface to glance at Shi Xu's cooperation level.

'Good heavens, 87.6%.'

This was already the highest value achievable merely through conversation, without the aid of any scenario enhancements!

'I lack Recharge Value, and I lack time even more. I'm sure Shi Xu must also have a massive amount of disciplinary knowledge hidden away, waiting to be searched.'

Cheng Ye suddenly fell into a state of happy distress.

He suddenly recalled the route selection hints provided by the Civilization Collector, and at this moment, he finally faintly understood their meaning:

Individual strength was used to arm oneself to delve into dangerous situations and find valuable information.

But to change an era, one still could not depart from prudence and intelligent collaboration; one could not depart from deep cooperation with these "locals."

Lunch concluded.

Cheng Ye sat in the passenger seat of the truck. Looking out the window at Shi Xu waving goodbye full of expectation, his heart swelled with countless emotions.

He hadn't expected a single Immortal Object containment mission to yield such astonishing hidden benefits.

He had even gathered the most foundational research team, led by none other than a Fourth-Level Researcher, one of the six core members of the Research Institute.

One had to realize that the Inspection Station currently only had Qin Feng, a Second-Level Researcher, in charge. Perhaps once his Dabo Town Research Institute was built, the heights it could reach in the future would even surpass the fully-budgeted Inspection Station.

Of course, the larger he spread his operations, the more he realized the urgency of making money.

Currently, they were restricted by "imports" at every turn, which conversely illustrated just how exaggerated the benefits of "exports" were.

As long as he could form a technological suppression and open the channels for large-scale transactions, the resources he could bring back in the future would likely be beyond imagination.

"Brother Cheng, where did you get this truck?!" When Wang Kang came downstairs and saw Cheng Ye sitting in the passenger seat, his eyes went wide.

The Inner City had incredibly strict controls over vehicles; private individuals had absolutely no right to own them.

But when he circled to the other side of the truck and glimpsed the Big Egg emblem affixed to the right side of the vehicle, his heart full of curiosity instantly transformed into ill-concealed admiration.

"The last time we went to visit the Research Institute, they wouldn't even let us through the doors of the Big Egg. How long has it even been, and you actually managed to requisition a truck from the Big Egg, Brother Cheng!"

"Relax, I'll take you inside for a stroll next time." Cheng Ye simply dismissed the driver provided by the Research Institute, moving to sit in the driver's seat himself, while Wang Kang smoothly climbed into the passenger seat.

At this moment, the clothing store had just opened. Su Xiu and Lin Xu were still chatting inside.

Seeing a truck park at the entrance, the two hurried out to welcome it. But upon clearly seeing Wang Kang in the passenger seat and Cheng Ye driving, the urgency on their faces instantly shifted.

Su Xiu walked over with a face full of curiosity, marveling as she touched it here and examined it there, her eyes filled with unconcealable pride.

Lin Xu's gaze, meanwhile, fell upon that Big Egg emblem, a flash of astonishment and realization passing through his eyes. He quickly swapped it for a much more cordial smile, stepping forward and naturally offering his greetings.

"Inspector Cheng, I'm afraid the specific plans will take over ten days to draw up..."

"No problem. The construction can advance in phases. Let's settle the core area first, then gradually expand outward. Uncle Lin, could I possibly distrust your abilities?"

Cheng Ye pushed open the door and stepped out, exchanging comm numbers with Lin Xu. He then emphatically reminded him:

"Once you leave the Inner City, getting back in will be difficult. If anyone has concerns about this, absolutely do not force them. I can also help you find suitable workers and masters outside for you to command. My fear is that someone might come out, find they can't endure the harsh environment, and then throw a fuss about wanting to go back."

"A few people indeed raised that concern. Now that you mention it, I won't forcefully persuade them to follow." Lin Xu immediately nodded. "Inspector Cheng, referring to each other as family in private is perfectly fine, but when we're outside, you should just call me 'Engineer Lin.' It's more standard that way."

"Engineer Lin..." Cheng Ye gave a slight nod, not paying too much mind to Lin Xu's deliberate emphasis on "family."

He was just building connections; it was harmless.

Compared to finding an unknown architect and maintaining the relationship purely through profit, having this extra layer of connection with Lin Xu was undoubtedly more reassuring. "Call me when you're ready to come out, and I'll have someone pick you up."

"Understood!" Lin Xu nodded firmly.

3:00 PM.

The truck turned onto the main thoroughfare, driving straight toward the Happy Gate.

One trip in, one trip out, and that faint thread of longing and yearning for the Inner City had already vanished without a trace.

Conversely, it was the underground area of the Inner City that made Cheng Ye a bit covetous. Especially the Administrative District where Black Tiger resided—aside from the known Revival Medical space, who knows how many more miraculous places were hidden away.

Not to mention the treasures within the Big Egg. Just Yu Yong alone was enough for him to collect all the traits of the Transcendent Mother Source.

"Brother Cheng, before we even knew it, a whole month has flashed by since we left the Buffer Zone," Wang Kang spoke with feeling as he gazed out the window.

As the truck drove out of the Inner City's perimeter, more and more curious gazes were cast their way. Cheng Ye had no choice but to roll up his window, taking a deep breath in the process.

The moment they exited the city, the familiar odor of the Buffer Zone assaulted their faces. Because sections of the pipelines had been dug up for repairs, that pungent smell was so thick it made one slightly dizzy.

Yet it was precisely this smell that inexplicably set his mind at ease, as if he had instantly returned to his own territory.

"I wonder how the Pedestrian Street's construction is coming along?" Cheng Ye nodded, naturally casting his gaze toward the sides of the street.

As the area immediately adjacent to the Happy Gate, District A had suffered the most severe damage during the Starfish Epidemic. Yet now, in just two short months, it had actually recovered more than half of its former prosperity.

The buildings that had been blown apart by the fires of war were entirely rebuilt. This was especially true for the Ancient Architecture Street that Li Matai had previously selected, which was now vibrant and lively, with an endless stream of pedestrians coming and going.

'The basic infrastructure has finally caught up. The next step is to quickly transfer industries and solve the employment problem for these people...'

Cheng Ye lightly tapped the brakes, letting the truck idle as it slowly rolled through this seemingly bustling area.

Perhaps the Big Egg emblem of the Infection Source Research Institute on the truck's body played a part. Seeing the vehicle, the guards maintaining order by the roadside proactively stepped forward to guide the crowd, barking at the pedestrians who carelessly darted into the middle of the road, clearing a path for the truck.

Driving past District A5 and taking two consecutive turns, the number of pedestrians sharply dropped, but the dug-up road surfaces appeared one stretch after another.

Cheng Ye had no choice but to frantically spin the steering wheel, dodging those massive craters while carefully observing the changes that had occurred in the B Districts during the month he was away.

The foot traffic from District B1 to B3 was several times higher than before. Most were workers wearing overalls, burying their heads as they worked diligently to repair the underground pipe networks.

The closer they got to District B7, the more massive the scale of the pipe network renovation project became. By the time they reached District B6, the road had been completely taken over by construction zones, rendering the truck completely unable to pass.

Cheng Ye had to pull the vehicle over and park it securely, his gaze falling upon the thoroughly excavated street.

There originally had only been a single old sewage pipe here, but it was currently being upgraded and renovated into a dual-pipe system running sewage and water supply in parallel.

The rusted and rotting old pipes were hoisted out of the trenches by workers, who labored in groups of four to haul them to the roadside. Meanwhile, the pristine, stark white new pipes were neatly stacked beside the sidewalk, piled layer upon layer, yet to be laid down.

Seeing a vehicle park, the foreman in charge of the on-site construction hurriedly jogged over. He had initially intended to urge this truck obstructing the construction to leave, but when he clearly saw the person in the driver's seat, his entire body jolted. Instantly, an irrepressible ecstasy erupted on his face, and he dashed over:

"Ins... Inspector Cheng! You... How come you've returned?!"

"Is it that surprising that I'm back?" Cheng Ye was somewhat surprised, furrowing his brows as he scrutinized the other party, searching his memory for the corresponding name. "You are Huang..."

"Huang Yong! I'm the Huang Yong who previously discovered Clerk Jiang's anomaly!"

Huang Yong was so agitated his voice even trembled a little. To be vaguely remembered by Inspector Cheng was already a tremendous validation for him. "Inspector Cheng, you've finally come back! Our Tianyuan absolutely cannot do without you!"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? That sounds like a jinx!"

Wang Kang also pushed his door open and got out, grumpily muttering a curse before pointing at the messily excavated road and asking, "What exactly is this project? Other districts at least leave one path open. The way this has been dug up, we can't even drive through!"

"Inspector... Inspector Wang!" Huang Yong immediately stowed away the grin on his face, straightening his back and respectfully replying, his tone unable to hide his pride. "We are upgrading and modifying the underground pipelines! The higher-ups allocated a lot of funds and materials, and our Tianyuan received the largest share of the funding!"

He paused, then dropped an even more shocking piece of news, "And it's not just District B7 now. The neighboring District B6, as well as B8 and B9,

have all been assigned to our Tianyuan to manage!"

Huh?

Tianyuan expanded just like that?

Cheng Ye was startled, subconsciously pressing the question, "Then what about the previous communities in those three districts?"

"They've all been swallowed up by us!" Huang Yong smugly lifted his chin, giving Cheng Ye a thumbs-up, his tone brimming with pride. "Their management philosophy simply doesn't work. The residents were poor and had nowhere to develop. Our Tianyuan's philosophy is the only one that truly works!"

That brimming confident appearance nearly made Cheng Ye lose his composure. He coughed once before continuing his questions, "How many people does the community have in total now?"

"Seven thousand six hundred people. We are now the eighth largest community in the Buffer Zone!"

"Over seven thousand people, and we only rank eighth?" Cheng Ye was struck again.

It seemed that during the month he was gone, the changes in the Buffer Zone were far greater than he had imagined.

But thinking about it, it was also reasonable. With the massive influx of outsiders, the total population was probably already in the hundreds of thousands.

The philosophy of the Tianyuan Community had always been to screen for those who aligned with their ideals; they were never a place that refused no one. Its scale hadn't managed to catch up to those communities with lax management, which widely absorbed the population, which was completely reasonable.

"Have someone keep an eye on the truck. Don't let outsiders touch the things inside." Cheng Ye ordered Huang Yong before turning and walking toward the direction of the Pedestrian Street.

Under the scale of time, his own changes were already astonishing enough. What kind of appearance would that community of thousands—along with the Pedestrian Street he had planned long ago and allocated funds for—have now?

Turning past two streets, Cheng Ye slowed his pace. His heart harbored both anticipation and an inexplicable complexity.

Having lived two lifetimes, he had never truly witnessed the blueprints he drew and the ideas he proposed tangibly materialize into reality.

Could the experienced masters from the Public Works Department perfectly build the Pedestrian Street according to his train of thought?

Would any unexpected accidents occur during the construction process?

The closer he got to the Pedestrian Street, the more Cheng Ye felt his heart race in a chaotic jumble.

But when he walked past the familiar alleys and truly stepped into District B7, his footsteps abruptly halted. A massive, perfectly ordered architectural complex instantly reflected in his pupils.

The Tianyuan Pedestrian Street had been built!