Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 267: Generous Ask-Road County, Davidson's Deal!

The two cargo trucks arrived at the perfect time.The journey to Dabo Town was not short, and these two drivers did not usually run that route. Now, with an armed convoy escorting them, it was both safe and worry-free.

Mu Shuang drove the off-road vehicle at the very front. Two armed pickup trucks guarded the two cargo trucks from the front and rear, forming a tight escort formation.

After the convoy struggled to turn onto the national highway, the driving immediately became much smoother.

When passing the outpost station once again, Cheng Ye specifically got out of the car to look around for a moment. He observed the terrain of the industrial zone more clearly, while simultaneously verifying the sights before him against the information Li Matai had previously provided.

Once past the outpost station, heading toward Dabo Town was much smoother.

The road segment turning from the national highway toward Ask-Road County had been completely repaired along its entire length. The surface was as flat as the main road leading to the industrial zone. However, when turning from the border of Ask-Road County toward Dabo Town, it was inevitable to travel over a stretch of pothole-filled, rough roads.

As the vehicles bumped and swayed into Dabo Town, the two teams of workers arranged by Lei Hu had already arrived early and were waiting to unload the cargo.

'Station Master Lei took over Brother B's position, so I assume Brother B should be returning very soon,'

Cheng Ye thought to himself as he watched the workers carefully lift the equipment off the trucks and meticulously wrap it in waterproof tarps in the open clearing.

Compared to Lei Hu, Liu Bi's seniority was clearly lacking by a significant margin.

As the Duty Station Master of South Station and a Phase 5 Inspector, Lei Hu was originally someone with the potential to inherit the position of Station Master of Happiness City in the future. Not only did he have enough prestige, but his connections and network were far deeper than Liu Bi's.

Moreover, although he was just as straightforward as Liu Bi, being a Station Master meant he understood Social Etiquette to some extent, making him a bit more slick and adaptable than Liu Bi.

With him holding down the fort in the industrial zone, even if the satellite cities below had many complaints about those "defective goods," none of them would dare to actually run up and clamor in front of Lei Hu. Let alone Phase 2 or Phase 3 Inspectors, he could even suppress those in Phase 4.

But Liu Bi, being only a Phase 4 himself, found it somewhat strenuous to even restrain Phase 3 personnel.

'Old Ding's arrangement is truly spot on. Many questions become clear once you visit the site in person. When I report back, this will also avoid a lot of unnecessary explanations and arguments,'

Cheng Ye sighed inwardly. He asked himself and knew he couldn't even learn thirty percent of Ding Yishan's layout skills in the arena of Power.

Fortunately, Yueye Shelter City was a newly constructed project. The personnel were all personally selected by him, so he didn't have to take over a complete mess. Otherwise, given his current temperament, he would probably have such a headache that he'd resort to using his super strength.

He waited until the unloading was completely finished, by which time it was already past Noon.

The cleanup work in Dabo Town was still ongoing. The personnel transferred from the legion were conducting a comprehensive disinfection inside and out.

Without his combat armor to protect him, Cheng Ye had to temporarily suppress his desire to go and check out the Rongdong.

After he instructed the cleanup personnel to help look after the equipment, the convoy rushed to Ask-Road County without stopping to rest.

Along the way, Cheng Ye pondered repeatedly. With these satellite cities serving as a model, and his experiences in East Peace Town, he finally finalized the route infrastructure plan for Dabo Town.

Directly connecting to the national highway to link Happiness City and the industrial zone was certainly the most convenient choice, but it was also the most expensive one. Meanwhile, abandoning Ask-Road County, which was right at their doorstep and had a population of a hundred thousand, was clearly not a wise move.

Raul had mentioned previously that if they built the road segment from Dabo Town to Ask-Road County, Ask-Road County would provide an additional subsidy.

It would be better to build this segment of the road first, opening up the connection between the two locations. Later, once Dabo Town developed, they could plan the long-term goal of connecting to the national highway. After all, the two plans did not conflict.

Ask-Road County wouldn't restrict him from building the segment connecting to the national highway in the future either!

'Hmm, the next step is to discuss exactly how much the subsidy will be. Fortunately, we have our own people in Ask-Road County...' Cheng Ye calculated in his mind.

Three Phase 5 Inspectors.

Zhou Changhai went without saying. Given his current contributions and upward momentum, this "fence-sitter" probably wouldn't mind selling him a favor.

Lin Bao was a staunch member of the Eastern Faction, so he would be even less opposed to Ask-Road County connecting with Dabo Town to achieve synergy between the two places, allowing his speaking authority in Ask-Road County to grow.

The only one he hadn't made contact with was Raul's father, the Deputy Station Master of North Station, Evan Davidson.

However, he had gotten along quite well with Tang Si previously. If there really was a conflict, he could easily mediate it through Tang Si.

'The plan is perfect!'

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, the outline of the Ask-Road County satellite city, which was the original Ask-Road County Logistics Park, faintly appeared in his line of sight ahead.

It was a highly uniform expanse of flatland. Looking at the area data alone, it was eight times as vast as Dabo Town.

There was also an unfinished airport nearby. The terrain's potential for future expansion was truly immeasurable.

As for the original site of Ask-Road County, namely the ancient county town area, there were currently no signs of restoration.

Presumably, after on-site exploration, they discovered that the Cost of restoration was far higher than building anew, so it had been temporarily shelved.

However, it was foreseeable that Ask-Road County still had a large space for future expansion. Unlike Dabo Town, which could only slowly pioneer the surrounding Wilderness, advancing the Construction Progress bit by bit.

The vehicles drove forward for about another kilometer before arriving at the outpost station of Ask-Road County.

The poured concrete outpost station couldn't be called aesthetically pleasing, but it firmly blockaded the entire road. Alloy fences had also been built alongside it, taking security protection to the absolute extreme.

"Halt right there!" The Megaphone inside the outpost station blared, the voice stern and crisp.

Cheng Ye didn't get out of the car, allowing Wu Rui and Mu Shuang to step forward to communicate and coordinate.

Because their itinerary had been reported in advance, a release pass stamped with the outpost's official seal was handed out in less than half a minute. The convoy passed through the initial screening outpost station without any hindrance.

As the wheels rolled over the road surface past the outpost station, the feeling was completely different from the bumpiness of the Wilderness. The disorder and desolation outside were thoroughly isolated, and a rich aura of civilization instantly washed over them.

Cheng Ye sat up straight, rolled down the passenger window, and carefully observed this rapidly rising satellite city.

The road was made of newly laid asphalt concrete, so dark and shiny that it could reflect the drifting clouds in the sky. Its width was enough for a two-way, eight-lane avenue. The middle was divided by a half-meter-high green belt planted with pine and cypress seedlings that had not yet fully taken root, carrying the moist scent of freshly turned soil.

The sidewalks on both sides had already taken shape, paved with light gray permeable bricks. A few stubborn weeds sparsely sprouted from the cracks between the bricks, but they were trimmed neatly, not ruining the overall sense of order in the slightest.

Every fifty meters, a solar-powered streetlamp identical to the ones on the overpass stood tall. Its design was simple and clean. The lamppost was made of a silver-gray alloy, and the bottom was poured with a thick concrete base. Even if it encountered the fierce gales of the Wilderness, it would remain as steady as a boulder.

However, it seemed they had not been connected to power yet. The lamp heads drooped quietly, like soldiers lined up on standby, silently guarding this road leading to civilization.

Shifting his gaze from the road to the roadside, rows of prefabricated houses were neatly arranged.

Although the residential areas of Ask-Road County did not use prefabricated houses, these foreign construction teams and personnel responsible for duty patrols all needed temporary living quarters.

The construction cycle for concrete buildings was too long, so prefabricated houses were the most reliable choice at the moment.

The exterior walls of the prefabs were uniformly painted light blue, and the roofs were covered with colored steel tiles. Each house was equipped with standardized doors and windows. Simple doorplates hung at the entrances, indicating the construction team's serial number. Occasionally, words like "Regional Material Management Office" or "Temporary Medical Post" could be seen.

In the open spaces between the prefabs, simple parking lots and activity areas had been carved out. Several engineering vehicles were parked in an orderly manner, and a row of silver charging piles stood next to them.

They were the exact same style as the ones on the Pedestrian Street.

According to the color classification rules of Happiness City, the power of this kind of silver charging pile should only be 60kw. It was obvious that the main power line of Happiness City had already been laid over in advance, rather than slowly building a power grid from the industrial zone. This showed just how high the infrastructure priority of Ask-Road County was.

As the vehicle continued forward, the overall outline of the Ask-Road County satellite city became increasingly clear.

In the distant Core area, several high-rise buildings had already begun to take shape. The poured reinforced concrete frameworks rose from the ground. The tallest one visually appeared to be over ten stories high. The Crane at the top was still operating slowly, its jib carving steady arcs in the air, continuously transporting building materials like rebar and cement to the construction levels.

The road network between the buildings had already taken shape, like a giant chessboard dividing the satellite city into distinct functional blocks.

Even though Cheng Ye had not seen the construction blueprints of Ask-Road County, he could faintly sense that the construction standards here were definitely much more modernized than the Buffer Zone, and perhaps even the Inner City.

The key reason was that Ask-Road County was the product of Happiness City pouring all its efforts into construction after developing to a specific cycle and accumulating enough Strength.

When the new era had just begun, the construction of the Inner City was stretched thin. Various materials had to be cobbled together to barely meet the demands, which caused the Inner City's style to lean toward a small and beautiful county-town model.

But Ask-Road County today was built on a large and comprehensive city-level scale right out of the gate, showcasing the current Strength and confidence of Happiness City at every turn.

When the convoy reached the three-kilometer mark, the roadside scenery gradually transitioned from temporary facilities to semi-permanent buildings.

Several steel-structured factory buildings had already been roofed. The massive factory doors were open, and the large mechanical equipment being installed inside could be clearly seen. The crisp sounds of Metal clashing faintly drifted out, exuding a vibrant aura of production.

Beside the factories, the supporting electrical substations and sewage treatment plants were also under intense construction. Blue protective netting wrapped the entire construction area, and the red banners reading "Safety First, Quality is Key" hanging on them fluttered loudly in the wind, looking exceptionally striking.

The green belts along the road also became more regular. Aside from the pine and cypress seen earlier, many drought-resistant shrubs and flowers had been planted. Although they weren't yet lush with leaves and branches, their well-proportioned layout already revealed traces of meticulous planning.

"Who did the planning for Ask-Road County?" Cheng Ye turned his head and asked.

"It was handled by the team led by Engineer Xi Yan," Mu Shuang answered without missing a beat. "He is the Deputy Director of the Inner City's Public Works Department. The planning for Ask-Road County actually had preliminary drafts very early on, which is why they are able to push it forward so quickly now."

"Xi Yan..." Cheng Ye muttered the name under his breath.

Happiness City hadn't expanded outward on a large scale in over ten years. These engineers probably couldn't sit idle, so it wasn't surprising that they did some regional planning in advance.

But to be able to plan Ask-Road County to its current level, this Xi Yan would definitely be a prominent figure even if placed in the modern era. At the very least, he wouldn't be any weaker than his mentor during his graduate studies.

'Impressive!'

'I should definitely find some time to contact him later, and personally scro— learn from this "big shot" about architectural knowledge that is more suitable for the wasteland environment.'

As the convoy continued forward, an already completed inspection station came into view. A signboard bearing the words "Ask-Road North Inspection Station" hung on its lintel.

It was considerably larger in scale than the outpost station at the entrance. The main body was pieced together from thickened steel plates, and the surface was sprayed with anti-corrosion black paint, gleaming with a strict, metallic luster.

The inspection station spanned the entire eight-lane road, leaving only two passage ports in the middle. Each was equipped with lifting crash barriers. The barrier bodies were as thick as an adult's thigh, and the hydraulic devices at the bottom were faintly visible.

A three-story observation tower stood on each side. The towers were surrounded by high-definition cameras and infrared detectors. The lenses slowly rotated as the convoy moved, achieving completely blind-spot-free surveillance.

Even so, compared to the facilities at the main headquarters of Happiness City, this inspection station was still just putting on a show. The overall structure was composed of ordinary steel, and it had not utilized the Isolation Alloy capable of defending against Infected Body attacks.

However, compared to the other satellite cities Cheng Ye had seen along the way, it was already unbelievably luxurious.

What made Cheng Ye feel even more amused inwardly were the Inspectors sitting at the two diversion ports.

One was a Westerner Phase 1 Inspector, which was nothing unusual.

The other, however, was Raul, who had been responsible for coordinating infrastructure a while ago. He was sitting at the right diversion port, watching the convoy slowly approach with an intense look of concentration on his face.

"Head for lane two."

Mu Shuang turned the steering wheel, and the off-road vehicle drove straight toward the direction where Raul was stationed.

"Halt right there. Step out of the vehicle and accept the inspection," Raul's voice rang out right on cue as they reached the barrier.

Westerners never arranged extra personnel to assist Inspectors on duty, so Raul was the only one sitting behind the inspection desk in the inspection area.

Judging by his posture, he had mastered the procedures perfectly, showing no signs of unfamiliarity whatsoever.

But the moment Cheng Ye pushed open the car door and stepped out, the stern expression on Raul's face instantly crumbled.

"Inspector Cheng, you've arrived!"

He quickly stepped forward. Beneath his seemingly calm demeanor, his eyes were filled with an unmistakable, undisguised pleasant surprise.

Cheng Ye understood immediately. It seemed that while others might not know about the situation in Dabo Town, Raul's father, Davidson, definitely knew and had informed his son in advance.

"Inspector Evan, I trust you've been well," Cheng Ye smiled and nodded.

"How could I be considered an Inspector? You must be joking, Inspector Cheng." Raul hastily shook his head and reached out to press the button, opening the isolation gate. "I just came over to help with duty and share some of the pressure."

"What, you're not planning to practice your inspection procedures on me?" Cheng Ye teased as he walked into the inspection area.

"How could I dare..." Raul scratched his head, then lowered his voice and got straight to the point. "My father is already waiting for you inside. He wants to discuss a deal with you."

"A deal?" Cheng Ye repeated expressionlessly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"The construction of the satellite cities has entered a stable period, and the major inspection stations all need personnel to handle basic duties. Therefore, the Inspection Station is expanding recruitment this time, releasing fifty spots all at once."

Raul bowed slightly, his tone respectful. "My spot is already guaranteed, but I still have three younger brothers. They are short one spot, so we might need Inspector Cheng to help cast a vote."

"Oh?" Cheng Ye was slightly taken aback. "Your whole family wants to be Inspectors?"

"Yes," Raul nodded, his tone carrying a degree of certainty. "The education we received from a young age was to familiarize ourselves with all kinds of Inspector duty procedures in advance. Of course, we naturally can't compare to you, Inspector Cheng. A figure like you is destined to gallop across the Wilderness and leave behind a legend that shakes the wasteland. You wouldn't waste your time on dull, repetitive duties."

'He really knows how to string together pleasantries, speaking so flawlessly without a single leak.'

After finishing, Raul added, "Repetitive tasks like guarding the satellite cities and Happiness City should naturally be handled by cogs like us on your behalf. Rest assured, my brother's professional abilities meet all the standards. Anyone who can obtain voting qualifications is an excellent reserve personnel recognized by the Inspection Station."

Cheng Ye was unmoved and continued to ask, "But I'm just a Trainee Inspector right now. I shouldn't have voting qualifications, right?"

"You are now, but that doesn't mean you will be next." Raul bent even lower, his tone carrying obvious fawning. "Station Master Cheng, if you ever need personnel, I would be willing to go to Yueye Shelter City as well. I would be a responsible Inspector and work for you."

'Oh ho?'

'This guy actually knows about the upcoming personnel changes at the Inspection Station. He truly is a bona fide second-generation Inspector.'

A trace of amusement crept into Cheng Ye's tone. "Does everyone know this news?"

"Rest assured, only the Phase 5 Inspectors are aware of this," Raul hurriedly explained. "The reason my father told me is because there might have been some minor friction between you and me previously. He wanted me to keep my eyes open and not stand on the wrong side."

"Alright, save the pleasantries for later." Cheng Ye waved his hand and cut to the chase. "I want to build a road running back and forth between Dabo Town and Ask-Road County. Can your father make the call on that?"

"Yes, my father happens to be in charge of the route infrastructure work." Raul straightened up and pointed at the asphalt road outside, his tone carrying a bit of pride. "You should have seen the changes during this period. What do you think of how this road was built?"

"Not bad, truly not bad!" Cheng Ye nodded sincerely. The road segment Raul had supervised previously was indeed of unquestionable quality and constructed quite uniformly.

As for how many years it could be used and whether problems would arise, even modern society wouldn't dare make guarantees. In the wasteland, where accidents occurred frequently, if a problem actually arose, they could just fix it then. The biggest fear was not being able to find someone to take Responsibility.

"Then it's settled. Our starting condition is to build a four-lane road leading to Dabo Town for you, completely free of charge. All configurations will follow the standard specifications you see right now."

Raul smiled as he tossed out his bargaining chip. "As for whether it can become a six-lane or eight-lane road, that will depend on the results of your negotiations with my father!"