Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 310: Advanced Action Points, Mission Customization!

October 14th.The early morning sun pierced through the thin mist, spilling over the streets and alleys of Dabo Town.

After the residents gradually left their homes for work, Cheng Ye walked into the warehouse and slowly drove the Fierce Dragon Armored Vehicle to the front of the trading station.

He connected the water pipes inside the station. The free filtered water sprayed out freely, splashing over the vehicle's surface and washing away the layer of loose dust that had settled during its long period in storage.

After a simple rinse, Cheng Ye grabbed a brush and a towel, meticulously scrubbing this old vehicle that had been in service for over fifteen years.

"Big guy, don't drop the ball this time. Whatever you do, don't break down halfway."

Gripping the brush, Cheng Ye bit by bit cleaned the years of accumulated grime in the corners. Along the way, he leaned down to inspect every part of the vehicle's structure, carefully checking the condition of its components.

This way, even if it really broke down on the road, as long as he brought the right tools, he could instantly repair it using Action Points.

Speaking of Action Points, his Skill Search attempts for low-level skills these past few days had never failed. They all had a 100% success rate, so he simply could not save up any points.

But that was not a big problem. By utilizing the mechanism where giving up a search yielded double points, a single day was more than enough time to stock up.

After washing the vehicle, Cheng Ye casually strolled through the town. His gaze swept across the faces around him, and the Cooperation Level displayed on his System Panel consistently started at sixty or seventy.

He had to admit, the Collector was incredibly effective for rooting out spies. If any outsider sneaked into Dabo Town, he would spot them at a single glance.

Soon, the 800 units of power he charged last night were entirely spent on abandoning searches, converting into Action Points and storing in the top right corner of his panel.

With his current Lv3 Rank, doing this was an absolute breeze.

Each Lv1 Skill Search consumed only 10% of his power (80 units), but abandoning it rewarded him with a doubled payout of 6 Action Points.

Depleting a full bar of Recharge Value safely deposited 60 Action Points into his account.

During the intervals while recharging, Cheng Ye opened the rear doors of the armored vehicle and began loading the supplies needed for Field Duty.

When Low-Tier Inspectors went on Field Duty, they mostly rented public vehicles from the Inspection Station. A round trip would eat up at least thirty percent of their earnings in rental fees.

High-Tier Inspectors, on the other hand, were completely different. Not only did they have exclusive Vehicles to save on expenses, but they would also bring along familiar trade caravans or ones they supported, maximizing the profits of every Field Duty trip.

However, heading to Guang Province this time meant dealing with Radiant Rainbow Shelter City. Ordinary supplies were not scarce there at all; only the special ores from Shi Province had a decent market.

The problem was that the ores were quite expensive, and their volume and weight were not to be underestimated. Cheng Ye pondered it over and, looking at the mere 770 points left in his account, simply abandoned the idea of bringing goods for profit.

If he lacked capital, he could borrow from Li Matai or Luo Kuke, but the armored vehicle's space was strictly limited.

With only a two-month window left before winter, it was impossible for him to run off and contact a trade caravan right now.

Furthermore, the missions at Twin Moon Lake and Black Branding Mountain did not require carrying extra items, but the mission to escort the diplomatic caravan meant he had to bring along the four people selected by Happiness City.

Counting Liu Bi and Niu Fu, plus Yu Yong who might tag along, a full eight people would be sitting in the vehicle. There was simply no room to pack many large supplies.

In the end, Cheng Ye only requisitioned a few boxes of Special Medicines Made from Aberrant Crystals from the Inspection Station. Delivering them to the Official Caravan stationed in Radiant Rainbow Shelter City would net him an extra income of about a thousand Contribution Points. It was better than nothing.

Moreover, thanks to Ding Yishan's previous promise, the fuel for the armored vehicle this time was fully provided by Happiness City.

The fuel for the outbound journey would be delivered shortly—a full four hundred liters.

The massive fuel tank of this Fierce Dragon Armored Vehicle could hold 260 liters, giving it an endurance of up to nine hundred and fifty kilometers on a full tank.

The extra one hundred and forty liters, even if they needed to take a detour midway, would be more than enough to smoothly reach the borders of Guang Province.

When that time came, even if they were still some distance away from Radiant Rainbow Shelter City, refueling would not be difficult.

As for the return trip, they could restock at Radiant Rainbow's Official Caravan. While not free, the price was several times cheaper than in Shi Province, making it a bargain overall.

Just as Cheng Ye was figuring out how to arrange the supplies to save space, Wang Kang and Luo Xiaoxue walked downstairs, both carrying clothes in their hands.

"Brother Cheng, the sweater my mom knitted for you before, she altered it to make it bigger based on your previous measurements..."

Wang Kang held the sweater up against Cheng Ye, his expression instantly turning a bit awkward.

When Su Xiu initially took his measurements, it was right when the effects of the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse were most pronounced, giving him a tall and muscular build.

But now that his physique had shrunk back down, these enlarged sweaters no longer fit.

"It's fine, I'll just keep it to wear as pajamas," Cheng Ye said with a smile, taking the sweater, folding it, and stuffing it into a nearby duffel bag. "Changing it back is too much trouble. Who knows, my body shape might change again someday."

"Good thing I only went to buy your change of clothes the day before yesterday, otherwise the sizes would have been too big as well." The clothes Luo Xiaoxue handed over were all brand new, a full dozen pieces, all picked out according to his current build.

Cheng Ye smiled as he accepted them, feeling quite pleased inside.

Aside from a change of clothes, the main rations for this Field Duty trip would still be the three-color nutrient paste.

The yellow pouches were best for staving off hunger, the blue pouches refreshed the mind, and the black pouches were saved for special emergencies.

Considering his astonishing appetite nowadays, a box of fifty nutrient pouches would only last him three days. Cheng Ye simply prepared thirty boxes, instantly making the armored vehicle's storage space look cramped.

At eleven in the morning, the Collector was fully charged once more.

"In the past, I wouldn't have even dared to imagine that I could squander Recharge Value so extravagantly, converting it directly into Action Points..."

Cheng Ye endlessly enjoyed farming points. Watching the numbers continuously tick upward on the System Panel, he could hardly conceal his excitement.

Although he currently had no new skills to search for, and Skill Fusion had hit a dead end, his Action Points could be continuously accumulated.

It was like gripping an inexhaustible source of confidence, making him feel exceptionally grounded.

However, just as he was harboring such thoughts, his Action Points broke past the 100 mark on the panel, reaching 102.

A new notification suddenly popped up.

[Detected that the Collector's accumulated Action Points (Lv0) have met the upgrade conditions. Proceed with the upgrade?]

[Please note: If you choose to upgrade, every 10 Lv0 Action Points will be exchanged for 1 Lv1 Action Point.]

[Please note: Different levels of Action Points have different effects. The current default maximum unlockable level is Lv1.]

[Influenced by the chosen 'Keen Explorer' route, the maximum unlockable level has increased. The current maximum unlockable level is Lv2.]

"Huh? Action Points can actually be upgraded?"

Cheng Ye froze, staring at the prompt with a frown.

Action Points did indeed have level distinctions. Ever since he saved up his very first point, the panel had labeled it as Lv0.

But after all this time, while his Rank had increased several times, the level of his Action Points had remained completely unchanged. He had subconsciously assumed that Lv0 simply indicated a lack of a level.

As it turned out, just like how ranking up required Information Degree, upgrading Action Points unexpectedly demanded accumulating a specific amount before the notification would trigger.

It was just that this feature was clearly designed for a lone wolf collector, capable of drastically saving time and energy.

But since he was living in a Shelter City, trivial matters could be handed over to his subordinates, so he rarely used Action Points in his daily life. The most he had ever saved up was the 60 points when repairing the Hydroelectric Station. Breaking the hundred mark like this was a first.

Cheng Ye didn't rush to click upgrade. He first backed out to the main interface and used his Intent to click on the small Action Point box. As expected, a more complete explanation popped up:

[Current Level: Lv0 (Can be used in conjunction with Lv1 Skills)]

[Next Level: Lv1 (Can be used in conjunction with Lv2 Skills, unlocks more detailed Branch options)]

[Maximum Level: Lv2 (Can be used in conjunction with Lv3 Skills, unlocks new feature: Basic Mission Customization)]

"So that's how it is."

Cheng Ye suddenly understood.

These three prompts clearly and plainly explained the significance of upgrading Action Points.

Previously, all the chores he used Action Points for were either tasks he already had the skills for or pure physical labor. He had never paired them with high-tier skills, so naturally, he hadn't noticed the limitations of Lv0 Action Points.

However, the Cost was truly substantial. At an exchange ratio of 10:1, to get 1 Lv2 Action Point, he had to consume 100 Lv0 Action Points.

His gaze landed on the Basic Mission Customization feature at the end, and Cheng Ye fell deep in thought.

For a long time, the direction of his actions had been automatically determined by the Collector, which only provided a prompt for the point consumption.

If upgrading to Lv2 allowed him to autonomously decide his course of action, then in certain critical scenarios, it might unleash unexpected effects. Applying it in combat might not even be impossible.

Of course, Cheng Ye also came up with a much bolder conjecture: Since he could autonomously set the direction of his actions, could he let the Collector take over and quickly complete certain research tasks?

It was hard to say for sure right now, but he obviously didn't have the time to test these potential effects of his Action Points at the moment.

After all, Action Points ultimately relied on various skills and were even more inseparable from the support of his Rank.

Once he upgraded to a Lv4 Rank, he might even unlock Lv3 Action Points and derive even more new functions.

Besides, the long winter days would offer plenty of time. By then, he could save up enough Action Points in two or three days, and it wouldn't be too late to slowly test what special effects they could bring.

At four in the afternoon, another sixty Action Points were deposited, making the points on his panel increasingly plentiful.

Cheng Ye had just plugged the Collector in to charge when his Defense Terminal suddenly rang.

It was a call from Luo Kuke.

"Inspector Cheng, the people from the trade caravan have arrived. We just let them in."

"Understood. I'll head over right now." Cheng Ye jogged back to the town, only to see a Large Golden Cup parked at the town entrance, with Hou Genbao currently chatting with the driver.

Standing nearby were four middle-aged people, curiously surveying the sights of Dabo Town.

Seeing Cheng Ye approach from a distance, the four immediately straightened their expressions and hurried over to greet him. "Hello, Inspector Cheng!"

All four were dressed in navy blue hoodies, paired with sweatpants and durable sneakers.

The middle-aged man leading the group had a standard square-shaped face and a slightly thin build. He wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses so thick they looked ready to crush the bridge of his nose. The prescription was clearly high, as his eyes appeared slightly distorted behind the lenses, giving him a somewhat stiff and nerdy appearance.

The fat man standing behind him was quite conspicuous. His round face was tanned dark, and his sweat-soaked bangs clung to his forehead, giving off a sweltering vibe.

The remaining two possessed extremely ordinary, forgettable faces. They were a man and a woman, whose facial features and physiques lacked any distinctiveness. If they were tossed into a crowd, they would be impossible to find; they had absolutely no memorable traits.

"Yin Ruofeng, is that you?" Cheng Ye asked, looking at the middle-aged man in the lead.

"That's me." Having his name called, Yin Ruofeng quickly fumbled through his pockets to fish out his ID.

Cheng Ye took it and verified the details. It perfectly matched the mission intelligence provided by the Inspection Station yesterday.

The fat man was named Zhang Daping. The unremarkable brother and sister were named Pang Hu and Pang Zi, respectively.

"My apologies. No one has taken the route through Shi Province this year, so I forgot to notify you in advance to get ready." Cheng Ye spoke with a hint of apology. "I just accepted the mission yesterday, and we depart the day after tomorrow. I'm afraid you guys haven't even had the chance to pack properly."

"No, no, no!" Yin Ruofeng frantically waved his hands, his tone carrying a touch of urgency. "We've been preparing for almost half a year! This rotation was supposed to take place in May, but just as you said, no one dared to take this route, so it kept getting delayed until now. We've been anxious from waiting so long; we were practically growing mold staying in the city."

"I saw in the intel that all your families are in Radiant Rainbow?" Cheng Ye asked thoughtfully.

"Yes!" Yin Ruofeng admitted frankly.

Hegemon-Tier Shelter Cities all had their own Official Caravans stationed in other major cities. For example, in Happiness City, there were caravan representatives from over ten Shelter Cities, including Torch and Radiant Rainbow.

However, these representatives were not directly dispatched from their original Shelter Cities. Instead, they were chosen locally in Happiness City by the various Shelter Cities. Most were longtime residents born in Happiness City, whose families were also settled there.

Only under such conditions would Happiness City tolerate foreign Shelter Cities planting representatives on its turf.

The situation with Yin Ruofeng and the other three heading to Radiant Rainbow for rotation was the exact same in nature.

They were originally people from Radiant Rainbow Shelter City. After being selected as caravan representatives, traveling to Happiness City to assume their posts was just part of the working process.

"How long have you been away from home this time?"

"I haven't been back in five years." A silly grin appeared on Yin Ruofeng's face, his tone filled with anticipation. "According to the rules, however long we station in Happiness City is how long we get to rest when we return. My daughter just reached school age this year, so this trip back will let me spend more time with her and help her build a good foundation. Once she gets a bit older, I'll return to Happiness City... Hmm, maybe by the next rotation, we'll just move the whole family over."

'Good grief, is he raising death flags right here?'

Throwing out something like that right before setting off... Cheng Ye hurriedly interrupted and looked at the others. "What about you guys?"

"Two and a half years for me." The fat man, Zhang Daping, looked amiable but wasn't very talkative, his tone a bit reserved.

On the other hand, the ordinary-looking siblings were much more enthusiastic. The brother, Pang Hu, quickly spoke up, "Inspector Cheng, we've been here for seven years! If it weren't for our father suddenly falling critically ill this time, we were originally planning to stay until our ten-year term was up before rotating back."

"Seven years..." Cheng Ye gave a slight nod. Doing the math, he asked, "So, you came to Happiness City when you were 22?"

"Yeah!" Pang Hu sighed, his tone carrying a bit of nostalgia. "It was Lord Zhang who discovered us back then. I was 17, and my sister Xiao Zi was 16. At first, we just did chores in Radiant Rainbow Shelter City to practice, and only later were we dispatched to Happiness City to coordinate caravan affairs. In the blink of an eye, seven years have just flown by. Time really does fly."

"Alright, we can take our time chatting about your stories on the road. After all, we'll have plenty of time during this trip."

Cheng Ye waved his hand, signaling Yin Ruofeng to pull the Large Golden Cup up to the front of the trading station.

Seeing the incredibly formidable armored vehicle parked to the side, and faintly making out the striking GL logo on the door panel, the four immediately grew somewhat excited, the unease in their hearts completely dissipating.

"The route to Guang Province was extremely safe a few years ago; we could even travel it alongside normal trade caravans. But after it slowly became abandoned over the last few years, no one can say for sure what dangers are hidden on the road. We could only wait until an Inspector's Field Duty happened to go to Guang Province to tag along."

Yin Ruofeng circled halfway around the armored vehicle and sighed. "Once a route is opened, if no one travels it for half a year, it's essentially considered semi-abandoned. If a year passes without anyone setting foot on it, then it's no different from genuine Wild Paths. Moreover, the more frequently Humans used a route in the past, the more likely it is to harbor an Infection Source or conceal an Infected Body with bizarre abilities."

"That saying does indeed exist."

Cheng Ye smiled, deliberately lowering his posture. "However, this is my first time doing Field Duty, so I don't have much Experience. But rest assured, we'll also be accompanied by a Fourth-Stage Investigator. If there's real danger, it will definitely be handled properly."

"You must be joking, Inspector Cheng!" Yin Ruofeng quickly waved his hand, his tone exceptionally firm. "The Inspection Station has long since synced your intel with us, so naturally, we trust your methods. Besides, with this armored vehicle around, if we meet average dangers, we can just run right over them!"

Saying so, he quickly walked to the back of the Large Golden Cup and flipped open the tailgate, preparing to move their luggage.

Neatly stacked in the trunk were the supplies Cheng Ye had previously finalized: Special Medicines Made from Aberrant Crystals, Spare Fuel Barrels, and several boxes of Ammunition of different calibers.

There weren't many, just enough for emergency use.

After all, out in the Wilderness, unless absolutely necessary, one should never fire a gun if it could be avoided.

Furthermore, the Fierce Dragon Armored Vehicle was equipped with two Vulcan machine guns. When it actually came time to shoot, there was no need to roll down the windows and expose oneself, so naturally, there was no need to carry a massive amount of Ammunition.

As for the four people's personal belongings, they were extremely minimalist. Each person only brought a change of clothes and Melee Weapons for self-defense. They brought absolutely nothing else.

Presumably, because the mission intel synced yesterday mentioned there was only one accompanying vehicle, they had worried about limited space and simply streamlined their luggage to the extreme.

"Someone here uses dual blades?" Cheng Ye asked curiously, looking at the two Scimitars wrapped in a weapon bag.

"I do," Pang Zi hurriedly nodded. "My physical strength is relatively low, so dual blades can compensate for my disadvantage."

"If you have anything else you want to bring, there's still time to go back and get it now."

Cheng Ye glanced at the armored vehicle's storage space, estimating that it could still fit another ten boxes of nutrient paste with plenty of room to spare.

"No need, Inspector Cheng," Yin Ruofeng shook his head, adding, "Besides, caravan personnel like us heading out of the city have to undergo strict body searches to prevent anyone from smuggling out important supplies. The only things we can bring are some worthless daily necessities. There's nothing really worth grabbing."

"Alright then. You guys rest up in town tonight, and we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

After arranging for Mu Shuang to take the four to find a room to rest, Cheng Ye lifted a fuel barrel and began fueling the armored vehicle.

Watching the fuel gauge needle jump all the way up until it steadily stopped at the full mark, he let out a long breath, feeling incredibly refreshed and satisfied in his heart.

When taking long trips into the Wasteland, for ordinary people, the hardest part was the various sudden risks along the way.

But for an Inspector, the truly grueling part was the myriad of preparations required before hitting the road.

This was especially true for an Inspector like him, who managed a satellite city and had a buffer zone community of tens of thousands of people like Tianyuan Community to take care of.

The bigger the operation, the more ties you had, making it harder to step away.

If he didn't take this opportunity to go on Field Duty now, once he officially took office as the Director of Leap Wilderness Station next year, he'd likely have even fewer chances to travel around.

However, just as all the supplies were prepared and every arrangement had been delegated...

As evening approached, a piece of bad news suddenly arrived.