HBWnovel Chapter 351: A Surprising Harvest, Recruiting a New Subordinate!
Chapter 351: A Surprising Harvest, Recruiting a New Subordinate!
A crystal-clear new movie was currently playing on the television screen.Earlier at the dining table, Zheng Dayou had noticed that the two of them were quite interested in this type of video content. Consequently, he had immediately ordered someone to bring over the entire stock of movies purchased by the Gathering Place.
There were surprisingly over a hundred optical discs packed together, with filming dates ranging from the New Era Year 28 all the way to Year 35, spanning a full seven years.
The promotion of infrastructure and electrical engineering projects seemed like nothing more than reaping a batch of construction fees and taking the power outsourcing rights of various Gathering Places and Shelter Cities into their own pockets.
But upon closer reflection, one would realize that this was merely the first move on the chessboard laid out by Radiant Rainbow.
Based on the information currently at hand, Cheng Ye had a vague hypothesis.
The pricing for power outsourcing might not be set so high that it would turn people away in despair.
What would truly bring in massive, sustainable profits was the series of new demands generated by the residents' daily lives once the infrastructure was fully rolled out.
Just imagine—in those dim and cramped rooms of the Gathering Places, if cheap, high-quality energy-saving light bulbs could be mass-produced in advance, wouldn't they instantly dominate the market and become a hot commodity that every household fought over?
Or consider this: in the dull and monotonous routine of pure survival, how could a television capable of playing all sorts of movies not completely outshine a radio that only broadcasted sound?
These ancillary industries attached to infrastructure development, even if the profit margin on a single item was meager, would eventually accumulate into an utterly terrifying sum once multiplied by the massive user base of the Wasteland.
Although other Shelter Cities could eventually catch on and follow suit, Radiant Rainbow's early strategic layout was more than enough to let them seize absolute market dominance, perhaps even allowing them to steer the development direction of the entire Wasteland's entertainment industry.
Seeing that Cheng Ye did not seem particularly interested in the Containment Box in his hands, Zhang Weidong had no choice but to swallow his words and follow him inside the room.
Liu Bi was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed. Seeing the two men enter, he immediately raised a hand and hit the play button.
After watching alongside them for about half an hour, the tension in Zhang Weidong's heart gradually dissipated. He could even spare some attention to focus on the movie playing on the television.
It wasn't until the entire film finished and behind-the-scenes interviews began broadcasting on the screen that Cheng Ye suddenly turned to Zhang Weidong and drawled, "Say, if I were to film some documentaries about Infection Sources, do you think they would be welcomed by the market?"
"Huh?" Zhang Weidong paused in surprise, then answered after some serious thought, "If you could capture the true appearance and habits of Infection Sources, it would definitely be a huge hit. But as far as I know, Radiant Rainbow Shelter City has shot this kind of genre before. Unfortunately, they had a hard time breaking through in terms of presenting the Infection Sources. Everyone could tell at a glance that the monsters were just actors in rubber suits. It ended up being much less thrilling than a gritty, realistic adventure movie like this one."
"Is the one filmed by Radiant Rainbow in this batch of optical discs?" Cheng Ye asked, pointing at the box piled in the corner.
"Yes, I've even watched it," Zhang Weidong nodded hastily. He stood up, walked over to the box, and rummaged through it for a moment before quickly pulling out a disc and sliding it into the DVD player.
The style of this movie was completely different from the adventure film they had just watched. It exuded an indescribably eerie and sinister atmosphere, very much like a horror movie.
The opening soundtrack carried a chilling vibe as the title flashed across the screen, a style that perfectly matched the tone of a horror flick.
"The Eyeless"
Before the feature presentation began, a line of introductory subtitles appeared at the bottom of the screen, providing a brief scientific explanation of the basic habits of "The Eyeless" Infection Source.
The abilities of this Infection Source were quite bizarre. Once it infected a human, it would distort their cognition, causing everything they saw to gradually mutate into something horrifying.
For example, a wife who had been with them day and night would slowly shed her human form in the infected person's eyes, transforming into a terrifying monster with a hideous visage.
Looking at the premise alone, it was indeed exciting enough. But when the "monster" in the film finally made its appearance, Cheng Ye couldn't help but shake his head.
That crude monster suit couldn't even compare to the low-budget, melted-face superhero suits of the early years, let alone the classic practical effects of the Old Era.
Moreover, the actor's performance was far too obvious. Every movement reeked of deliberate acting, completely lacking the eerie Sense of Oppression an Infection Source ought to have. It was missing the most crucial element: authenticity.
What was even more ridiculous was that toward the end of the film, when several Inspectors showed up to contain The Eyeless, the scene inexplicably devolved into an utterly illogical shootout.
The brilliant sequences the Inspectors should have had—testing the rules, cracking the Infection Source's abilities, facing their inner fears, and engaging in a battle of wits and courage to complete the Containment—were nowhere to be seen.
Watching the unconcealed disappointment on Cheng Ye's face, Liu Bi yawned from the side, grabbed an apple from the table, and chewed it loudly, making a crisp crunching sound.
Zhang Weidong sighed helplessly. "That's exactly it. Even outsiders find it ridiculous. To us Inspectors who deal with Infection Sources year-round, this movie is practically a comedy."
Cheng Ye stroked his chin, a sudden thought springing to mind. "Then what if I carried a camera and filmed the Infection Sources and Infected Bodies directly from up close? Just me, venturing alone into the Forbidden Lands, investigating the truth behind those bizarre phenomena, and ultimately containing the Infection Source with my own hands. Would anyone watch a movie shot like that?"
"Ah?" Zhang Weidong subconsciously scratched the back of his head, wearing an expression of utter bewilderment. "What did you say?"
"The Forbidden Lands..." Cheng Ye repeated. "You know, those Gathering Places that have been completely destroyed by eerie Infection Sources. I'd charge in with a camera, record the most authentic footage, and resolve the problem step by step. Content filmed this way..."
Before he could finish speaking, realization suddenly dawned on Zhang Weidong. His eyes lit up instantly, and his tone trembled with excitement. "If the process is one hundred percent real, I'll buy however many optical discs you release!"
"No, not just me," he hastily added. "I can guarantee you that every Shelter City and every Inspection Station in every Gathering Place will be scrambling to buy a film like that!"
Well then, that was a targeted strike.
This kind of on-site footage showing the entire process would be more than enough to serve as primary study material for Inspectors. Its value would be far beyond anything those fabricated movies could compare to.
However, Cheng Ye knew very well that whether or not it could attract ordinary audiences was the true key to determining the film's sales volume.
After experiencing the hidden value brought by Cheng Wu's reputation, he couldn't help but want more of that sweet success.
Being renowned throughout the Wasteland brought more than just the convenience of getting through doors on his face value alone; it also granted him the authority to set the rules within a certain sphere of influence.
Moreover, the current overall environment of the Wasteland was actually gradually improving.
It was far beyond the conditions of the first twenty years of the New Era. Recovery was the main theme now.
People's demand for entertainment was slowly recovering, and their thirst for authentic, thrilling content would only grow stronger.
Thinking about it this way, if the film only consisted of cautious probing without any sufficiently shocking and explosive Containment scenes, trying to achieve good sales would probably be quite difficult.
However, all these ideas had a prerequisite: he had to wait until the power grid was rolled out and televisions and DVD players were widely distributed enough for ordinary people to afford.
Even if everything went smoothly, that would still require at least two or three years, perhaps even four or five.
That amount of time would be plenty for him to slowly study the relevant knowledge regarding filming and editing, allowing him to make foolproof preparations for his future documentaries.
"Let's switch to a new movie." Having finished his apple, Liu Bi casually tossed the core into the trash can and waved his hand with a look of utter disgust. "This kind of garbage is just an insult to the eyes."
Zhang Weidong got up and swapped the optical disc. This time, it was an adventure film based on a true story.
Liu Bi watched it with great relish.
Cheng Ye, on the other hand, bent down to grab the Containment Box from the floor, placed it on the coffee table, and slowly pushed it open.
During his intel search, he had only seen four pieces of ore. Now, an extra Rock Louse Stone had been added to the box. Each of the five stones was the size of a fist, with not a single subpar pebble making up the numbers. Their colors were all entirely different, as if a rainbow had been solidified inside the container.
"Those small ores like the one you took out today—we've found quite a few of them before, but they automatically crack open after a while and can't be preserved long-term."
Zhang Weidong hurriedly leaned closer to explain, terrified that Cheng Ye might mistakenly assume Twin Moon Lake was hiding a secret stash. "Only these large ones can be stored stably, but even they seem to have a time limit."
"Hmm, let me take a look first." Cheng Ye picked up the massive Green Emerald. It felt heavy in his hands, packing quite a bit of weight.
With a stir of his Intent, he summoned his System Panel, his gaze focusing intently on the ore.
Data instantly popped up on the panel:
[???]
[Current Status]: Unactivated (Activations remaining: 24)
[Sustainable Duration]: 387 days, 7 hours, 5 minutes / 112 times (Recharge)
[Available Operations]:
Activate (Collector, please imagine...)
Smelt (...)
Good heavens!
This massive chunk could actually be activated twenty-four times consecutively?! And it could be recharged over a hundred times?
Just how many Green Jewel Bugs had Twin Moon Lake killed to condense such a terrifying treasure?
Deeply shaken, Cheng Ye picked up the Rock Louse Stone next to it and examined it. The panel displayed that it also had seventeen activations remaining, a preservation time of over a year, and nearly a hundred recharges.
Putting down these two ores with known attributes, Cheng Ye's gaze fell on the three unknown ores. He first picked up the cyan-blue ore mentioned in the report, the one capable of forming a water source and suppressing the Cold Plague.
The panel flickered as it refreshed the data:
[???]
[Current Status]: Stable [Sustainable Duration]: 219 days, 18 hours, 11 minutes / 112 times (Recharge cycle)
[Reserves]: 81%
[Available Operations]:
??? (Placing it into a water source will automatically elevate the water quality, causing its Quality to continuously increase, gaining numerous special effects;)
Chain (Touching it with the Water-Gathering Rune can improve the water quality inside the Water-Gathering Rune)
Smelt into Resource (...)
"Hmm? It's actually not an activation, but a passive ability?"
Cheng Ye paused in surprise. He hadn't expected this cyan-blue ore to lack an "Activate" option, instead possessing a continuously active Trait.
Capable of proactively improving water quality—what kind of special Rune's effect was this?
Could it have absorbed the Rune of some water-type Infection Source, like the Abyssal Water Cave Crab?
Even more miraculously, it could synergize with the Water-Gathering Stone to enhance the quality of the water stored within it...
If paired with the Water-Gathering Stone's rain-making function, and it truly could improve it to the point of possessing healing effects, he could practically disguise himself as a miracle-working prophet.
Calling down a "Heavenly Divine Rain" anytime and anywhere to heal all injuries and illnesses... just thinking about it felt unbelievable.
Shifting his gaze, he reached out and picked up the grayish-white ore capable of absorbing heat to help cool down patients with high fevers, his curiosity growing even stronger.
[???]
[Current Status]: Stable [Sustainable Duration]: 411 days, 5 hours, 5 minutes / 139 times (Recharge cycle)
[Reserves]: 35%
[Available Operations]:
??? (Designate an area and use the Rune to store Energy for heating)
Chain (Touching it with the Water-Gathering Rune can raise the temperature of the water inside the Water-Gathering Rune)
Smelt into Resource (...)
"Another one that can chain with the Water-Gathering Rune?" Cheng Ye grew increasingly amazed as his fingertips rubbed the cold surface of the ore. "This Trait pairs perfectly with the rain-making function."
He focused his Intent to pull up the detailed parameters of the heating function, and the panel immediately popped up with a supplementary explanation:
[???]
[Selectable Range]: Centered on the Collector, 1—100 square meters (Rune not yet unlocked and recorded, range severely reduced)
[Selectable Duration and Heating Effect]:
Duration (1 second—Until stored Energy is depleted)
Heating Effect (1—29; Rune not yet unlocked and recorded, temperature limit severely reduced)
"Wait, this isn't some auxiliary healing item. It's more like an offensive weapon!"
Cheng Ye's pupils contracted slightly.
Being able to designate an area from a distance to heat up, while freely adjusting the temperature... If he unlocked the Rune's limits in the future and cranked the temperature to thousands of degrees, wouldn't he be able to instantly melt his enemies into a puddle of water?
Taking a step back, if the range could be expanded to tens of thousands of square meters, this thing would practically be a generator from the Frostpunk era!
Placing it right in the center of his Territory would make even the dead of winter as warm as spring. They would never have to fear frostbite or freezing to death again.
"But this will definitely require a massive amount of Energy to sustain."
Cheng Ye thought for a moment, suddenly recalling Zhang Weidong's words. "It can absorb heat to cool things down... Could it be that this ore's recharging method is simply absorbing heat straight from the environment?"
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he cast his gaze toward the final earthen-yellow ore, which could imbue soil and alleviate symptoms of the disease.
[???]
[Current Status]: Uncharged [Sustainable Duration]: 52 days, 7 hours, 9 minutes / 28 times (Recharge cycle)
[Available Operations]:
??? (Designate an area and use the Rune to store Energy to proactively improve soil quality)
??? (Bury in the soil and use the Rune to store Energy to passively improve soil effects)
Smelt into Resource (...)
[???]
[Selectable Range]: Centered on the Collector, 1—100 square meters (Rune not yet unlocked and recorded, range severely reduced)
[Selectable Improvement Direction and Effects]:
Direction (Rune not yet unlocked and recorded, Locked)
Effect (1%—50%; Rune not yet unlocked and recorded, effect limit severely reduced)
The three unknown ores possessed entirely different utilities.
The cyan-blue ore was purely passive; it only needed to rest quietly in water to purify it.
The grayish-white ore was purely active; it required a designated area to trigger its heating.
The earthen-yellow ore, however, was both active and passive. It could actively transform a small patch of soil, or it could be buried in the ground to slowly improve it over time.
Compared to discovering the Extreme Cold Ore itself, these fully condensed and finished ores truly felt like pies falling from the sky right onto his head.
Cheng Ye was momentarily at a loss for words. He repeatedly picked up the different ores to cross-reference their panel information and soon discovered a crucial pattern.
Ores that could be activated directly through imagination, such as the Green Emerald and the Rock Louse Stone, had clearly visible trace patterns of Runes inside them. Even ordinary people could operate them as long as they knew the method.
But the ores that required the use of his Collector to perceive their functions—like these ones for heating and soil improvement—showed absolutely no trace of Runes inside them.
Despite being the exact same size, their Traits were worlds apart.
This was enough to prove one thing: the potential ceiling of the latter was far higher than that of the former, leaving immense room for development.
'Hmm... Could it be that the Runes corresponding to the Green Jewel Bug and the Rock Louse are just incomplete fragments, or symbols with a single meaning? And the Runes within these remaining ores are actually complete words, perhaps even a short phrase containing specific laws?'
Cheng Ye stared at the ores on the table, pondering inwardly.
Like the "food" corresponding to the Green Emerald, and the "rock structure" corresponding to the Rock Louse Stone—both were single keywords. Their effects could be activated relying solely on the user's imagination.
Heating the temperature of a certain area or improving the soil of a specific patch of land—although "temperature" and "soil" were the Core aspects, the actions of "heating" and "improving," combined with the specifically designated range, required the three to form a precise connection to take effect.
This kind of complex logical synergy was absolutely not something simple human imagination could sustain.
It was just like the Water-Gathering Rune; even though he had memorized the strokes and shape of the Rune, he still had to rely on his Collector as a springboard to use it.
But what was the key connection behind all this?
Did one have to enter the Transcendent Control State to see through the profound laws contained within the Runes and truly master such complex abilities?
Unable to figure out the Mystery for the moment, Cheng Ye had no choice but to temporarily suppress a head full of questions and reach for the cyan-blue ore.
It just so happened that there was a pot of freshly brewed tea resting on the coffee table in front of him. Right in front of Zhang Weidong, he dropped the cyan-blue stone directly into the teapot.
Swirling the teapot a few times, Cheng Ye turned to Zhang Weidong and asked in an even tone, "Is this how you use it?
"
In fact, the moment Cheng Ye lifted the lid of the teapot, Zhang Weidong had already completely frozen.
When he saw him toss the cyan-blue stone into the water source without any hesitation, his eyes widened in shock, his mouth hanging slightly open for a long time, unable to close.
"You... you know about it?"
"Didn't I tell you earlier that I'm a Researcher from the Infection Source Research Institute of Happiness City?" Cheng Ye chuckled and looked up, his gaze shifting to Liu Bi beside him.
Liu Bi, whose entire attention had been captivated by the ores on the table, nodded repeatedly at the sight.
But... could a Researcher from Happiness City uncover the secrets of the Winter Moon Ore in just a single day? And even master the methods of using these ores?
No, an Inspector from Happiness City!
Zhang Weidong pursed his lips, refusing to believe it, and pointed at the remaining two stones. "Then what about these?"
"As for these..."
Cheng Ye picked up the grayish-white ore. Without any extra explanation, he mentally designated the entire living room as the range and chose to raise the temperature by ten degrees.
In just over ten seconds, a gentle current of warmth slowly rose from the floor, instantly permeating the entire living room.
The heating speed wasn't exactly fast. It took about a minute for the indoor temperature to stabilize at the new, elevated limit.
Not only did Zhang Weidong stand up in shock, but even Liu Bi, who had been sitting on the sofa the whole time, suddenly sprang up, staring at the grayish-white ore with a look of disbelief. "This thing can actually heat up the surrounding temperature directly?"
"That's right. It can absorb heat, and then in turn, heat the surrounding environment."
Cheng Ye toyed with the ore, his gaze sweeping over the Energy reserves on his panel.
After maintaining it for a full five minutes, the reserve value hadn't dropped in the slightest. The durability of this ore far exceeded his expectations.
After dispersing the heating effect, the indoor temperature did not immediately drop, but rather maintained a steady room temperature.
It seemed that this grayish-white ore couldn't absorb the ambient heat radiating in the environment; it could probably only absorb specific heat sources to recharge.
"As for this piece..."
Cheng Ye picked up the final earthen-yellow ore, his eyes sweeping across the room.
"Do you need soil?" Zhang Weidong immediately caught on and hastily asked.
"Haha, yes and no." Cheng Ye shook his head, gently placing the earthen-yellow ore back on the table. "The Energy inside it has already been depleted. Even if we had soil right now, it couldn't be used."
At this point, even if Zhang Weidong were a fool, he would have realized the meaning behind the praise Cheng Ye had given him out in the courtyard earlier.
He paused, a bitter smile surfacing on his face, and looked straight at Cheng Ye. "Inspector Cheng, did you guess early on that I knew the connection between Infection Sources and Winter Moon Ores, and that I also knew how to use these ores?"
"Inspector Zhang, is that really important?"
Cheng Ye blinked, his tone relaxed. "I forgot to give you a more detailed Self-Introduction. Aside from being the contracted Inspector of Dabo Town, holding the authority to appoint and dismiss personnel at a town-level Inspection Station, I will also be taking up a post at Yueye Shelter City next spring or summer. When the time comes, I will serve as the Station Master of Yueye Shelter City's Inspection Station."
"Yes, a First-Term Inspector from Happiness City, about to assume the position of Station Master."
Saying something like this in a situation like this, Cheng Ye inexplicably felt like he was showing off.
However, Zhang Weidong's reaction defied his expectations. After hearing this, there was not a trace of surprise on his face, no shock whatsoever, and certainly no look of disbelief.
Instead, he revealed a sudden expression of realization that practically screamed, "I knew it."
Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow, reminding him, "This piece of news hasn't been broadcasted on the radio."
"No, it hasn't, but you are Station Master Cheng Wu's grandson. Isn't it only natural for you to become a Station Master?"
Zhang Weidong nodded in deep agreement, his tone filled with certainty. "Even if you didn't go to Yueye, you'd sooner or later become the Station Master of Happiness City. Right now is merely an early promotion."
'Yeah, treating me like a second-generation... wait, third-generation official, right?'
Cheng Ye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He desperately wanted to explain that this Station Master position wasn't obtained through family background, but genuinely earned through pure Strength and capability.
But upon second thought, Zhang Weidong's absolute conviction probably didn't just stem from his background identity.
It was more about the various displays of Strength he had shown since arriving at Twin Moon Lake.
His response to the Seamless Shadow Puppet, his seasoned and comprehensive way of dealing with people, and that absurdly unbelievable research ability.
These performances perfectly matched all the wonderful imaginations outsiders harbored toward Station Master Cheng Wu's descendant.
At the same time, it satisfied all the expectations people held for an Inspector surnamed "Cheng".
If one had to use a single phrase to describe it, it could only be:
Fame follows merit!
"Inspector Zhang, since you are willing to believe me, then I shall formally extend an invitation to you."
Cheng Ye stood up, his gaze sincere. "Based on your abilities and performance, I will let you skip the probationary phase and start directly as a formal First-Term Inspector. How does that sound?"
Zhang Weidong hastily stood up. There was no anticipated joy on his face; instead, it revealed a sense of steady composure.
He carefully pondered for a moment, swallowed hard, and spoke with a hint of hesitation. "Inspector Cheng, as far as I know, the Inspectors in Happiness City mostly follow a hereditary system. Only those who have made major contributions to the Shelter City can break through this restriction. But I haven't achieved anything for Happiness City. For you to invite me like this..."
"I told you, the Happiness City you see is merely the tip of the iceberg."
Cheng Ye shook his head to interrupt him. "There are many more things that you will only understand by following me and making the trip. As for your job placement..."
"I am the Station Master, and what I say goes!"
Off to the side, Liu Bi sat on the sofa, biting his lower lip as he fiercely squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.
At this moment, it was as if he could see Cheng Long's silhouette swaying before his eyes once again. Countless scenes from his memory overlapped with the present moment.
That silhouette had carried the same unquestionable aura of a sovereign. Yet on Cheng Ye, aside from that sovereign aura, there was also a distinct trace of bright, overbearing dominance.
"My family..."
"If your abilities are outstanding enough, there are plenty of places under my command that require people. Naturally, I can make proper arrangements for your family. Even if your abilities are just average, your salary as an official Inspector will be more than enough to feed your whole family. The factories I've opened in Happiness City will also prioritize hiring your family members to work there."
Cheng Ye paused, chuckled as he gestured toward his own waist height, and added, "Of course, if your son is equally exceptional, he'll be a reserve Inspector for Yueye Shelter City. This isn't some hereditary Privilege. It means that in the future, he will be able to rely on his own skills to serve as an Inspector side-by-side with you. A father and son on the same stage."
Listening to Cheng Ye's promise, Zhang Weidong could barely steady his emotions. But the moment he saw Cheng Ye gesture at waist height, he could no longer hold it back.
His lips quivered uncontrollably, and even his body began to tremble slightly. The concerns and desires that had been suppressed in his heart for years surged out completely at this very second.
Ultimately, as if he had exhausted all the strength in his body, he forced out a single sentence with great difficulty. "In... Inspector Cheng, I... I just want to be a good Inspector."
The larger the Shelter City, the more intricate and convoluted the interpersonal relationships were.
In places riddled with factions fighting for power and profit, an Inspector wanting to handle matters impartially would only face immense hardship at every step.
"Factional conflicts, fighting for power and profit... There will be absolutely no room for these things to occur in my Yueye."
Cheng Ye spread his hands. "I only have one rule here: the capable rise, and the mediocre fall."
Phew!
Hearing Cheng Ye so bluntly address and promise to resolve his greatest worry, Zhang Weidong suddenly let out a long breath. The massive boulder crushing his heart crashed to the ground, and his face no longer held a single shred of anxiety.
He straightened his back, reached his hand straight out, and stared at Cheng Ye with a burning gaze. "Inspector Cheng... No, Station Master Cheng! I am willing! I am willing to join Yueye, to join Happiness City, and to become an Inspector under your command!"
"Welcome!"