The other party of the phone application was unexpectedly the Station Chief of the inspection station, Ding Yishan!
Cheng Ye was genuinely a little surprised.
Since crossing into the wasteland world over two months ago, he had never seen this mysterious Station Chief.
Searching the memory of the original host, he had only met the Station Chief once, when he came out of the Inner City. At that time, Ding Yishan personally received him and specifically instructed everyone to treat and nurture him well, to ensure Cheng Long would have peace of mind.
Why is he calling me?
Cheng Ye instinctively started thinking frantically, but his hands didn't slow down, pressing the answer button.
"Hey, Cheng, it's me, Station Chief Ding!"
A kind voice came from the Defense Communication, "Hope I didn't disturb your sleep this early?"
"Good morning, Station Chief Ding!" Cheng Ye raised his voice slightly, moved to the window to look downstairs, and continued with a perfectly timed laugh, "The rain was so heavy last night, couldn't sleep in the second half, so I thought I'd step out to see if I could help. Just got back to wash up and get ready for work."
"Ah, you young people really inherit the spirit of your old man, the future role model of hard work and dedication in our station, it seems you're our man."
A hearty laugh came from the other end of the Defense Communication, "It's good for young people to endure hardship, it's a good thing, I was just thinking about how to tell you, now it's convenient."
"Station Chief, please go ahead, I'm listening."
"Here's the thing..."
Ding Yishan's speech was slow at the beginning, kind of like those 80-year-old grandpas Cheng Ye often saw at the village entrance when he returned home.
But as soon as it came to business, his speech immediately returned to normal, regaining a touch of Station Chief's authority.
As a graduate student from a top-tier institution, Cheng Ye's brain had long been trained to subconsciously filter out useless information.
Summing up the core points Ding Yishan said in three minutes, it was actually just a few sentences.
Garcia was beaten to emergency treatment by Liu Bi, the Western Faction is very dissatisfied, but they were at fault first and have no ground to speak.
The Western Faction will definitely target him, the Intern Inspector, from work to life, in all directions.
As the Station Chief and also a comrade of Cheng Long, I'm taking you out of the spotlight for now.
"Station Chief, you consider everything for me, truly... sigh, before my dad left, his last words were... Station Chief Ding is one of the few upright persons in this world, if I encounter any problems, I must seek your advice. It's my incompetence... always causing trouble in the station..."
Saying this, Cheng Ye's voice carried a hint of choking up.
On the other side of the Defense Communication, the previously authoritative voice immediately softened, "Cheng, it's Uncle Ding's fault for not protecting you through this storm after your dad entrusted you to me..."
"Don't worry, once the first field mission is over, I'll transfer you back, let's see who'll dare to cause trouble then!"
"Station Chief, please don't say that..."
You say a word, I say a word.
Two minutes later, the Defense Communication hung up, and Cheng Ye, who was choking up a moment ago, instantly put away all expressions, his face turned solemn.
From just a few minutes of feeling all this, this Station Chief Ding's emotional intelligence is more than adequate not only in the wasteland, but even in modern times, he could thrive smoothly with top-notch Tai Chi pulling and acting skills!
Could it be that this Station Chief Ding and the former self are the same, both are alternate genes that didn't mutate towards the combat-oriented "old age" humans?
"But... transferring me from the main gate inspection post to the rapid inspection post, is that putting me out of the limelight?"
Cheng Ye couldn't help but sneer.
Currently, there are three inspection stations in the isolation buffer zone, apart from the main gate inspection, there are the North and South gates used for rapid inspection.
The former inspects incoming survivors, while the latter two gates are specially for those with access, such as reconnaissance personnel on missions, sentries clearing nearby infected, licensed scavengers, etc.
At first glance, the risk seems higher with the former because survivors come from all directions of the wasteland, with a much greater chance of encountering infected.
However, based on the real situation Cheng Ye has learned and felt, the conclusion is quite the opposite!
The main gate inspection, although facing incoming survivors, vagrants, refugees, etc., all those inspected will be contained in iron cages, even if infected, most of their attack methods are discarded.
Moreover, there is always an eight-person duty team with guns vigilant in the post-building behind each conveyor, guarding the Inspector's safety, and any abnormality, those inspected will be executed without hesitation.
Therefore, even if there is a far greater chance of encountering the infected than the North and South gates, the annual sacrifice rate has long been below 5%.
In contrast, the rapid inspection post is without iron cages and has no duty team with guns.
The Inspector needs to face the inspected person face to face, conduct close examination, and even if infection is verified, they can only rely on nearby patrolling guards.
But the protection from those guards is a false proposition.
Because once Ding Yishan slightly arranges, the guards who are supposed to join in support will leisurely set up small folding stools, closely watching him struggle with the infected.
Getting shot before the fight's decided is unlikely, but if he's contaminated by the infection source, he'll absolutely receive a few "peanuts" to be physically exorcised within two seconds.
"The annual sacrifice rate at the rapid inspection post has never been below 30%, not to mention the Intern Inspectors, even formal first-phase and second-phase Inspectors often meet carelessness and die unexpectedly."
Cheng Ye quickly flowed through his thoughts, instantly figuring out the deep-rooted reason behind the situation's change.
Since the establishment of the isolation buffer zone in Happiness City, the scale of inspection stations has continuously expanded. Now, including guards, staff, sentries, the number has long exceeded two thousand people.
However, from start to finish, there have always only been one hundred and fifty Inspectors, and the number has never increased.
Currently, there are only two channels to become an Inspector.
First, hereditary system, following in their father's footsteps.
Second, the election system dictates that when an Inspector has no offspring to pass their position to, the Station Chief selects one person who has made significant contributions to the Inspection Station to fill the role.
This deformed and unreasonable system essentially determines that during certain phases, the personnel quality between the East and West factions may vary greatly.
For instance, before Cheng Long's unexpected death, his combat power was 10. After being succeeded by Cheng Ye, the combat power plummeted to 1, yet he still occupied a position, naturally causing the overall strength of the Eastern Faction's Inspectors to decline significantly.
Similarly, after a normal rotation, if the Western Faction's new generation grows faster than that of the Eastern Faction, it will lead to the gradual decline of the Eastern Faction, causing it to lose its dominance over the Inspection Station.
"First, I instructed Brother B to beat Garcia into needing emergency care. As long as Garcia doesn't die, he always occupies a spot as a Western Faction Inspector, preventing any replacement."
"Then they used an excuse to put me in rapid disease screening, shutting the Western Faction's mouth while paving the way for the Eastern Faction's subsequent plans. If I have an accident, since I have no offspring, he can appoint a top general to fill the vacancy, strengthening the overall team strength of the Eastern Faction's Inspectors."
"Ding Yishan, you've orchestrated a brilliant scheme of using a borrowed knife to kill, taking a dual advantage!"
Cheng Ye felt an overwhelming sense of urgency rise in his heart.
The actions of his predecessor in the Inner City would naturally not escape Ding Yishan's notice.
In his eyes, his own score probably didn't even reach the minimum of 3. In the Eastern Faction, the moment he plays a card, he would be forced into a passive position.
Garcia, although equally young and unreliable in character, has trained as an Inspector for two years with over a dozen field tasks, amassing rich survival and combat experience.
In the Western Faction, he's at least a '5', maybe a '6'. His presence might not significantly influence the situation, but his absence would make many strategies awkward and ineffective.
Right now, the small card is confronting the big card, and if both can explode as planned.
It would be a wonderful thing for the Eastern Faction.
"For Brother B, he might really get tricked into thinking he's just avoiding the limelight..."
"No, Brother B, the killing star, would never in this life mistakenly get into rapid disease screening."
The rapid disease screening Inspector's power is as terrifyingly large as the danger.
If they suspect you're an Infected Body, they could chop you down in one blow. If it turns out to be a mistake later, just apologize.
Sending Liu Bi over, in a few days, he'd have had heads rolling.
"Damn it, I didn't expect that before overcoming the fieldwork challenge, I'd be forced into the East-West faction struggle..."
"But ultimately, the fault is not mine. It's the crime of bearing a treasure for being too weak, unable to hold onto this iron rice bowl, naturally subjecting me to others' coveting and schemes."
"If I had Brother B's strength, I wouldn't fear faction struggles or rapid disease screening, no matter how tricky."
If it were last night, Cheng Ye might have hesitated, might have feared.
But at this moment, fine rain drizzled outside, slanting against the glass, and humid moisture seeped through the cracks into the room, carrying the scent of earth.
Smelling the earthy fragrance, he suddenly felt an inexplicable calm rise from his heart, crossing his nerves and gradually transforming into threads of resolve.
Basic Power brought experience and skill, allowing him to barely touch the minimum threshold for field tasks.
But limited by the weakest physical shortboard in the 'Barrel Theory', the damage he could inflict was still limited.
Now, one night has passed.
As his fingertips grazed the new tendon lines on his forearm, Cheng Ye could clearly sense the explosive power dormant in the muscle group.
Everything is different now!
After special training in muscle memory, the once weakest shortboard is now reinforced, significantly boosting overall strength!
Though still worlds apart from Brother B's human weapon level, if taking 40% of his force from last night head-on again, he would no longer be powerless and sent flying.
"Now, it is both a danger and an opportunity."
"If I can prove my value and return to the game, I can immediately secure the Inspector position!"
Cheng Ye raised his right hand, slightly turning it.
The pendant plugged into the power port flickered lightly, then suddenly appeared outlined in his palm.
After using the two search chances on Chu Yunfeng yesterday, one night's attempt gave him a general understanding of the rules for supplementing the charging value of the Collector.
The lv.1 level search of the Civilization Collector requires 100 kilowatt-hours for each point of charging value, a significant reduction from the previously activated 2000 kWh requirement.
More crucially, the physical manipulation of the pendant has transformed qualitatively.
Now, as long as within a ten-meter range, Cheng Ye can switch it between virtual and real via thought, and wherever the pendant is within the range, he can summon it instantly back into his palm.
This alone makes charging way easier.
As long as heavy rain continues, and the hydropower plant supplies abundant electricity, even with just a 2.5 square plug, nearly fifty kWh could be supplemented daily.
Converted, it only takes two to three days to accumulate one search opportunity.
"Looking only at the search isn't enough, the weapons and equipment planned to purchase for field tasks before, must be prepared in advance now."
"The current Contribution Points in hand are definitely tight, but with some turnover help from Brother B, the pressing problem can be alleviated."
"However, since Ding Yishan arranged for me to go to the North-South Inspection Station, he must have considered Brother B stepping in to help, I'm afraid..."
Cheng Ye's eyes flickered, picking up Defense Communication, he dialed Liu Bi's phone number.
...