Chapter 105: Quarantine Zone C, Smuggling Inspection!

"I want evaluation forms."Cheng Ye spoke almost instinctively.

The more you say, the more mistakes you make. The experience gained from Downs made him not want to ask any questions now.

Because no matter what the answer was, he didn't have sufficient ability to verify it.

As for what he wanted, as a probationer, it was naturally the evaluation forms needed for promotion.

Additionally, this was his first time searching for intelligence, and with no experience whatsoever, Cheng Ye couldn't quite gauge how much time had passed.

Fortunately, looking at Lei Hu's expression, it seemed like at most two or three seconds had passed, not arousing any suspicion.

"Sure thing." Lei Hu laughed heartily, stood up and returned to his desk, pulling out three blank evaluation forms from a drawer. "I, Lei Hu, have never held up evaluation forms for any inspector who came from the East. As long as your ability is sufficient, I'll give them all to you at once!"

With a flourish of his pen, he filled them all with perfect scores.

Then, picking up the station chief's seal from beside the desk, three light sounds rang out as he stamped them in one fluid motion.

"Here, take them."

Lei Hu pushed the forms over, suddenly seeming to remember something as he looked up and asked, "Did you get the three from the North Station?"

"I did."

"That makes it convenient then. Wait a moment." As he spoke, he actually turned back and pulled out three more evaluation forms from the drawer, expertly repeating the same actions as before.

"Station Chief He died in an accident. Central Station is now temporarily managed by Station Chief Ding for inspection work. As for inspector evaluations, I'm temporarily handling those."

That's all of them?

Looking at the six evaluation forms placed in front of him, Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, then stood up. "Thank you, Station Chief Lei!"

"No need to thank me. Being able to kill a high-level fusion body, your abilities have long surpassed the probationer stage."

Lei Hu waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down. "Probationer and first-term test an inspector's professional capabilities. Your inspection abilities can already get full marks from me, but field duty is also an important aspect of an inspector's capabilities."

"After you finish your duty at the South Station, start preparing for that. Only after entering first-term and gaining independent authority can you be considered a true inspector. Then you'll discover that there's much more you can do than now."

"Understood."

Cheng Ye nodded, his tone steady. "Thank you for Station Chief Lei's trust."

"Good, go on duty. The danger at Quarantine Gate C isn't much less than Gate A, and the inspection methods are different too. If you can complete this duty cycle smoothly, I can take the initiative to grant you another request."

Lei Hu smiled, said no more, and simply picked up his tea cup, indicating the conversation was over.

Cheng Ye packed the evaluation forms into his backpack and stood to take his leave. The moment he pushed open the door, rain mixed with wind poured in.

The slight chill instantly refreshed his spirits, making him shiver involuntarily as goosebumps rose.

But what followed was irrepressible excitement in his heart.

Compared to the six evaluation forms he had obtained, the unexpected harvest from searching for intelligence made his heart beat even faster.

With a thought, the panel opened.

At the bottom of the main interface, a new prompt had appeared.

[Intelligence Target: Lei Hu]

[Specified Direction: Related to Collector]

[Intelligence Quality: Level 0.7 (information quality reduced by 0.3 after target specification)]

[Current Replay Count: 4]

[Note: When first viewing intelligence, it occurs in mental time-stop space, with reality flow frozen]

[Note: When replaying intelligence, the intelligence space and main world time flow ratio is 500:1]

[Note: When replaying intelligence, please ensure the Collector is in an absolutely safe state]

[Note: When replay count is exhausted, intelligence automatically destructs]

"It can actually be replayed?"

Scanning through the lines of prompts, Cheng Ye's heart filled with slight joy.

The Collector's functions were far more powerful than he had imagined!

Although intelligence didn't provide immediate strength improvements like skills, at this moment it allowed him to capture a crucial piece of information.

Liu Kun was coming to the South Station?

And he would disguise his identity to enter Quarantine Gate B where he was on duty?

Before this, although Cheng Ye had fantasized countless times about searching transcendents, he hadn't expected this day to come so suddenly.

Moreover.

It seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

"Liu Kun entering with a disguised identity, doesn't that mean I can find ways to improve our compatibility?"

As soon as this thought flashed through his mind, his heart immediately began pounding uncontrollably.

Jiang Chuan was just a symbiotic residual state, yet already possessed Level 5 skills.

Liu Kun, as a transcendent, definitely possessed Level 5, or even Level 6 skills.

Although these were currently unsearchable by the Collector.

But the difference was that Jiang Chuan in symbiotic residual state had the same search energy consumption as an ordinary person, meaning his life level hadn't actually changed.

As for Zhang Can, Cheng Ye still clearly remembered that even with compatibility maxed at 100%, the probability of searching for Level 1 skills was only 15%, and for Level 2 skills only 1%.

"The Collector hadn't been upgraded then, it was still in probationer stage."

"I wonder if after advancing to novice level, my probability of searching transcendents will improve?"

Compared to searching for items, skills were obviously more tempting.

As Cheng Ye pondered this, his steps didn't stop, heading straight downstairs.

To advance from probationer, one needed to complete evaluations at three stations, obtain nine evaluation forms, plus complete one field mission with a B-level or higher rating, without any major incidents during the process.

Usually it took about one to two years to complete all these procedures.

Currently, the inspection station record was held by Harlin, taking six months and five days.

And he had only taken just over three months to already obtain the most difficult nine evaluation forms. He would most likely break Harlin's record subsequently.

Because getting a B-level or higher rating on field duty really wasn't difficult.

After all, the missions available to probationers were limited to begin with. With his current abilities, completing them would be effortless.

"It's just that if I leave, there's no one to look after Wang Kang. That won't work."

"Besides, the rain pattern is still persisting. Once it rains during field duty, infected entity activity range and frequency greatly increase, and the danger level absolutely skyrockets."

Cheng Ye wasn't in a hurry. With so many inspectors in the buffer zone currently, not a single one was going out.

This wasn't just due to factional influences, but more because of celestial anomalies greatly increasing the probability of danger in the wilderness.

For him, a probationer, to rashly go out just for promotion was really not cost-effective.

It would be better to wait for Liu Bi to return and go on field duty together. That way the safety factor would be higher.

Moreover, Ding Yishan was still testing him. That was the most crucial matter at present.

As long as he could gain the station chief's support, just as Lee Matteo said, he could go anywhere he wanted on field duty.

"So many inspectors are competing to pick sides precisely to get assigned lucrative field missions. Now with a path to success laid out before me, there's really no need to take risks."

Reaching the ground floor, the staff hadn't returned yet, so Cheng Ye put on his raincoat and waited for a while.

He didn't wait long.

In less than ten minutes, the two returned. "Because Inspector Song, who was on duty with Inspector Wang yesterday, processed his registration today, there's a bit of a procedural conflict. Could you possibly go on duty in Zone C this morning and switch over tomorrow?"

"Someone registered?"

Cheng Ye frowned slightly, thinking back to the list Lee Matteo had given him.

There were three Eastern inspectors surnamed Song: two first-term and one third-term.

"Which Inspector Song?"

"Inspector Song Hai."

The third-term one?

Supposedly, since Wang Kang was on duty yesterday morning, Song Hai should have come in the afternoon.

However, sometimes inspectors would swap shifts due to temporary matters, and by protocol, Wang Kang should have been notified.

But between a third-term and a probationer.

If it were him, Song Hai might still make a phone call to mention it, but facing Wang Kang, he obviously didn't have that awareness.

Cheng Ye pondered for a moment. "Alright, then I'll go on duty in Zone C."

In the intelligence, Liu Kun had said the day after tomorrow or the day after that, but he didn't know which specific day.

Cheng Ye was somewhat worried about missing the opportunity, but on second thought, Lei Hu shouldn't be so careless.

Since he had already agreed to Liu Kun's request, if the matter were scheduled for this morning, he would surely have him go replace Song Hai.

Following the two staff members, they passed through Zone E.

Upon reaching the isolation inspection area, the South Station was no different from the North Station, with identical scale and layout.

Two observers waited by the isolation door. Seeing Cheng Ye approach, they couldn't help but be stunned.

"This is Inspector Cheng, Cheng Ye, the duty inspector for this morning."

The staff member introduced him.

Actually, no introduction was needed. Just by looking at his appearance, the two observers had already recognized Cheng Ye's identity.

Too similar.

He resembled Cheng Long, the fifth-term inspector and pillar of the Eastern faction, by at least sixty to seventy percent.

If not for Cheng Ye being too young, just looking at his profile, they would almost think Cheng Long had been resurrected.

"Thank you for your trouble."

The isolation door opened, and Cheng Ye nodded slightly to the staff, then stepped through.

Passing through the disinfection corridor, the two observers were already waiting at the end.

"Greetings, sir. We are Zone C observers. I'm called Leopard, and I'm called Snake."

The two introduced themselves in turn.

Leopard was a mature middle-aged man, and Snake was a sturdy young man.

One old, one young, with clear division of responsibilities.

Leopard's duties were similar to Raven's, responsible for document registration, record keeping, and other clerical work.

Snake was different from Owl though, needing to accompany the inspector on duty.

"Our South Station has observers accompany inspectors on duty?"

"Yes," Snake immediately explained. "Mainly because us Eastern people have too many different accents, from all over the place. And our Zone C is responsible for inspecting personnel from external sanctuary cities and settlements. Some people not only have accents but don't understand our rules. We can't have you personally teach them, can we sir?"

He smiled, then added, "Besides, those sanctuary cities sometimes come with several vehicles. Inspecting vehicles and cargo is also hard labor. You just give orders, and I'll do the work."

"Are there smugglers?"

"Of course, and quite a few." Snake nodded. "For ordinary materials from outsiders, our inspection station can't take a cut. Only high-value items like mutation crystals, transcendent minerals, and precious metals are subject to a 20% inspection tax."

"Some people have a gambling mentality and don't want to pay, so they smuggle, hiding things in tire compartments, or wrapping them in sealed bags and stuffing them at the very bottom of cargo piles. Some even embed crystals in prosthetic limbs."

"But they dare to do this mainly because the consequences aren't too severe. Even if discovered, it's just an extra 10% tax, totaling 30% payment. For them, hiding might mean profit, not hiding means definite loss, and even being caught is within acceptable range."

"Also..."

Walking forward, Snake chattered on with introductions.

Quarantine Zone A took a flat 30% cut because they were all Happiness City's own merchant teams, so no one would privately hide items.

After all, once discovered, the consequences were far more than just paying an extra 10%.

At minimum, credit points would be deducted and all materials confiscated. At worst, even vehicle rental privileges could be revoked.

But Quarantine Zone C was different. The merchant teams coming here included some assembled by surrounding settlements' independent traders, and some sent by small sanctuary cities. No matter how small the scale, as long as they carried the banner of 'trade', the inspection station had to treat them as equal parties and follow Happiness City's trade regulations.

"It wasn't like this in previous years. Back then, external merchant teams were highly valued. Not only did they pay no taxes, but our Happiness City would purchase their goods at an additional 5% markup to encourage more teams to come."

"The problem was some people were too clever. Zone B charged scavengers just 5% tax, and some didn't want to pay even that. So they colluded with nearby small settlements, selling things to them, then having the settlements bring goods in as merchant teams under Zone C's name, exploiting the tax exemption loophole."

"Back and forth, in just half a year, Zone B's tax revenue dropped by more than half, but the number of people coming and going increased threefold."

"With this happening repeatedly, plus external merchant teams becoming fewer and fewer over the years, mostly our own Happiness City teams running trade routes, the inspection station took the opportunity to change the rules. Whether merchant teams or independent traders, high-value items are uniformly charged 20%, plugging Zone B's loophole."

"If smuggling is discovered, the extra 10% goes to you, plus the station provides an additional 5% as duty reward."

Hm?

So this is where the profit is?

As Cheng Ye listened, his eyes brightened, suddenly realizing that Zone C wasn't as disappointing as he had previously thought. It was also a good place to earn contribution points!

Speaking of the entire inspection station currently, probably no low-level inspector needed contribution points more than he did.

Setting aside equipment, vehicles, batteries and other things everyone wanted.

Taking the idealist route was satisfying, with over a thousand community members at his disposal, but this spent money like water, and expenses kept growing.

Like the current Tianyuan Community construction, after his repeated modifications, the budget had already soared to 26,000 points.

Not to mention later factory construction, medical facility equipment procurement, early production material investments, and such.

Although once the commercial street was built, he could gradually recover all these early investments, turning it into a continuous money-making treasure trove providing long-term income.

But these early investments all had to be filled by him as the investor.

And these were precisely what the contribution system couldn't satisfy.

After returning last night, he had carefully calculated again, still not understanding why weapons and medical supplies were so expensive. He specifically asked Huang Sheng about the Works Department's system for verification.

After this calculation, he finally understood the relationship between the internal contribution system and external contribution points.

Simply put, the internal contribution system was a special rule created specifically for developing sanctuary cities, with two core purposes:



Prevent resource outflow.



Lower resource usage thresholds.



Take vehicle rental prices for example. The prices were set so cheaply precisely to facilitate merchant teams, inspectors, and public officials going out on business.

But trying to use this system to purchase materials wouldn't work.

Because contribution points had anchoring objects, with real things backing them up. Items like transcendent minerals, mutation crystals, and various strictly controlled strategic materials could be exchanged for resources whether in Happiness City or taken to other sanctuary cities.

But the internal contribution system had no such thing. Departments decided for themselves how much to issue and how to issue it, and naturally the departments also bore the costs of money spent.

A simple example.

When the inspection station was at its wealthiest, it bought a hundred Golden Cup vehicles at market price.

When these hundred vehicles were first purchased, renting one might cost 50 points per day, with 500 points compensation for damage.

But as time passed, the initial investment had long been recovered, so it became the 15 points per day he saw. Even if vehicles broke down, the inspection station could bear it.

But items like weapons and medical supplies were different. The inspection station wouldn't stockpile them. If someone wanted to exchange, they had to use contribution points to buy at current market prices.

Therefore, when the inspection station was wealthy, everyone's points were valuable. A Buffalo combat pistol might sell for just 1 point.

But if the inspection station was tight on funds, points immediately became less valuable.

For example, now the Buffalo pistol price had doubled, and the Thunder-1 had increased several-fold.

But when high-level inspectors returned in autumn and the inspection station had money, points would appreciate.

This was also why Downs reminded him not to waste any contribution points before promotion.

Because only after promotion, seeing all the rules, could one understand how this system operated.

But even if points appreciated, it still wouldn't be possible to exchange for things to build the commercial street.

Because the inspection station's system was meant to facilitate inspectors' official duties, not satisfy personal purposes.

"Spring and autumn each year are Zone C's busiest times."

"Mmm, come winter, basically no convoys come. Sometimes Zone C stays closed for ten-plus days straight as normal."

Snake continued his endless introductions, but saw Cheng Ye suddenly stop in his tracks, eyes bright as he looked toward the garage.

"This is the garage. Some merchant teams use electric vehicles, so they come here to charge."

"I know. I can use this charging station, right?"

"Yes."

Before the words finished.

Cheng Ye had already skillfully removed the charging head, swiped his badge to unlock permissions, then hung the charging head back up.

"Alright, don't let anyone else use this station."

"Yes."

Unexpectedly, after leaving Zone A, he could still charge at Zone C. What a pleasant surprise!

He should have known to let Wang Kang register for Zone C.

The moment this thought arose, Cheng Ye shook his head in denial. Profits often came with risks.

Merchant teams from afar had no small probability of encountering ferocious infected entities.

Perhaps you wouldn't encounter one in ten attempts, but just running into one super-strong infected entity like the Rotting Vine.

Never mind Wang Kang as a probationer, even he would face enormous risks dealing with it.

Continuing forward, Zone C also had three large warehouses plus one isolation warehouse.

"Are there still people in the isolation warehouse?"

"No. Generally speaking, we don't let risky personnel pass through the inspection station. We turn them away, and goods trading is completed outside the inspection station."

"Outside the inspection station..."

Cheng Ye looked up and scanned outside the inspection station. The yellow line that existed at the North Station was also here at the South Station.

What surprised him was that despite the rain, four 9.6-meter cargo trucks were already waiting in front of Zone C's entrance.

Each truck had a large red mountain symbol painted on its side.

In the probationer inspector cultural examination, one course was memorizing the symbols of various factions.

Cheng Ye frowned and thought for a moment, quickly finding the corresponding faction for this symbol in his memory.

From neighboring Hai Province's Red Mountain Sanctuary City, with a straight-line distance of nearly 1,700 kilometers from Happiness City.

Although its scale couldn't compare to Happiness City, it was still a genuine large sanctuary city with a permanent population of about 300,000.

As for specialties, given such a long distance, what the trucks carried basically couldn't be local products.

Most likely they were middlemen traders, with goods having changed hands several times en route.

This was also standard wasteland merchant team operation: selling along the way, buying along the way, profiting from price differences.

Not like modern times where they accepted clients' commissions, loaded cargo, and headed to specific destinations.

Taking out his defense communicator, Cheng Ye glanced at the time.

Only fifteen minutes remained until 9 o'clock inspection began, just enough time for preparation.

"Snake, let's start preparing."

"Yes, sir!"

Snake nodded in agreement. Before Cheng Ye could open the isolation door, he actually led out a black dog from the dormitory.

This dog had lustrous fur, stood half a person's height, and looked particularly spirited.

Seeing Cheng Ye, the black dog barked twice, immediately getting slapped by Snake. "What are you barking at? This is Inspector Cheng!"

The black dog whimpered once and quickly lowered its head. As if understanding, its eyes instantly became fawning.

"Hey, our inspection station actually keeps animals?"

Cheng Ye couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.

Due to transcendent curse effects, plant growth required dedicated care with nutrition cycles passing in an instant, making herbivorous animal breeding extremely cost-ineffective.

Carnivorous animals were even more unthinkable, since there wasn't enough meat for humans, let alone animals.

Omnivorous animals like dogs could be kept alive with nutritional paste.

But awkwardly, ordinary hunting dogs were no match for mutated creatures, and their barking might even attract infected entities, making them unpopular with scavengers.

Considering all factors, this black dog before him was the first animal he had seen since transmigrating.

"Sir, its name is Little Black. It's an old employee of our inspection station, specializing in dealing with those crude smugglers who rely on luck!"

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