The moon set and the sun rose.
Morning light pierced through the window.
Cheng Ye turned off the alarm on his defense pass and groggily propped himself up.
The bruise medicine Master Tian had given him was indeed miraculous. After a night of penetration, most of the stabbing pain in his leg had disappeared.
The purplish bruising from burst capillaries was also beginning to turn slightly red under the medicine's healing effects.
"Getting up at seven, work at eight, off at four in the afternoon."
"In modern times, wouldn't people fight tooth and nail for such a job?"
Going to the washroom, Cheng Ye poured water from the kettle and wiped his face, looking at his increasingly solid upper body in the mirror with a smile.
Although the inspector job was fraught with danger, it was also full of excitement and unknowns.
Done well, a day's income could make someone rich overnight.With the slightest mistake, losing one's life was just a matter of moments.
But overall, he had completely fallen in love with this job and no longer wanted to return to his previous life.
"Today is another clear day. I hope it can last a few more days."
Cheng Ye wiped the water droplets from his face, glanced at the weather outside the window, returned to his room, and casually browsed through his defense pass.
Days of duty, interrogations, plus being injured, and having to deal with the upcoming infection outbreak.
Under multiple layers of pressure, he was already physically and mentally exhausted.
After ordering equipment last night, he was tired like a puddle of mud, collapsing on the bed after nine o'clock and sleeping so deeply he lost all sense of time and place.
Now the screen lit up, showing four missed calls and three text messages.
Luo Xiaoxue had called once, Miao Yang had called twice, and most surprisingly, Qin Feng also had a missed call.
Turning to the messages, Luo Xiaoxue's message was as straightforward as always.
"Call back when you wake up." The tone showed she was much more at ease about him, without the previous worry.
But Miao Yang's two messages clearly showed tension. The first message asked how his body was recovering, and the second said that if Cheng Ye had difficulty moving around, he could come help take care of him for a while, with a tone of careful concern.
As for Qin Feng, his message was the most concise and brutal, just three words: "Check salary."
"Manager Miao is indeed a good person, just a bit too proud, not suitable for mixing in the wasteland system."
Cheng Ye couldn't help but smile.
Miao Yang appeared proud and aloof, but was actually a warm-hearted person like Liu Bi, just didn't know how to be tactful.
"He could be the next target to search."
"Better make up for combat technique shortcomings early, and strength can surge up another level."
Opening the panel, the 65% progress bar gleamed pleasingly under the background blue light.
Currently, the benefits brought by Dragon Force Embryonic Form were becoming weaker and weaker. For the next skill, Cheng Ye was targeting combat techniques.
Of course, the best choice would still be to continue searching for Lv.2 skills.
But the trigger conditions for 100% cooperation were really too harsh, requiring perfect timing, location, and people, like the lucky break with Dai Zun last time.
"I still need to improve my rank early, so I can search Lv.2 with 50% cooperation."
Closing the panel, Cheng Ye switched to the pay stub.
[New Era Year 35, July 1, 05:00, regular salary transferred '71' contribution points]
[Balance: 77 points]
[Note: Unknown infection source verification successful, named: Armored Vine, rating: Special (additional reward E-level contribution authority*1)]
"Ah?"
"Infection source rating special?"
Cheng Ye jolted awake, quickly double-checking the information on the screen before daring to believe he hadn't seen wrong.
The Corrupt Vine rewarding 60 points wasn't strange, after all it was an unknown infected entity with some special abilities.
But "contribution authority" was absolutely the most precious tier of rewards in the checkpoint's reward system.
From the highest S-level to the lowest F-level, divided into seven grades.
Yesterday afternoon when he went to buy equipment, he had planned to look at other good things and their prices, but when he entered the store, he found that only a few common household appliances could be bought directly with contribution points.
Things like batteries, generators, powerful weapons, equipment, etc., all required authority to unlock.
For example, if he went to the store now, after verifying his authority, he could view E-level purchasable items.
Of course, authority also had usage limits.
Cheng Ye clicked on the details and found that the E-level authority rewarded by the Corrupt Vine task only had one chance, meaning he could select one E-level authority item.
"Good heavens, the Corrupt Vine is so valuable?"
"Good thing I didn't buy a gun on credit yesterday, only bought protective clothing and containment cans. Now I can definitely buy a long gun with tremendous power!"
Cheng Ye smacked his lips excitedly, then thinking of the Corrupt Vine's formidable performance, he immediately felt relieved.
Such a fierce infected entity, although not as threatening as the Stand-In Starfish, would at least claim dozens of lives if it rampaged among crowds.
His ability to detect it early meant rewarding one E-level authority was indeed justified.
As for what the research institute could study from the Corrupt Vine, that wasn't his concern.
On the front line against infected entities, everyone was comrades-in-arms!
The stronger Happiness City became, the better it was for both ordinary residents and inspectors.
"Hey, Sister Luo, I was too tired last night and went straight to sleep."
"Don't worry, I've already reinforced this place. It's about the same as home, absolutely no problem."
Politely declining Luo Xiaoxue's suggestion to come stay with them for safety, Cheng Ye hung up and called Miao Yang.
"Manager Miao, it's me, Cheng Ye."
"I'll come find you after getting off work at four. Don't worry, my leg is healing quickly, not as serious as you think."
"Good, then we've agreed."
After arranging evening training with Miao Yang, Cheng Ye browsed through his contacts, feeling somewhat pleased.
From being a wasteland nobody who could only talk to Liu Bi, he had developed to having nearly ten people in his contacts.
Unknowingly, people in this buffer zone were beginning to know "Inspector Cheng," knowing there was such a special Eastern inspector.
"Really nice. In the future if there's a chance, I should also become a station chief and be prestigious."
Cheng Ye slung on his backpack, humming an off-key tune as he pushed the door and went out.
Walking to the community gate, he habitually glanced at Uncle Dong's shop, the rolling shutter door still tightly locked.
It seemed Uncle Dong had indeed left, just not knowing if he had departed before the "Stand-In Starfish" transmission range expanded.
If he happened to leave early at this critical juncture, that would be incredibly lucky!
On the way to the bus stop, tables were already set up by the roadside, though no one was queuing yet.
Cheng Ye walked over for a look and was immediately overjoyed.
According to Liu Bi, Happiness City should have developed countermeasures by this morning at the latest.
Indeed, the sign in front of the table prominently displayed three large characters:
Epidemic Powder!
Staff were unpacking boxes of epidemic powder, taking out palm-sized plastic bags containing dark brown powder that gleamed with fine luster in the morning light.
"Sir, this is the latest product from the inner city research institute. After taking it, it can enhance personal immunity. Even if you encounter an infection source outbreak, it can effectively resist parasitism. The research institute is currently promoting it. During the promotion period, each resident can receive one free pack daily. Charging will begin after a week, possibly starting at 50 coins per pack..."
The staff obviously didn't know the true significance of this epidemic powder, only reciting the promotional words as instructed.
Could this epidemic powder not kill the Stand-In Starfish with 100% certainty?
Cheng Ye was startled. If the effect had been verified, mandatory implementation for all citizens would be completely feasible.
But using this roundabout method...
Thinking this, he handed over his identity badge. After the other party swiped it on the defense pass, their expression immediately changed slightly, switching to a different tone.
"Inspector sir, according to instructions from above, you can receive ten packs. Specific usage methods and effects will be sent to your defense pass. If you run out, you can come get more anytime. We've set up 48 distribution points in the buffer zone."
"Alright, thank you."
Cheng Ye spread open his backpack to pack the ten powder packets. Before he had walked two steps, his defense pass received encrypted information from the inner city broadcast station.
To prevent information leakage, it used the encryption method from the inspector's handbook.
After translating just the beginning, Cheng Ye's expression darkened, and he quickly walked to a street corner to begin full translation.
[Happiness City Broadcast Station, A-Level Survival Alert]
[Respected Inspector, when you receive this message, it means Happiness City has entered a moment of life and death. Every decision you make, every action you take, could potentially save the sanctuary city from disaster. We need you to bravely step forward and face the terrifying threat alongside the residents (A-level alert)]
[This disaster: Stand-In Starfish]
[Level: Disaster-]
[The following three data points are generated by 'Happiness Supercomputer' simulation calculations]
[Outbreak scale: 37.157% (number of infected entities)]
[Outbreak level: 97.1% (Stage Two), 2.8% (Stage Three)]
[Outbreak centers: A-3, A-7, B-11, B-13, B-14, C-1~C-20]
[Stage Two infected entity strength: Affected by parasitized host, constitution increased 14%, strength increased 21%, speed decreased 27%, defense increased 119%]
[Infected entity response methods:
Attack the weak center point of the starfish tumor on the head. Through massive testing, this area can be breached with attacks of 41.7 joules or more, and attacks of 65 joules or more are lethal.
Direct attack on infected entity: Stage Two infected entities can withstand maximum fatal injuries: 3. If greater than this value, instant death. If less than this value, movement slowed.
If directly attacking infected entity, the tumor will continue maintaining infection activity for 3-5 minutes. Please use tools to place it in containment boxes, do not touch directly with skin.
Stage Three fusion entity strength: C-level, no tumor weakness.
Maximum kinetic energy tolerance: 317 joules. Attacks higher than this standard can breach defenses.
Maximum fatal injuries tolerable: 7. If greater than this value, instant death. If less than this value, no obvious effect.
Fusion entities can recover by devouring meat. Each fatal injury requires: 7.12kg of meat]
[Starfish Epidemic Powder efficacy: Based on parasitism time, maximum 3 packs every 7 days. Exceeding this will cause serious damage to liver, kidney, and human body functions, mild cases causing necrosis, severe cases causing death.
<24 hours, 100% success rate; <48 hours, 70% success rate; <72 hours, 30% success rate;
72 hours, no effect]
[Each tumor recovery price: 1 contribution point (quantity >10, recovery price increases 10%; quantity >100, recovery price increases 20%)]
[Each tumor battle merit: 1 merit (10 merits = 1F; 70 merits = 1E; 350 merits = 1C; 700 merits = 1B; 1000 merits = 1A; >1000 counts as Happiness Third Class Merit; >5000 counts as Happiness Second Class Merit; >10000 counts as Happiness First Class Merit; greater contributors to this disaster: counts as Happiness Special Merit)]
"Is this Happiness City's efficiency?"
After translating the entire content, Cheng Ye was stunned, his eyes flashing with indescribable shock.
How many days had passed since the Stand-In Starfish appeared?
Only three days!
But Happiness City's research institute had not only rushed to produce corresponding epidemic powder, but had also clearly listed the response methods for this infected entity.
Cheng Ye's gaze swept back and forth. Several data points deduced by the central supercomputer could already explain just how terrifying the Stand-In Starfish's harm was.
37.157% of the population was infected. The buffer zone currently had 540,000 permanent residents, representing that the number of infected had reached 200,000.
Even if the epidemic powder could save 60% of the infected, there would still be 80,000 people becoming infected entities.
This wasn't simply getting sick, but becoming zombie-like existences.
Just thinking about 80,000 zombies rampaging through the buffer zone made Cheng Ye feel chills down his spine.
Moreover, this infection efficiency grew exponentially. Even if each infected entity only infected one more person, the scale would expand by another 80,000, and these new 80,000 would continue infecting...
"But even so, it's only A-level rather than the highest S-level, and the disaster level is only Disaster-. Could it be that Happiness City's leadership already has confidence in surviving this disaster?"
Cheng Ye didn't panic blindly because of the data.
Because if they were really panicking, Happiness City's leadership should have already boarded planes and fled.
But now, the city was still operating in an orderly fashion, and the buffer zone was still distributing epidemic powder.
Everything seemed to be progressing in a good direction, not as despairing as the data presented.
"Contribution points and battle merits..."
His gaze settled on the rewards at the bottom, and Cheng Ye gradually began to understand.
From a modern person's perspective, the entire message was saturated with despair.
But from the perspective of wasteland people who valued martial prowess, killing one zombie could be exchanged for one contribution point.
Currently, this message was only sent to inspectors.
But what if, before the disaster outbreak, it was widely announced to all ordinary residents and all guards?