Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 32 Unknown Explorers, Extraordinary Induction!

The rapid transit station wasn't luxurious enough to equip each quarantine zone with a containment team.

More than ten minutes later, the isolation doors in Quarantine Area A finally slid open to both sides.

A team of eight people walked in, all dressed in beige special protective suits that resembled modern bomb suits, with honeycomb-shaped cushioning layers covering the joints.

"So serious?"

I thought it would be as "simple" as the central checkpoint, and they just stuffed the source of infection in and took it away without me even realizing it.

Cheng Ye was taken aback by the scale of the operation.

He also noticed that the isolation boxes used for containment had been redesigned.

Instead of the common tempered glass storage box, it uses a special material that looks like ceramic, with fine anti-seepage patterns imprinted on the surface.

"Duty inspector?"

The containment team leader stepped forward, a hint of surprise flashing across his face as his gaze fell on Cheng Ye.

What a young inspector! He looks a few years younger than the youngest member of the containment team!
"it's me."

Cheng Ye nodded and immediately took out his prosecutor's badge.

The other person took it, swiped it into the defense communication card slot on their arm, and then exclaimed in surprise, "You're still a trainee prosecutor?"

"Yes, what's the problem?"

"No, it was just a bit of an accident. Unknown infected individuals are usually difficult for even second-stage inspectors to detect. We usually only come to contain them after an outbreak has already occurred."

The containment team leader quickly shook his head. "Hello, Inspector Cheng. I am Qin Feng, a Level 3 researcher from the Infection Source Research Institute."

"Infection Source Research Institute?"

Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, then immediately searched for the explanation of the term in the original owner's memories.

Happiness City has three research institutions.

【Happiness Research Institute】: In charge of research and development of technologies related to people's livelihood, from nutrient pulp formulas to water recycling systems.

[Joint Armory]: Specializes in weapons and equipment, including the research and development of various armed vehicles.

【Infection Source Research Institute】: As the name suggests, it monopolizes research on infected organisms.

Although the three are of equal administrative rank, their treatment is vastly different.

The Institute of Infection Research's research is directly related to human survival, and the level of funding and resources allocated to it is extraordinary. It is recognized as the "hidden leader" among the three major institutions.

The second-level researcher position is equivalent to that of a second-term inspector, which is two levels higher than his trainee status!

"Since the source of infection is unknown, I need to make a simple research record for later comparison and reference. Is that alright?"

"You ask."

"Please describe the entire process from discovery to killing the infected. Well, you don't need to talk about how to identify it. I know every prosecutor has their own methodology. Just describe the infected's capabilities."

"Well"

Qin Feng's sense of boundaries is very comfortable to be around.

After a moment of contemplation, Cheng Ye added, in addition to the attack patterns of the Rotten Vine, the deceptive nature of its feigned fear of fire, and its learning and evolutionary abilities displayed after being hit by bullets.

"what?"

Qin Feng's thoughts were still a bit scattered at first, but when he heard the next part, he suddenly looked up, his eyes wide open behind his protective mask. "You mean, after it's hit by a bullet, it will grow denser fibrous tissue around the bullet hole to resist?"

“I saw it with my own eyes.” Cheng Ye nodded first, then added, “But I’m not sure if it was active learning or an instinctive reaction of the body.”

"Prosecutor Cheng, please wait a moment!"

Realizing there might be a major discovery, Qin Feng immediately turned to his team and gestured, "Get the sample boxes ready; we need to verify this infectious agent on-site!"

Disguise and learning are not new discoveries; many sources of infection exhibit similar behaviors.

But the ability to start learning immediately after being hit is something I've never seen before.

The eight people rushed into the isolation ward. Cheng Ye subconsciously wanted to tell the guards to be on guard and not let anything happen to them.

Unexpectedly, Raven whispered first, "Don't worry, sir. The researchers are the treasures of the inner city. Their 'turtle shells' are so tough that even if they stand there and let the infected bite them, they might not be able to break through."

"So strong?"

Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow, somewhat tempted.

The collector can search for items, but I don't know if it can find this protective suit.

If you could wear this on field missions, wouldn't your chances of survival increase dramatically?
Unfortunately, the energy has run out, and we'll have to wait until tomorrow to replenish it.

"But there's no need to rush, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Cheng Ye was calculating in his heart when Qin Feng returned with his men almost half an hour later.

When they went in, the containment box was carried by one person, but now it's being carried by four people, so it seems to have been successfully contained.

"Prosecutor Cheng, congratulations! This source of infection is of excellent quality; one is as effective as three!"

As Qin Feng spoke, he took off his mask, revealing a mature, square face.

Seeing Cheng Ye's confused expression, he suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "Look at my memory! You're still an intern, you don't know these things."

"Who is Captain Qin referring to?"

"Give me your identification badge. There are many rules at the checkpoint, but the research institute doesn't care about them. Trainee inspectors have no right to know without restrictions."

Qin Feng's words were incoherent and Cheng Ye couldn't understand them, so he had no choice but to hand over his identity badge. Cheng Ye then swiped the badge on his defense device, tapped the screen a few times, and handed it back.

"Try it, you'll be able to see it if you stick it on your defense communication device."

"Can I use my defense mobile phone?"

Only devices with special permissions can read the identity badge. Cheng Ye had tried it with his own prosecutor's defense device before, but it didn't work at all.

But following Qin Feng's instructions, he tried to stick it on.

The screen of the Defense Connect device suddenly flickered and automatically jumped to a completely new interface.

[Module: Happiness City Infection Source Research Institute Task Board]

[Affiliation: Cheng Ye (Trainee Prosecutor)]

Current Permission Status: Unlocked

[Currently unlocked mission: Unknown Explorer (S)]

Unknown Explorer (S): Submits '100' new infection source samples to the Infection Source Research Institute.

Current progress: 3/100
Stage Rewards: 25 (Level D Contribution Qualification); 50 (Level C Contribution Qualification); 75 (Level B Contribution Qualification)
Completion Reward: 5ml 'Extraordinary' Inducer (Basic version, with a 20% chance of helping humans awaken)

"what?"

"Extraordinary inducer?"

Looking at the text displayed on the defense communication screen, Cheng Ye almost cried out.

At this moment, all stage rewards and contribution qualifications become insignificant.

What did he see?
extraordinary?

Holy crap, buddy, are you sure you're not seeing things?
I checked the two words displayed on the defense device screen repeatedly, and they were indeed the extraordinary ones I knew.

Cheng Ye felt his blood rush to his head, and his fingertips trembled uncontrollably with excitement.

At the same time, a mix of emotions, including sudden realization and bewilderment, arose, churning in my chest like a tangled mess.

Because it was recorded in the books in the Survival Library, passed down by word of mouth among ordinary people in the buffer zone, and even in the wasteland stories that Liu Bi would occasionally tell him.

Without exception, all extraordinary individuals are active in history.

Since the beginning of the new era, there has never been any specific record of newly born extraordinary individuals.

Can.
"Don't be so surprised. You'll understand after your internship. The current closed policy is a form of protection. There are always some people who are reckless and easily blinded by profit, willing to take risks. Your checkpoint has seen plenty of such incidents."

Seemingly anticipating Cheng Ye's bewilderment, Qin Feng showed no surprise and revealed a subtle smile.

"The checkpoint is at the same level as our research institute and has similar tasks."

"Otherwise, why do you think the prosecutor would come to the fast checkpoint? It's not a good place; the mortality rate is consistently high, not to mention field missions that involve going to dangerous areas."

"Do checkpoints also have similar tasks?"

Cheng Ye caught the key information and subconsciously asked, "Does our Happiness City have superhumans?"

"Of course, every sanctuary city has superhumans, otherwise how would they deal with a large-scale infection wave?"

Perhaps it was because Cheng Ye was young and showed abilities that did not match those of a trainee prosecutor.

Qin Feng patiently explained, "There's no need for ordinary people to know these things too clearly, because in their eyes, the rampage of S-4 is not over yet, and superhumans are not heroes, but rather a plague that may bring a curse."

"If you want... well, missions of S rank and above will reward you with an inducer. The higher the difficulty, the larger the dosage and the better the quality."

Has anyone ever completed this?

"Of course there is." Qin Feng chuckled. "Nine years ago, someone at your checkpoint did it, but unfortunately he didn't manage to induce the extraordinary."

Nine years ago?
It sounded like a very long time, but Cheng Ye didn't ask any further questions. He realized the difficulty just from the time it took.

"Then what are the qualifications for this contribution?"

"It's used for purchasing things. Many strategically controlled items require it. For example, if you want to buy an energy storage battery for your own use or modify a combat vehicle, you need to contribute qualifications."

"Any question?"

"Gone."

Cheng Ye shook his head slightly, his mind still processing the massive amount of information that had just flooded in.

"Gone?"

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. "Only those who can suppress their desires can survive in the wasteland and are qualified to complete these missions."

"The standard reward will be sent to your personal account in a couple of days after verification. Remember to check it."

"My defense communication device ID is 16571. If you discover any unknown sources of infection or new clues related to the source of infection, you can contact me. I will settle the reward with you at the normal rate plus 10%."

"Thank you."

Cheng Ye took out his defense communication device and added the identification number to his contacts.

But even after watching the eight people's backs disappear from the passage, he was still lost in thought.

He had thought that the extraordinary transformation triggered by S-3 was far removed from humanity's current reality, but he never expected it to be so close, even to the point of being publicly recognized as a reward.

That unattainable transcendence... was actually right beside me?

P.S.: I've received your requests for more updates, dear readers! Wow, I really want to update more frequently, but I'm strictly limited by the rules of the new book period. Many authors only update to 4 words a day, while I start at 6+ words a day!

PS2: Never mind, I've received everyone's support, updates are a must, there's another chapter coming soon, thank you all for your monthly tickets~
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(End of this chapter)