Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 294: Increased Rewards, A Special Dual Ability!

"A bet?"Wang Rui narrowed his eyes, locking his gaze firmly onto Cheng Ye as he tried to glean more information from the young man's expression and eyes.

To his disappointment, the young man before him maintained a smiling, enigmatic expression, making it completely impossible to read his true depths.

This was especially true when comparing him to his straightforward and heroic father. Even though their facial features were sixty percent similar, their personalities were worlds apart. After a closer look, Wang Rui could not find even the slightest resemblance in their demeanor.

"What do you want to bet on?" Wang Rui brought his hands from under the table to the surface and rolled up his sleeves. "I have absolutely no interest in betting myself, but I am curious. Since you have the audacity to propose this, do you think you can offer stakes that would tempt me?"

"Commander Wang, since I brought it up, I naturally have the confidence to back it," Cheng Ye replied.

Cheng Ye mirrored Wang Rui's posture, placing his hands flat on the table and leaning slightly forward. "But before that, shouldn't we show our hands first?"

"I am very curious. What is the proportion of active combat personnel in the Heavy Machinery Faction?"

"Thirty percent."

Wang Rui's expression remained unchanged as he elaborated, "Our tactical system requires extensive support from logistics personnel, so our combat personnel ratio is about twenty percent lower than other legion factions. However, our mission completion rate and Infection Source clearance rate have always been above the passing mark. We have never made a single mistake."

"Thirty percent... That means your immediate Combat Power is roughly around 3,300 personnel?" Cheng Ye calculated softly.

Wang Rui said nothing and merely gave a slight nod, though his heart sank.

Their numbers could not be considered an absolute disadvantage for the Heavy Machinery Faction. In fact, their elite soldier system managed to reduce the casualty rate to a certain extent.

However, at this critical juncture of selecting a satellite city for garrisoning, their lower headcount was an undeniable shortcoming.

Just as Cheng Ye had pointed out, in the current competition for garrison quotas, the Heavy Machinery Faction had virtually no chance left in the industrial and buffer zones.

The industrial zone required teams with top-tier combat capabilities for protection, and the slots had already been secured by factions that ranked at the top in points in previous years.

There had originally been a chance to compete for the buffer zone, but the conflicting interests involved were multiplying. The competition among major factions had shifted from open contests to covert struggles, making it far more complicated than anyone had imagined.

Among the remaining satellite cities, Satellite City 1 would serve as the garrison for the reserved elites of the Blood Dragon and Cross Legions.

As a result, the only spots the Heavy Machinery Faction could realistically compete for were the quotas in the twenty-four newly built satellite cities and any future expansions.

To prevent vicious competition when satellite cities engaged with legion factions, the higher-ups had explicitly mandated that each satellite city could only select one ideologically compatible legion faction to move in.

However, there were no strict demands regarding personnel limits, other than a clear cap of no more than two thousand soldiers.

"So, if it turns out that the satellite cities cannot absorb the sheer number of legionnaires from this reorganization, how will the excess personnel be managed?" Cheng Ye continued his line of questioning, his eyes never leaving Wang Rui's face.

Wang Rui's heart grew even heavier as he answered in a deep voice, "They will either retire or transition to civilian jobs, returning to their status as ordinary Residents."

'The exact same resettlement method used for the Reclamation Corps back then?' Cheng Ye mused.

"Then, if I want to recruit those retired personnel, would I be exempt from the two-thousand-man quota?"

"Theoretically, it is possible."

Wang Rui's expression remained entirely impassive. "But you must understand that the higher-ups have strict regulations on the number of active-duty soldiers in each satellite city. It cannot exceed two thousand. If you recruit retired personnel on the side and have them participate in the winter clearing operations as non-commissioned Militiamen, the final evaluation of mission points will be proportionally reduced based on the excess headcount. Additionally, funding from the main city will be cut accordingly. It does not mean that just because your Dabo Town accommodates all eleven thousand people, you will receive corresponding support Resources."

'So that is how it works?'

The last lingering doubt in Cheng Ye's mind completely dissolved.

In this Wasteland Era where Transcendent might was concentrated in the hands of individuals, the Elders presiding over the decisions of Happiness City were not the least bit worried about satellite cities amassing independent military power.

This wave of legion reorganization was not merely to streamline organizations and eliminate bloat, pushing for a strict elite-soldier system on a strategic level.

For the satellite cities, it was a crucial step in perfecting their developmental frameworks and fixing their final shortcomings.

The explicit restriction capping the active roster at two thousand per satellite city was not a ban on recruiting more hands. Rather, it was a measure to prevent satellite cities from neglecting immediate infrastructure development in favor of blind, chaotic expansion. Such unchecked growth would ultimately force the main city to waste money and effort cleaning up the mess, while also plunging the satellite cities into internal disorder.

However, if a satellite city wished to advance further by actively recruiting more personnel to expand its strength, there were actually no hard limitations stopping them.

In other words, the better a satellite city developed, even if it fielded ten thousand or tens of thousands of troops, Happiness City would not only turn a blind eye but might even provide extra rewards.

Of course, the core prerequisite was "developing well," not blindly expanding troop numbers.

"Understood!"

Cheng Ye leaned back slightly against his chair, removing his hands from the table. "I wonder how much Commander Wang knows about me?"

"A core Inspector of the Inspection Station, a certified Researcher at the Research Institute..."

Wang Rui paused for a moment before shaking his head. "These two identities hold no practical value for us. However, the private ownership nature of Dabo Town, coupled with the news that Inspector Cheng will be taking office as the Station Master of the Leaping Wilderness Inspection Station next year, has captured our attention."

"It seems Commander Wang has done a lot of homework on me."

Cheng Ye paused briefly before shifting the topic. "Three days from now, if the Heavy Machinery Faction is still interested, why don't you visit my Dabo Town for a detailed discussion? I will have a concrete betting proposal ready by then."

"Huh?" Wang Rui was momentarily taken aback.

He had assumed that since Cheng Ye came with such confidence and voluntarily proposed a bet, the young man would offer lucrative terms on the spot. He had not expected this crafty brat to cut the conversation short at the most critical moment.

'Wait, I've been played for information by this kid!'

Wang Rui suddenly realized that from beginning to end, he had not gleaned a single piece of valuable information from Cheng Ye. Instead, the other party had smoothly figured out the Heavy Machinery Faction's stance, the intelligence they possessed, and even the current dilemma they faced.

He cursed inwardly, mentally greeting the young man's father and grandfather with a string of profanities, but he maintained a calm and breezy exterior.

"Three days from now, we might not have the time," Wang Rui said, trying to regain the upper hand.

"Hmm... To be honest with you, Commander Wang, when I first entered the city, Inspector Garcia, who was in charge of the inspection, mentioned that two high-ranking figures from the legions were very interested in me and wanted to treat me to a meal."

Cheng Ye slowly stood up, his tone flat. "If Commander Wang has no time, or if the Heavy Machinery Faction has better options, then I sincerely congratulate you on your successful negotiations elsewhere."

"Heh, hehe."

Wang Rui chuckled awkwardly, realizing his little bluff was completely useless. He stood up decisively. "Then it's a deal. We will visit Dabo Town in three days."

"Good." The two extended their hands and exchanged a brief handshake.

Cheng Ye walked out of the ward with a serene expression, looking as though everything had gone exactly according to plan. However, it wasn't until he got into the car and drove away from Ping'an Medical Clinic that he finally breathed a secret sigh of relief.

With his current status, he was clearly not qualified to fully subdue the Heavy Machinery Faction in a single encounter.

More crucially, Dabo Town was currently destitute; he simply lacked the capital to make a bet.

If he promised to provide military funding, Dabo Town barely had enough development funds for itself, having only just laid its foundations.

If he promised technological support, the Research Institute hadn't even completed its blueprint planning. His status as an intern Researcher was completely insignificant compared to the First-Level Researchers cultivated by the Heavy Machinery Faction itself.

All he could offer was future prospects. To put it bluntly, he was just painting an empty, grandiose picture for them.

Realizing that Wang Rui was unlikely to fall for empty promises, Cheng Ye naturally wouldn't blindly name a price based solely on the basic information he had seen.

The three days he had bought for himself were meant as a critical window to deeply research the legion system, past faction rankings, the internal conflicts and core needs of the Heavy Machinery Faction, and the current competitive landscape.

Relying on the comprehensive files in the archives, Cheng Ye was confident he could formulate a flawless plan.

"Jiang Chuan, later on, I'll have to trouble you to head to the archives and sort through the legion-related documents," he ordered. "This time, not just the Heavy Machinery Faction. It's best if you bring detailed intelligence on all the legions to my Dabo Town."

"Understood, Inspector Cheng. Station Master Ding already instructed me beforehand. Any intelligence you need can be delivered to Dabo Town for your review," Jiang Chuan immediately nodded in agreement.

With the construction of the satellite cities progressing further, a restriction preventing Inspectors from returning to the city at will was already on the horizon.

In all likelihood, by the time this winter ended, never mind entering the Inner City, even returning to the buffer zone would require a special application.

Cheng Ye gazed at the scenery rapidly flashing by the window, quietly pondering these changes and the deeper intentions behind Happiness City's reorganization.

The developmental trajectory of the satellite cities was indeed deviating further from the original system of the Torch organization. The large-scale reorganization of the legions now exacerbated this difference, steering Happiness City down a completely new path.

As an Enforcer, it was difficult for Cheng Ye to predict what kind of impact these changes would bring.

Perhaps even someone of Ding Yishan's level only knew the direction of the reforms and lacked the authority to interfere with these set adjustments.

But one thing was certain: such a drastic institutional overhaul was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision. There had to be an expert orchestrating it from behind the scenes.

Was it the think tank supported by Happiness City, or had that mysterious city lord sent back new instructions?

Fortunately, no matter the reason, the current reforms were entirely beneficial for Dabo Town.

Not only could it simultaneously advance the economy, infrastructure, and scientific research, but now it even had the opportunity to interface with the legions.

As development shortcomings were gradually addressed one by one, it was easy to foresee that Dabo Town's growth ceiling would be raised significantly once again.

While he was deep in thought, the car arrived at the Integrity Supervision Department located in the North Suburbs.

The vehicle drove into a smooth, concrete courtyard, and a three-story building painted in fresh beige came into view.

The Integrity Supervision Department had been established recently, and its new headquarters were still under intensive construction. Currently, they had requisitioned the former site of the Guard Department.

Even so, the entire compound had been thoroughly renovated. The once mottled walls were restored to look brand new, and the ivy at the base of the walls had been trimmed neatly. Emerald Vines climbed up newly nailed wooden trellises, radiating a vigorous Vitality.

The glass of the guardhouse at the entrance was wiped spotless. The duty personnel stood with rifles in their arms, their sharp eyes monitoring the surrounding movements, exuding absolute authority amidst the order.

After Jiang Chuan stepped out to complete the identity verification, the car drove into the inner courtyard.

Cheng Ye exited the car and noticed that the concrete ground beneath his feet had been paved with a layer of light gray floor mat, making it perfectly flat and smooth.

"These people really care about ostentation..."

He shook his head inwardly and strode into the small building.

Perhaps Shen Chongshan had already given advance instructions. When Cheng Ye casually asked a question at the door, a staff member immediately stepped forward to guide him down to the basement.

The basement levels of the building served as temporary holding cells for prisoners. However, these "cells" were divided into tiers.

The environment on the first basement level was relatively harsh. Upon reaching the second basement level, they transitioned into independent rooms, each about twenty square meters, fully equipped with a bed, desk, bathroom, and other amenities.

Through the room's observation window, Cheng Ye saw Liu Bi sitting cross-legged on the bed, seemingly meditating and regulating his breathing.

He knocked on the door, but Liu Bi did not open his eyes.

It wasn't until the staff member unlocked the door with a key that Liu Bi exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing Cheng Ye standing in the doorway, Liu Bi immediately flashed a bright, toothy grin, displaying an incredibly lively smile.

"Brother B, Qin Zhaoye is a Source-Binder. You didn't get hurt, did you?"

Cheng Ye stepped forward, looking Liu Bi up and down while casually patting the loose dust off his back.

"Of course not!" Liu Bi chuckled, his tone laced with a hint of pride. "I launched a Surprise Attack. I broke his left arm right off the bat and didn't give him a chance to use his abilities at all."

"Ah? You actually used a Surprise Attack?" Cheng Ye paused, somewhat caught off guard.

He had assumed Qin Zhaoye simply wouldn't accept defeat, never expecting that Liu Bi genuinely hadn't attacked head-on.

"What else? I went there for revenge, not to fight a match in an arena. Naturally, I had to strike first."

Liu Bi smacked his lips before changing the subject. "Though even in a fair fight, it wouldn't have taken much effort to injure him. The commotion would just have been louder, and I inevitably would have been reprimanded by Station Master Ding."

"Did Station Master Ding say anything else to you?" Cheng Ye pressed.

"That's a secret." Liu Bi reached out, patted Cheng Ye on the shoulder, and stood up. "Let's go. Now I can finally head to your Dabo Town openly and legally."

Seeing Liu Bi act like such an unapologetic rogue, Cheng Ye felt a wave of bewilderment. His preconceived notions of the man were shattering further.

'Good heavens, not only is Brother B exceptionally strong, but his personality isn't honest either?'

However, upon further thought, it made sense. The fact that he could beat Garcia into the emergency room without a second thought and still avoid punishment from the Inspection Station proved that Liu Bi was far from a simple-minded brute.

Now, he had even offended the Integrity Supervision Department and sent a division chief to the hospital, yet he remained unscathed.

'Now that is what you call playing the fool to hide true wisdom.' Cheng Ye mentally leaned back in awe.

When the two went up to the first floor, Jiang Chuan was already processing the bail paperwork.

The bail was not cheap. It cost a full five thousand Contribution Points. All these points would go toward treating Qin Zhaoye, and a subsequent fine would also have to be paid.

However, all of this was handled by the Inspection Station; it no longer had anything to do with Liu Bi.

As his guarantor, Cheng Ye had to fill out over twenty pages of surety documents, which were riddled with clauses such as "If Liu Bi offends again, the guarantor shall bear joint responsibility."

But once they were in Dabo Town, would anyone really dare walk into the lion's den to arrest Inspector Cheng?

Before long, the two receipt certificates were finalized, and they were handed over along with Liu Bi's Inspector Badge.

Cheng Ye passed the certificates to Jiang Chuan and headed out with the badge in hand. However, just as he reached the door, his footsteps abruptly stopped, and he couldn't help rubbing his eyes.

'Huh? Am I seeing things?'

It was nearing dusk, with a fading sun hanging on the horizon. The golden rays scattered across the courtyard of the Integrity Supervision Department, coating it in a warm yellow Halo.

Beside the pickup truck, Liu Bi was actually clustered together with Li Matai, chatting and laughing.

Although Li Matai still wore a look of barely concealed trepidation on his face, the excitement shining in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Moreover, as Liu Bi spoke, he would occasionally raise his hand to pat Li Matai on the shoulder. Not only did Li Matai accept it obediently, but the smile on his face grew even wider.

'Something is wrong. Something is very wrong.'

'Li Matai clearly stated before that veteran Inspectors like Cheng Long and Liu Bi looked down on him. How could they suddenly be so chummy?'

'Could it be that Liu Bi is only pretending to be polite to Li Matai out of respect for me?'

'But Li Matai isn't an idiot. He would definitely be able to sense whether someone was being genuinely polite. He couldn't possibly be smiling so sincerely otherwise.'

"Brother B?"

Filled with astonishment, Cheng Ye walked over, handed the badge to Liu Bi, and then turned to stare at Li Matai in bewilderment.

"What are you two doing?"

"Cheng Ye! Inspector Liu is being transferred to East Peace Town to take Song Hai's place. He's going to manage East Peace Town with me!" Li Matai's face was flushed with irrepressible excitement, his words tumbling out faster than usual.

"What?" Cheng Ye was stunned.

Just that afternoon, he had been chatting with Li Matai, mentioning that the next phase of satellite city reforms would be implemented soon.

But he never imagined the reforms would come this swiftly—it was practically a case of 'speak of the devil and he shall appear'.

Song Hai was taken out, and Liu Bi was sent to take over East Peace Town?

Didn't that mean Ding Yishan was using this direct approach to place both Dabo Town and East Peace Town under his unified management?

Cheng Ye pondered for a brief moment before looking helplessly at Liu Bi. "Brother B, next time there's an arrangement like this, you have to discuss it with me in advance."

"Cheng Ye, this was requested by Station Master Ding. It wasn't that I didn't want to tell you."

Liu Bi shook his head, rubbing his badge with a grin. "If I hadn't managed to walk out of here today, the managing Inspector for East Peace Town would still be Song Hai."

He had to admit, this truly fit Ding Yishan's style of doing things. He never explained everything all at once; instead, he preferred to hide rewards behind trials.

It was like a chain of hidden quests.

The promise of unlimited specs for his Field Duty was merely the reward for returning to the buffer zone to handle the bail trouble. But resolving Liu Bi's status issue, mediating the ideological conflict with Li Matai, and even directly consolidating the management rights of two satellite cities into his hands—these were all extra rewards for him tying up the loose ends with the Heavy Machinery Faction.

'Old Ding, you're a real one.'

Cheng Ye marveled inwardly. Li Matai listened to him, and Liu Bi would certainly have no objections. With East Peace Town in his grasp, he now had one industrial hub and one agricultural hub.

One was situated in the core circle, while the other was located in the outer ring of the satellite cities. Undoubtedly, he now had more bargaining chips in his hand, but at the same time, the burden on his shoulders had grown heavier.

But how did the saying go? Pressure breeds motivation!

"Let's go. We'll leave this place first!"

With a wave of Cheng Ye's hand, the group quickly hopped into the pickup and drove away from the Integrity Supervision Department, chatting and laughing along the way.

Even though all three could clearly sense several scrutinizing gazes boring into their backs from the beige building, none of them intended to linger in the buffer zone, so they naturally paid it no mind.

The car soon arrived at the Chemical Factory Community. Jiang Chuan drove back to the Central Inspection Station to report in, and to compile the legion intelligence Cheng Ye requested along the way.

Li Matai initially wanted to leave with him, but Liu Bi enthusiastically invited him to stay, so he eventually followed them up to the fifth floor with a goofy grin.

It was the same familiar routine.

Their footsteps had just reached the fourth floor when Liu Yi preemptively pushed the door open, the little one bounding out.

But to Liu Bi's surprise, his darling daughter didn't throw herself into his arms. Instead, she bolted straight for Cheng Ye, who scooped her up in one swift motion.

"Huh?" Liu Bi's face instantly filled with vigilance, feeling a distinct crisis of having his home "stolen."

"Big brother Cheng Ye, did you bring me seeds this time?" Liu Yi blinked her large, round eyes. She first looked at Cheng Ye's empty hands, then subconsciously glanced at Li Matai beside him.

"Hey, I didn't bring you any seeds this time, but I'll take you somewhere fun tonight," Cheng Ye chuckled, gently tapping her little nose.

"Ah?" As soon as she heard it was something fun, Liu Yi immediately forgot all about the seeds and began clapping her little hands in glee.

Sister Luo also stepped out right on cue. She wore a gentle smile on her face, seemingly completely unaware of the conflict that had unfolded the previous night.

"Come in quickly. And this is..."

"Li Matai, my friend, and also a Third-Stage Inspector," Cheng Ye quickly introduced.

Unexpectedly, Li Matai made himself even more at home. He grinned broadly and greeted her cheerfully, "Hello, sister-in-law! I didn't bring a gift for my first visit, but I'll definitely make up for it next time!"

"What are you talking about? There's no need to bring gifts when you come here," Sister Luo said, her smile widening as she stepped aside to welcome everyone inside.

However, seeing the lingering worry in her eyes, it was apparent she hadn't yet told Liu Bi about Liu Yi's awakened ability.

This couple was always secretly worrying about each other; they truly were a match made in heaven.

After sitting down inside, the group exchanged a few pleasantries, and the relocation plans were swiftly settled.

With Liu Bi about to manage East Peace Town, the situation in the buffer zone was getting complicated. Staying here might seem safe, but their personal freedom was already under potential threat, making it clearly inappropriate to remain.

Until the situation stabilized and the two of them received Field Duty assignments, Sister Luo and Liu Yi naturally had to lay low in a satellite city first.

If the situation in the satellite cities changed later on, it wouldn't be too late to return and take temporary refuge in the buffer zone.

But one thing was certain: this winter, the mother and daughter would absolutely not stay in the buffer zone. They would either be in Dabo Town or East Peace Town.

Hearing that she could go to a satellite city out in the Wilderness, Liu Yi let out a series of excited squeals.

However, what made everyone chuckle was that the little girl was naturally gifted at studying. Having attended classes for just over a month, she immediately followed up by asking if she could continue studying with her teachers after leaving the buffer zone.

"Don't worry, I'll invite all your teachers to Dabo Town," Cheng Ye promised with a smile. "As it happens, Dabo Town is also going to open a school."

As they said, generous rewards roused brave men. He wasn't worried that these teachers, who relied on teaching to make a living, would choose to stay in the buffer zone doing odd jobs and facing constant risk of unemployment.

Dabo Town was establishing a proper school and could provide stable, long-term employment.

Student enrollment could be guaranteed, and the environment could be guaranteed. As for safety... he figured that those willing to migrate to Happiness City in the first place would know how to weigh their options.

"Old Li, here are a few storybooks. Why don't you take Yiyi to the bedroom and read to her?" Cheng Ye handed over a picture book from the sofa.

"You got it!" Li Matai agreed readily, picking up the book and leading Yiyi by the hand into the bedroom.

Only when the bedroom door clicked shut did Cheng Ye exhale, gesturing for Sister Luo to take a seat.

Seeing their expressions shift to something much more serious, the blissfully smiling Liu Bi suddenly froze, realizing that something was wrong.

When he returned to the buffer zone last night, it was nearly six in the evening. After briefly seeing Sister Luo, he had rushed off to report his mission to Ding Yishan.

He hadn't talked much with her upon his return either; after all, they had been in constant contact over the last three months, and right after that, he had gone out into the night to find Qin Zhaoye.

"What is it?" Liu Bi sat up straight, the smile vanishing from his face.

"Brother B, don't get agitated just yet. Here is the situation..." Cheng Ye carefully chose his words as he concisely recounted the incident of Liu Yi accidentally awakening a plant-related special ability.

As he spoke, Sister Luo's worry could no longer be concealed. It was clear that bearing this secret alone had weighed heavily on her heart.

However, to Cheng Ye's slight relief, Liu Bi was ultimately a veteran Fourth-Stage Inspector who had weathered many storms.

Upon hearing the words "ability awakening," he merely furrowed his brow, completely avoiding the panic Cheng Ye had anticipated.

"Xiaoxue, are you suspecting that your grandfather Luo Feng was actually already a Transcendent back then?"

After speaking, Liu Bi shook his head. "In your father's generation, you are his only daughter. Your cousin-uncle Luo You insisted on adding me to the Luo family genealogy back in the day, and he was equally adamant about putting Yiyi's name on it..."

He paused for a moment, recalling the past, before adding, "I didn't pry into your Luo family ancestry at the time, but I remember your uncle saying that the Treasure your grandfather obtained was absolutely not a Transcendent Object. Later, he followed an expedition team to the Black Zone. But when he left, your father was already several years old. Even if he became a Transcendent later, he couldn't possibly have passed on a Transcendent bloodline down to Yiyi."

"But the ability Yiyi manifested cannot be faked! Could it have been passed down from your grandfather or your father?" Sister Luo asked anxiously.

If they couldn't even trace the source of the ability, there would be no way to resolve the hidden dangers within Yiyi's body.

"Impossible. Both my grandfather and my father were ordinary people, as ordinary as they come."

Liu Bi explained firmly before comforting her, "Perhaps your uncle didn't explain things clearly back then, or perhaps there are other unforeseen circumstances. Don't panic just yet. The ability itself isn't fatal. Over all these years, I've seen countless Special Ability Users, and most of them met premature ends only because they lost themselves to the power. As long as we keep a close eye on Yiyi and prevent her from touching unfamiliar plants indiscriminately, she won't be any different from a normal child."

"Brother B, I have an idea," Cheng Ye interjected at the perfect moment. "If our next Field Duty is assigned to Guangdong Province, we can track down Luo You again and ask him thoroughly about Sister Luo's grandfather, Luo Feng. Specifically, we need to uncover the name and origin of that Treasure. I recently asked someone to look into it as well, but we haven't found any leads. Perhaps the item back then truly was a Transcendent Object, and Luo Feng deliberately passed it off as an ordinary treasure just to avoid drawing attention."

Liu Bi maintaining his Calmness was undoubtedly the best possible outcome.

Even if Liu Yi's ability had awakened early, based on the average growth rate of Special Ability Users, it would take one or two years for it to truly manifest its power.

In that time, who knows how many times Cheng Ye could run his searches and research good items. Even if he couldn't eradicate the hidden dangers entirely, suppressing the side effects of her ability so she could live normally would be a breeze.

"Yes, we definitely need to find Luo You and ask him clearly."

As he spoke, Liu Bi turned to Sister Luo with a determined tone. "Moreover, the last time I went to Guangdong Province, your uncle was doing quite well for himself. He had even opened a large trading firm and traveled far and wide all year round, claiming he wanted to gather all the scattered members of the Luo family. Seven years have flashed by since then. Even if he doesn't know the exact details from back then, if other members of the Luo family are around, gathering relevant information shouldn't be difficult."

As the saying goes, care breeds chaos. As a full-time housewife, Sister Luo had poured all her heart and soul into Liu Yi. With no one to confide in these past few days, carrying this burden of worry alone inevitably led to anxiety.

Now, seeing her husband and Cheng Ye so composed and steady, the worry on her face gradually faded, and her smile returned, much more naturally than before.

"Then I'll go pack our things. Are we moving out today?" Sister Luo asked, standing up.

"Alright, go ahead and pack. Cheng Ye and I will chat a bit more." Liu Bi nodded in agreement. They waited until Sister Luo walked into the kitchen, digging out a woven bag to start packing up the sundries.

Cheng Ye first made a call, telling Da Long to send over a few hands from the community to help move their belongings.

Afterward, the two men headed downstairs. As they stood in the open space in front of the building, Liu Bi's expression abruptly shifted.

"Cheng Ye, I never told your Sister Luo that her uncle Luo You is a Special Ability User..."

"What?" Cheng Ye's expression hardened in genuine surprise. "Luo You has an ability too? Doesn't that prove Luo Feng was a Transcendent?"

"Of course he does, otherwise, how could he have built up such a thriving enterprise in Guangdong Province?" Liu Bi paced back and forth, his expression shifting unsteadily. "The reason he's searching everywhere for those Luo family members is to see if anyone else inherited this type of ability, all to help his trading firm expand its influence."

"Then Yiyi's ability awakening..."

"You probably don't know this, but ability inheritance has strict rules. Sometimes it's passed exclusively to males, and other times exclusively to females. It alters specific genetic expressions, meaning not every descendant can inherit it. That's why I never told Sister Luo about this."

As Liu Bi reached this point, he forcefully suppressed the turbulence in his heart and continued, "Luo You's ability leans toward brain enhancement. He can remember everything that has happened since he was a child, and his processing speed is comparable to a calculator. He alone manages a trading firm with hundreds of people flawlessly. But based on what you said, Yiyi's ability clearly leans toward plant manipulation, which is a completely different path from Luo You's."

'Brain enhancement? An extremely fast processing speed?'

'What kind of ability is that? It sounds quite formidable!'

'If I could collect and acquire it, wouldn't studying... and even managing Dabo Town become much easier?'

"It's not the same ability?"

Cheng Ye pondered this for a few seconds before he couldn't help asking again, "Brother B, are you absolutely certain that your grandfather, your father, and no one else in your family was a Transcendent?"

"I can guarantee it." Liu Bi's tone was incredibly firm. "My grandfather just sold breakfast. He was caught in the crossfire of a brawl right when the Transcendent Era began and died an innocent victim. My father was a staff member of the first-generation Inspection Station. He performed meritoriously during the Infection Tide back then, which is the only reason I qualified to succeed him as an Inspector. None of this has a single thing to do with Transcendents."

He paused before adding, "If my father had been a Transcendent, the Inspection Station would definitely have a record of it. Moreover, a Transcendent—even one not as strong as you are now—wouldn't have died in a mere Tide-level Infection Tide, would they?"

"Then what are you suggesting?"

Cheng Ye mulled it over carefully and guessed, "Could it be that the trea... the Transcendent Object Luo Feng obtained back then wasn't just one item, but two, meaning both males and females had the potential to inherit this bloodline gene?"

"It's highly possible. But the strange thing is, Luo You vowed to me that Luo Feng was absolutely not a Transcendent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ventured back into the Black Zone in search of some elusive stroke of luck, only to ultimately lose his way and disappear within it."

As Liu Bi was thinking, his footsteps suddenly halted. He voiced a question, "Do you think there's a possibility that Luo Feng didn't keep the Treasure he found all to himself, but instead divided it equally among those who discovered it, sharing it with everyone around him?"

"Or perhaps, the Transcendent Object he found was completely incomplete, making it impossible to obtain that power directly?"

'Hmm?'

'Why does this sound so familiar?'

Cheng Ye's thoughts whirled. For some reason, he suddenly recalled the Blessing of Life, a level of power just beneath Transcendent.

"If you're going to Guangdong Province for Field Duty, Luo You is currently in Qingyang Sanctuary City, not far from Light Rainbow. Once we find him, we can clear this whole matter up and see if other members of the Luo family share similar issues!"

"Alright!"