The rain had completely stopped.
The infection wave was gradually being contained within a manageable range as residents swept through it wave after wave.
The scent of blood mixed with the smell of damp earth filled the air.
When the wind blew, it carried a dense smell of gunpowder, giving the impression of being on a battlefield, making people cough harshly.
As for the uncontrollable areas, the fires of war continued to burn, showing no sign of stopping.
Boom, boom.
From time to time, rockets trailing flames flew over Zone B-7, landing in these areas.
Intense flashes of white light turned the night into day, buildings shattered directly, and the blast waves sent debris raining down like raindrops, followed by a long, hollow silence.
For the power holders in the Inner City.
If itās uncontrollable, then thereās no need to control it.
People who canāt even clean up their own living areas are just wasting resources in the Buffer Zone.
And those who decided to cram here since the beginning of the infection wave equally have no value to continue living.
"This kid fights like a lunatic just like Cheng Long, but heās much more lively, not as hardheaded as Cheng Long, let alone heās better than his grandfather Cheng Wu many times over."
"I think so too. His moves are quite daring. Iāll copy a full set of records and take a better look at them later. Maybe heās the promising talent weāve been looking for."
"Donāt get ahead of yourselves. His fatherās debt hasnāt been paid off yet, are you going to help him pay it back?"
The three elders leaned back in their folding chairs, chatting and laughing while watching Cheng Ye surrounded by drones in front of the hotel, pacing back and forth with a Defense Communication device, his fingers flying across the screen, muttering to himself like a cat that had its tail stepped on.
"Turn on the surveillance, let me hear what heās mumbling about. Itās been several minutes and he hasnāt stopped talking yet?"
"Elder, this... doesnāt seem appropriate, does it?"
The young staff member sweated profusely, having been listening alone to the constant chatter in his headset. If the three elders heard it, wouldnāt they explode?
"What are you afraid of? Even if he curses us harshly a few times, we wouldnāt be angry with a kid of his age. Or... do you think the three of us old men donāt have this authority?"
"Ah, this... okay, alright."
The staff member wiped the sweat off his forehead, gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and pressed the button to unmute the line.
The next second, Cheng Yeās voice began playing around the enormous command hall.
"Since you wonāt let me out, at least give me some compensation. There are still so many Infected Bodies in Zone B-7, each of them is a contribution point. If I donāt take the chance to kill some, how else am I going to pay back the money?"
"Right? You all forced a loan of 3,000 contribution points on me. I canāt pay that back even if I work... no, even if I have a job for eight lifetimes. I have a family to support, I have to make a living. After paying off this debt, how am I supposed to live?"
"And then thereās Celestial Essence Mall, I promised Elder Song Iād help them fix the mall, thatās another massive hole. If you donāt let me out, at least help me fix the mall, thatās okay, right?"
"And Zhang Can, right, Can is an Advanced Fusion Body. There arenāt many advanced ones in the Buffer Zone, right? You all said seize him, and you did. My contribution points should be multiplied several times... no, dozens of times, perhaps? I wouldnāt mind getting a special merit for Happiness."
"..."
Visibly, all the staff members who heard it had their expressions turn into drops of sweat.
But the three elders joyfully crossed their legs, the wrinkles on their faces turned into grinning flowers, looking like old mischievous children whoāve found a treasure.
"Does this kid lack money?"
The first elder rubbed his chin and asked.
"According to the bank records, he borrowed 100 contribution points from Song Yongfeng of the Public Works Bureau, yet to be repaid, presumably used to forge weapons at the Super Material Store."
The staff member swiftly typed on the keyboard, pulling up dense accounting records, "Additionally, he owes 57 points at the Turbulence Equipment Store, also for buying weapons on credit."
Privacy?
Doesnāt exist. In Happiness City, only the elders have privacy; everyone elseās situation is as clear as fish in a glass tank, clearly visible at a glance.
"Clear all his debts..."
The first elder rhythmically tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingertips, making a steady thudding sound.
"Wipe them clean!"
"Yes!"
The staff member immediately started frantically typing, intending to handle the accounts as soon as the bank opened.
"Let him know, how can you do a good deed without sending a message?"
The second elder glared at the staff member, who quickly smiled bitterly, typing on the keyboard to transmit information.
Ding.
[Chief Cheng, in light of your outstanding performance during the outbreak of the infection wave, the following rewards are being issued:
1. Loan - Song Yongfeng (wiped clean)
2. Loan - Turbulence Equipment Store (wiped clean)]
"Ah, this?"
Onscreen, Cheng Ye immediately jumped up, but what he said next left the three elders shaking their heads helplessly.
"Hey, my Super Material Store bill isnāt cleared yet. If youāre going to cover expenses, cover them all, alright?"
"How did an intern inspector borrow so much?"
The third elder twirled his beard in astonishment, couldnāt an intern inspector only get a maximum of 100 points every half year?
"Itās mostly due to Cheng Longās goodwill debts, the people he helped over the years, you could form a reinforced company with just the prominent figures among them."
The first elder sighed, "This kid is indeed fortunate, having a better time than Cheng Long did when he was an inspector."
As the three elders were pondering, they suddenly noticed the staff member standing there motionless.
"What are you standing there for? Clear the Super Material Store bill too!"
"Elder, the Super Material Store hasnāt recorded a bill, how do we clear what..."
"No bill, then just treat it as a community subsidy."
The first elder impatiently waved his hand, "Send a message to the Super Material Store to say the bill is cleared, then send a notification to Cheng Ye!"