The clouds hung low, and figures hurried about.
As the only residential area far from the main city, the chemical factory residential district exuded solitude that was at odds with the Buffer Zone.
For many, the reason for choosing to reside here was simple and direct.
Space.
Unlike the electronic factory dormitory where Cheng Ye lived in the main city, where a single room of over ten square meters was fine for one person, a family would immediately feel cramped.
The chemical factory workers' community was built about 10 years into the old era and was already in the standard apartment building format.
Some were once used as employee dormitories, about forty square meters in size, compact and practical.
Some were allocated to the factory's veteran workers, treated with priority, reaching nearly sixty square meters.
As one of the most veteran personnel at the inspection station, Liu Bi settled his family here, not just for comfort for his family of three but with extra considerations.
Here, while away from the hustle and bustle of the main city, one was also away from certain risks.
Once an outbreak of infected occurs, the distance from the main city to the suburbs becomes a buffer zone to buy precious escape time.
It's essentially a buffer within the Buffer Zone!
"Mm, mm, I understand, I'll depart as soon as possible."
Hanging up the Defense Communication, Liu Bi stood by the living room window, his somber expression almost blending with the leaden clouds.
"What's up, they're not making you go on an outdoor mission in this weather, are they?"
A voice came from the master bedroom, accompanied by the gentle sound of a wooden sliding door.
A middle-aged woman in light blue loungewear leaned out, her fluffy curls casually tied up, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes slightly creased with worry.
Luo Xiaoxue, Liu Bi's wife.
The two had been childhood sweethearts, supporting each other from young to old, now raising a daughter together.
"It was Station Chief Ding's call..."
Liu Bi turned his head, forcing a smile more miserable than a cry, "It's raining non-stop, the water station there might not hold, I have to go with the Inner City emergency team to guide the supporting engineers."
"Inner City emergency team?" Luo Xiaoxue frowned, "The water station is only eighty kilometers from Happiness City, you could walk there with your eyes closed, why would they need an Inspector to lead the way?"
"I can't quite fathom what the higher-ups are thinking, but the chief has already agreed, so I have to go."
With that, Liu Bi sighed.
It's truly a troublesome season right now, not only have infection sources been unusually active since the beginning of the year, but natural disasters have also been relentless, continuously testing the measures of the Shelter Cities.
For instance, the nearby Yueye Shelter City in Cloud City, with over four hundred thousand inhabitants, reportedly almost breached by the infection wave.
"The road to the water station has been cleared countless times over the years; ordinary dangers aren't too concerning. What's tricky this time is the hydrophilic Infected Bodies targeting the water station, I'm afraid I'll have to stay there with the garrison for a while until the situation is completely under control before returning."
"But once I leave, there will be no one to guide Cheng Ye... that kid is stubborn, with excellent insight and talent. He just took up the Inspector role and is about to go on an outdoor mission; I can't help but worry."
"Cheng Ye..."
Luo Xiaoxue pursed her lips.
Cheng Long and Liu Bi were brothers through life and death, and with such a responsibility entrusted to him, Liu Bi naturally took it seriously.
Especially since yesterday, when Liu Bi, uncharacteristically, brought out his treasured white liquor for a couple of drinks.
Although she didn't ask why, she could guess that the results of Cheng Ye's special training in the past two months must have been pretty good.
"Don't worry too much; maybe you'll only be gone for a few days..."
Before she could finish her sentence.
The Defense Communication in Liu Bi's hand started vibrating.
"It's Cheng Ye."
Gesturing for silence, Liu Bi moved to the window, feeling somewhat fretful.
Not to mention the upcoming special training plan, he had promised Cheng Ye to accompany him on his first outdoor mission.
Now being urgently called upon, it's hard to say if their schedules could still align.
The sound of rain mixed with static crackled through the Defense Communication, as Cheng Ye cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, Brother B, am I interrupting your morning routine?"
"No," Liu Bi straightened his back instinctively, his voice low, "I have something..."
"I have..."
Two voices erupted simultaneously from both ends of the line but halted midway.
The atmosphere turned somewhat stifling, Cheng Ye first chuckled softly, "Brother B, should I go first?"
"Mm."
"Lend me some Contribution Points, I'll pay you back after a while."
"What for?"
"To buy some weapons and equipment, I can't always use the training short sword, need a handy melee weapon."
"Buying equipment?"
Liu Bi frowned, "Don't aim too high, you've only just made some progress yesterday and now you're anxious? The reason it's called a training short sword is because it's to break bad habits isn't easy with it. Switching to a standard weapon and getting bad habits, it'll be really hard to correct in the future."
"Hah, isn't this forced by the situation?"
On the other side of the phone, Cheng Ye sighed, "When Old Ding called and dispatched me to guard the South and North gates to lay low, if I don't have a handy weapon at this quick post, I might not survive if I encounter an infected body."
"What?"
Liu Bi exclaimed, the sound like thunder exploding in the room.
"Old Ding said..."
Cheng Ye quickly repeated the contents of Ding Yishan's call and slowly stopped.
"I guess Old Ding won't call you and dispatch you for an outside mission, right?"
"I'll talk to him; either I go, you stay, or I stay and accompany you."
Liu Bi is straightforward, too lazy to get involved in scheming, but that doesn't mean he's a fool.
Cheng Ye had already laid bare the core of the call; if he still didn't understand, how could he have survived in the human-eat-human wasteland until today?
"Don't be impulsive, Brother B, listen to me..."
Having confirmed his speculation, Cheng Ye became even more calm, "The Station Chief assigned you a mission; it's a task from the Inner City, unavoidable, and cannot be pushed aside."
"Going to the North and South stations can also avoid some of the Western Faction's targeting. As for the potential danger... didn't you also say before that the Inspector's prestige in the Buffer Zone wasn't earned by posing at the main entrance, but by the defenses at the two gates? If an infected body wants to come in, it must step over our corpses; this respect is earned with our lives."
"I'm well aware of the dangers of the quick post; if I can't even pass this test, surviving on outside missions is unlikely."
A clear and articulate persuasion came from the other end, and Liu Bi's hand holding the Defense Communication trembled slightly, his heart sinking to the bottom.
At this moment, he dearly wished Cheng Ye wasn't so mature, that he would act a little immature and ask him to stay and protect him. Then he would, no matter what, even if he had to quit the Inspector ranks, stay behind.
But every word from Cheng Ye was clear and resolute, leaving him no room to argue.
"Brother B, neither of us is the sentimental type, so let's not say more about it."
"You... just go on the outside mission as planned; we shouldn't meet again in the short term, and the Western Faction's people will pay less attention to me."
Cheng Ye continued explaining; from the moment Ding Yishan made his move, he knew this matter could only be resolved by himself.
Even if Liu Bi made an excuse to stay, there would definitely be other tricks waiting.
Better to play dumb and pretend not to know anything; this way, he could bide his time, relying on the Collector to find a breakthrough opportunity.
"You decided this before calling me?"
Liu Bi sighed, "You could have asked me to stay; I owe your father that much."
"He is him, I am me; what you owe him, I owe you."
"Very well, since you say so, I respect your decision."
Liu Bi gritted his teeth.
"I'm about to head out for the mission; there's no time to apply for procedures. 100 Contribution Points, I'll have your sister-in-law arrange it for you; it won't take more than... tomorrow morning."
"Understood."
"Regarding your father's matters, I've mentioned part of it before. What remains, I plan to tell you after your first mission ends... hmm, remember, more than half the people at the checkpoint owe him favors, though requesting them to completely repay is difficult now. But if you ask them to repay partially, some are willing."
"At the North and South Stations, there's a five-day rotation at each gate; for your first post, make sure to choose the South Station."
"Because it's our Eastern Faction that's guarding the South Station; I've made arrangements, you'll be well protected, and they will help you through the most difficult initial phase."
"But the North Station is guarded by the Western Faction; I can't intervene... the only trustworthy contact I have there is someone whose father was saved by your grandfather and who was saved by your father. At critical moments, he can save your life."
"The torrential rains are continuous, and water-type infected bodies are gathering towards Chuan City wildly. Whether they will impact the checkpoint is uncertain, but you must remain vigilant. As for the specific threats to watch out for... I'll compile a dossier before leaving and have your sister-in-law give it to you."
"And about weapons, if a fight breaks out due to a quick viral outbreak, ordinary firearms won't work; they're mostly for intimidation. In a flash, cold weapons are still the best choice. Only by creating distance can you retaliate with firearms, so I suggest you avoid long weapons; short knives and axes... many times they are more life-saving than rifles and long swords."
"..."
From the situation and dangers he's about to face to the choice of weapons, details of combat, and the threat of infected bodies...
Like a father about to embark on a distant journey, Liu Bi swiftly arranged everything meticulously.
In the end, he didn't forget to have Cheng Ye repeat it once more.
Until confirming Cheng Ye had memorized everything, only then did he take a deep breath, almost speaking one word at a time:
"Survive, remember, you must... stay alive."
"Of course, relax, you carry out your mission in peace. I'm tough; I'll wait for you to come back and go on an outside job with me."
Laughter echoed as the Defense Communication was cut off.
Yet the shadow looming over Liu Bi's heart never dissipated.
Boom.
Thunder boomed, shaking the window frames with a hum.
Immediately, a stark white lightning bolt tore through the thick clouds, illuminating the world, lighting up Liu Bi's face.
Half angry, half helpless.
The sprawling Happiness City was already a leading gigantic Shelter City in the wasteland.
Here, even Inspectors have to fight to survive; what about ordinary people, how should they continue living?
...