Letting Raul lead the way was a spur-of-the-moment idea from Cheng Ye, but to his surprise, it brought quite a few unexpected joys.
For instance, right now, Raven introduces the quarantine zone without holding back.
Not only does he make the inspector's official duties clear, but he also lays bare the unwritten rules, the methods for squeezing money, and the ways to skim cream off the top.
Excluding the usual methods Cheng Ye knows, one particularly stands out.
The "Contraband Materials" stored in Material Room 3.
What are contraband materials?
It's not the three packets of PCB boards and some electronic components taken from the driver that can be called contraband materials.
Because these things only yield multiple profits when smuggled out and sold to other Shelter Cities, settlements, or individual scavengers; within Happiness City, they aren't worth much, making confiscation pointless.
The truly valuable ones, deserving the label 'contraband.'
Are the mutant beasts' crystal cores, the contained infection sources, various extraordinary ore materials, special plants, and treasures absent in the old times!
"Can they be confiscated at will?"
"Certainly not," Raven shook his head quickly, "These things can be exchanged for a large amount of contribution points. If the inspector were to confiscate them randomly, people would be driven to desperation."
"Then?"
"Sir, it's like this."
The Owl standing by and silent suddenly interjected, "According to the rules, these items are not allowed into the buffer zone because of the risk of contamination by infection sources; even if someone manages to smuggle them past inspection and sell them, they'll only get 70% of the regular price."
"Whereas the inspector, by confiscating them and taking them out of the buffer zone to the material exchange, can fetch 100% of the regular price. This 30% difference is the reward for the inspector bearing the 'material contamination risk.'
What a material contamination risk!
Cheng Ye couldn't help but click his tongue, realizing Garcia's collection of entry taxes at the Central Inspection Station was still too restrained.
In comparison, the "contraband tax" crafted by collusion between officials and merchants at this express inspection station is blatant robbery.
"Are they willing?"
Cheng Ye asked a question that he himself felt was a bit naive after uttering it.
What can be done if they're unwilling?
Could an individual really resist the vast inspection station and Happiness City?
"Sir, you're joking. Naturally, they are very willing."
Owl, seeming oblivious to Cheng Ye's underlying meaning, continued to smile and explain, "Not only does the inspector help them bring contraband into the buffer zone, but he also exchanges them for the same price as if self-sold. Why wouldn't they be willing?"
"Really?"
Cheng Ye furrowed his brow and pondered, suddenly realizing.
The limitations of the time prevented Luo Xiaoxue from understanding the internal structure of the inspection station.
But similarly, it also prevented him from comprehending the logic built on the wasteland's bottom layer.
On reflection.
Without this unwritten 30% tax, adventurers might see their short-term income rise, but long-term, it would only breed more conflict.
Because when entering and leaving the inspection station, how could the inspectors possibly not be tempted by these items?
When selling items, how could the purchase location not force the price down?
It might even breed new parasites, like underground black markets, scalpers, etc., significantly raising Happiness City's purchasing price.
And suggesting this 30% protects the adventurer's fixed income and perfectly restrains the greed of all participants from entering the city to selling.
For this reason, Owl's statement of "why wouldn't they be willing" exists.
It seems like three-tenths were taken, but in fact, using the rule yielded more stable profits.
"What about charging here then?"
Cheng Ye casually walked into the garage, glancing at the plaques of fast-charging stations.
As expected, it adopted a three-phase AC input, with a maximum voltage of 380V and a maximum current of 160A fast-charging station.
If this parameter could run full, reaching the ideal purely resistive load, it could roughly achieve a charging efficiency of 100kw.
But in reality, the charging station has heat protection and can't maintain full power supply for long; the current quickly drops to about 110A, and the power follows down to around 65kw, allowing an hourly charge of 65 degrees.
"Sir, this is because Zone A mainly handles vehicle inspections and convoys, so inevitably some might be quarantined, and the vehicles temporarily stored here; charging is an alternative value-added service, bringing quite a bit of operational revenue to the inspection station."
"Not free?"
"How could it be free? Happiness City exempts ordinary people from electricity fees for livelihood considerations, but these people driving cars are doing so for profit. If everything were free, wouldn't that be unfair?"
Seeing Cheng Ye so interested in charging, Raven took the initiative to say a few more words.
"Don't look down on our slow charging speed or that the fee is three times the buffer zone; these people are flocking to charge here."
"Why is that? Isn't it because charging in the city requires payment and approval from the Public Works Bureau, and not every convoy is entitled to charge. Want to drive out of town? You have to please the 'lords' at the Public Works Bureau first."
"Charging requires a permit?"
Cheng Ye was taken aback, suddenly recalling the previous bus driver, Master Tian, who seemingly mentioned needing to obtain charging permission from the Public Works Bureau before exiting the city, though at that time, he hadn't thought much about it, assuming it was about vehicle use rights.
"Of course, batteries are one of the most strictly controlled resources in Happiness City. The vehicles in the Buffer Zone and the buses running back and forth are essentially assets of the Public Works Bureau and Happiness City."
"And batteries have a lifespan. The more fast charges you do, the more frequent the cycles, the quicker they get scrapped. This strategic resource that's worn out, how could it be casually released?"
It turned out that it wasn't charging that was restricted, but the batteries themselves!
Cheng Ye suddenly had an epiphany.
During this time since he crossed over, besides the buses, he rarely saw private cars or trucks on the road.
The reason was originally here.
If charging was freely accessible, coupled with the perks of free electricity in the Buffer Zone, cars should be running everywhere by now.
But the reality is, with batteries tightly controlled as a strategic resource from production to depletion by the Public Works Bureau, naturally, the fast charging restrictions couldn't be lifted.
"If there's a fee, there would inevitably be records, which would be a bit troublesome..."
Cheng Ye couldn't help but frown and asked about the fee.
The answer from Raven was jaw-dropping.
Well, it's indeed not cheap at all, and they charge not in Happiness Coin, but in Contribution Points!
For every 100 units of electricity, the Buffer Zone charges 5 Contribution Points, while the Isolation Zone charges three times the price at 15 Contribution Points, effectively transferring the cost of battery wear and tear to the charging fee.
"And these slow charging stations?"
Cheng Ye walked to the other side of the warehouse, his gaze falling on three ordinary slow charging stations, the kind he used to see frequently in the underground parking lots of rental apartments before crossing over.
Eighty years had passed, interspersed with several apocalyptic disasters, and these basic facilities with no technological content certainly couldn't have significant improvements.
They still use 220V standard voltage, 30A current, capable of running at 6-7kW.
"These are private charging stations of the Inspection Station, specifically for vehicles within the station."
Raven revealed a meaningful and obscure smile, explaining respectfully, "To use the slow charging stations here, no Contribution Points are needed, nor Happiness Coin, but permission from our Inspection Station is required."
"The permission for the first station, is with the Director."
"The permission for the second station, is approved by the Deputy Director."
"The permission for the third station in the corner belongs to the current on-duty Inspector; for example, now you're on duty in Zone A, you qualify to use it, and when shifts change, the qualification rotates to the oncoming Inspector."
?
What kind of game is this?
Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, then his eyebrows couldn't help but twitch, instantly feeling that his level was still too low.
No wonder they say power is the best cosmetic for men.
Damn, the person who set up this rule is really a genius, insanely clever.
First, they set up a "compliant target" of triple-priced fast charging so the Public Works Bureau can't find fault.
Then they arrange slow charging stations, secretly using them to offer favors and collect benefits.
The Director takes some, the Deputy Director takes some, the on-duty Inspector takes some, everyone is satisfied.
And those who need charging are equally satisfied, after all, everyone had to please the Inspectors initially, now they can even get free charges by "playing along," what's there to complain about?
"Really eye-opening, I originally thought the people in the Wasteland only knew fighting, but never thought there are capable people in the Inspection Station that can play such tricks!"
Cheng Ye secretly calculated.
Zones A, B, C, D, only Zone A can charge, seeming unfair to the other three zones.
But the duty areas of Inspectors rotate, meaning Cheng Ye is in Zone A this week, next week he'll go to Zone B, then Zone C and D, needing a complete rotation to return to Zone A.
Thus, every Inspector has a chance to be in Zone A, allowing everyone to share in this hidden benefit.
Calculating at eight hours of duty per day per person, the slow charging stations can charge about 50 units of electricity per day, converting to the official Buffer Zone electricity price, about 3 Contribution Points.
Say it's little, yet it's not.
Say it's a lot, yet it's just a mosquito's leg, around 20 points of extra income a month, with three months of duty that's enough to buy 1g of Extraordinary Ore.
"Though I can't use the fast charging station to replenish energy for now, having slow charging isn't too bad. With a daily addition of 50 units, I can accumulate enough charging value in two days..."
Cheng Ye silently pondered.
He was initially determined that charged electricity in the Buffer Zone should not be touched if unexplained regarding initial status.
If the person recording electricity consumption notices anomalies and approaches him, he won't even have a chance to explain.
But it's different when it's free.
First, even if the record is detailed it's meaningless, unused resources don't get attention as long as there's no trouble.
Second, the charging stations in this warehouse are inherently a black account, if recorded too clearly, it's easier to leave handles behind.
"Start charging, the fast charging stations are feared to be recorded, no moves for now, wait until the situation is understood better."
"Only 15 Contribution Points, there are ways to earn money, I just fear there might be no channels."
"But since these slow charging stations are rapid Inspection Station hidden benefits, afraid of nothing, everyone skins resources, why shouldn't I join in!"
...