Wasteland Border Inspector

He didn’t plan to wait until time ran out; he proactively pressed the red button to start the sacrifice.

Sizzle—

A clear sound of muscle twisting suddenly rang out, heard clearly by everyone present.

The next second, the crisp sound of bones "crackling" followed, as if they were about to break under the strain.

The cost of the infection source essentially resembles an alternative transformation mechanism.

Especially the ability of the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse to expand and contract; each use overdraws the body, and repaying the cost involves targeted training to strengthen the body, ensuring fewer restrictions and greater force exertion.

In other words, if one can repeatedly endure the cost of the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse without collapsing, even without using the ability, one can achieve strength and physical fitness far beyond ordinary people!

Thud!

With his thigh twitching uncontrollably, Cheng Ye knelt on one knee, sweat beads on his forehead dropping like broken strings of pearls.

Pain!

A heart-wrenching, bone-piercing pain!

As if someone were twisting his shoulder sharply to the left, while simultaneously pulling his leg to the right, his waist bearing the immense twisting force, nearly cracking with pain.

His spine continually deformed and twisted, the muscle on his thighs visibly rippling, forming waves.

Is this the cost of using the infection source?

It’s... strong enough!

Cheng Ye gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up. Compared to the feeling of powerlessness in the face of threats, this pain was nothing.

Nothing but...

"Equip, Iron Body!"

The skill bar flickered slightly, and the words "Iron Body" lit up.

The previously excruciating pain instantly dissipated by more than half, leaving only a mild needle-like discomfort.

Without the previous comparison, this prickling pain would be unbearable for an average person, but now it’s reduced by at least seventy percent, leaving only thirty percent to endure.

"Even the ordinary version of the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse’s cost, Iron Body can only reduce seventy percent of the pain... Then wouldn’t the extraordinary version’s cost be even harder to endure?"

Cheng Ye was secretly shocked, but at the moment, he had no time to think about these things.

In the admiring eyes of the medical personnel, he began to move forward and sprint, gritting his teeth.

Visibly, where he ran, a clear trail of water stains appeared on the ground.

It wasn’t just dripping from his forehead, but also seeping from his body, as if he were a damp rag being constantly wrung out.

"Inspector Cheng, indeed not an ordinary person, even stronger than his father..." Cui Qiao couldn’t help but exclaim.

Cheng Long was also a frequent visitor to Rebirth Medical, sometimes brought in with terrible injuries.

In terms of willpower, the two might be evenly matched.

But concerning strength, the gap was significant.

Thinking of this, she turned and loudly ordered, "Everyone hold your positions; if Inspector Cheng has any requests, I don’t want anyone to be negligent, understand?"

"Yes, Director Cui!"

The massive medical team responded in unison, then proceeded to their tasks based on previous allocations.

In the following five days.

Almost every morning at five, a running figure would appear punctually in the open area of Rebirth Medical.

This figure seemed tireless, running from five in the morning until ten at night before stopping.

Some were surprised, some curious, but most felt reverence for the pain carried behind that figure.

Building Two, sixth floor.

Luokuke sat by the window, quietly watching the running figure below, his eyes filled with envy and dread.

His legs had been amputated, and he would only be able to rely on alloy prosthetics in the future; the scene of running freely was destined to be beyond his reach.

But whenever Cheng Ye ran past, a long string of water marks was left on the ground, like a floor repeatedly mopped.

He felt immensely grateful, understanding that Cheng Ye was enduring horrifying, inhuman pain at the moment.

"If it were me, I’d probably be on the verge of collapse by now."

"This Cheng Ye, this Cheng Ye..."

Luokuke mumbled to himself, casually grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds to nibble on while listening to old-era martial arts novels on the radio.

Watching that seemingly tireless and pain-resistant figure, he began to seriously think about how, after he left the hospital as a third-phase inspector, he should maintain a good relationship with this "trainee" inspector.

Building Two, fifth floor.

Garcia had already escaped life-threatening danger, but his two arms could not be saved, only accepting amputation surgery.

The cost of using a benign infection source was too heavy; no one would be foolish enough to use one infection source against another unless in a life-or-death situation.

Despite his repeated pleas, Rebirth Medical’s special techniques couldn’t save his arms.

The windows were open, the breeze blowing through, causing his empty sleeves to sway, revealing a certain indescribable desolation.

"Stop watching, eat something."

A voice came from behind, and Garcia turned his head dazedly to see a tall blond man with a peeled apple in his hand.

He paused, squeezed out an awkward smile, and took a small bite of the apple.

Even though it was just a small piece of fruit, he chewed for half a minute without swallowing.

"You paid the price of losing two arms to eliminate the infection source; you’re still human, a normal person."

The blond man grinned, then shifted tone, "But he’s different; he will taste this pain repeatedly throughout his life, becoming non-human, classified into the Source Binder faction."

"Think carefully, you are the lucky one. The power of the infection source is a curse; only extraordinary powers can truly be controlled as mighty power!"

"Calvin, I’m just an ordinary second-phase inspector; you don’t need to recruit me like this." Garcia gently shook his head.

"No, the truth proves you’re never ordinary, and you’ll be even less ordinary in the future."

Calvin put away his smile and said solemnly, "Thirteen inspectors have joined us; with destruction-level indicators, once a spot is available, you can immediately advance to a high-phase inspector at the inspection station, and we’ll help you climb step by step, gaining more power."

Garcia’s eyes flickered, then he slowly asked, "What do I need to pay?"

"Very simple, just support some riskier proposals at the appropriate time."

Calvin spread his hands, his tone carrying a hint of mockery, "You wouldn’t think our Extraordinary Faction wants Happiness City to collapse, would you?"

"Alright... you’re sure I’ll truly gain extraordinary powers once I join?"

"Of course." Calvin nodded heavily, his eyes flashing with fanaticism, "The next era is coming, Happiness City has already started its outward expansion path, and the transformation begins with us!"

"Transformation..."

Garcia repeatedly murmured those words, as scenes uncontrollably flashed in his mind:

Helplessness caught in the whirlpool of power struggles.

Powerlessness facing strong infection sources.

And being gripped by fate in others’ hands, relegated to passive compliance... endless desolation!

These memories pricked his heart like needles, making him want to clench his fists, but the loss of arms stimulated him even more, like an invisible voice shouting: You’re a cripple now!

Cripple?

A moment later, he bit his teeth firmly, a decisive look crossing his eyes, and nodded heavily to Calvin:

"I promise you!"

...