Wasteland Border Inspector

The so-called alloy prosthetics, officially called "Free Intelligent Body," are likewise rare imported goods.

They come from the "Machine Soul" Shelter City, almost 15,000 kilometers away from Happiness City. Not to mention the price of the finished product, just the transportation cost during shipment is as high as 400 Contribution Points per piece.

Of course, its functions live up to the price, capable of replacing 90% of human functions, with the ability to add various rare modules such as weapons and jet devices.

There are even rumors that many people in the Machine Soul Shelter City voluntarily amputate their limbs just to install these alloy prosthetics to enhance their abilities.

Of course, those are just rumors; he doesn’t believe anyone would be foolish enough to voluntarily replace their body with machinery. Looking at Luokuke, you can see how uncomfortable it is to lose the flesh.

"Get some good rest and call me when you’re discharged."

Cheng Ye finished cleaning up and patted Luokuke’s shoulder.

According to the transplant requirements of the alloy prosthetics, Luokuke still needs to stay at Rebirth Medical for another half a month until the vital signs are completely stable before the implantation surgery can proceed.

After exchanging communication numbers, he glanced at the uneaten fruits on the table and simply packed them all into a plastic bag.

He would visit Wang Kang later, and definitely visit his home, so there’s no need to prepare gifts now.

However, as he was leaving the Rebirth Medical area, four guards in law enforcement uniforms came up beside the Big Golden Cup car designated to take him.

The captain in the lead respectfully spoke: "Inspector Cheng, according to Inner City operational regulations, Inspectors below Fifth-Phase are not permitted to move freely in the Inner City and must report their destinations for escort. However, the Elder has granted special permission for you and Inspector Wang to walk freely in the Inner City. Once inside, as long as you conceal your appearance, you can move about without restriction."

Though these words sounded respectful, Cheng Ye didn’t get bogged down in them.

On the surface, it was the same treatment as a High-Phase Inspector, but the core issue lay with the permission to "enter the Inner City" itself.

As the words fell, an invisible pressure spread out, beads of sweat appeared on the captain’s forehead, and he bent his waist lower: "Yes, yes! The Elder has specially granted you permission to enter the city twice every six months. Every time you travel in and out, Red Tiger’s vital energy is consumed, so this is the standard quota. If you need more, you may apply for reporting at the inspection station."

"How do I conceal my appearance?" Cheng Ye slightly nodded.

Twice every six months, four times a year—it’s a reasonable quota.

Inner City security may not be a privilege for him now, but having "permission" itself is proof of power changes. Whether to use it or not is one thing, having it is another.

Seeing Cheng Ye’s attitude soften, the captain heaved a sigh of relief and turned to fetch a device from the car resembling a clip-on microphone: "You just need to wear this."

Following the instruction, Cheng Ye clipped it onto his collar. A flash of blue light passed, and he didn’t feel anything special, but when looking into the mirror handed by the captain, he found that his facial features had been slightly adjusted.

Not enough to be unrecognizable, but at least not identifiable at first glance.

"Good stuff," he muttered in praise.

"Before entering the city each time, you just need to pair it with a facial cloak, and there’s no limitation on the stay in the Inner City," the captain added.

"Facial cloak..."

Cheng Ye got into the car and instructed, "Take me to Happiness Garden."

After the Big Golden Cup left the Rebirth Medical area, it again entered the spiral passage.

Details previously unseen were now clear. The car windows suddenly darkened, not due to a special coating, but because something strange, a black substance, was swirling through the passage.

The Big Golden Cup remained stable on the incline, all thanks to the soft cushion formed by the black substance underneath, holding the car steadily as if moving on flat ground, without the slightest bump.

"What is this black substance?" Cheng Ye asked curiously.

"That’s Black Tiger..." the captain answered, then scratches his head, "We’re not exactly sure what it is either, but like ’Red Tiger,’ it’s something that guards the Happiness Space."

"Black Tiger..." Cheng Ye pondered.

Could it be, like those red climbing vines, an Extraordinary Immortal Object cultivated by humans?

Is Happiness City’s "road less traveled" really about researching such existences?

He only withdrew his thoughts when the Big Golden Cup, lifted out from the underground space, restarted its engines and moved forward.

Finally, back to the world of human activity!

No matter how safe underground is, no matter how well Rebirth Medical can simulate light and wind, that artificial environment is still too far from reality.

Cheng Ye rolled down the window, greedily breathing in the air; the scent unchanged, yet full of the freedom he yearned for.

This safety in constraint was never what he wanted.

Compared to the Buffer Zone’s medical facilities, those eleven days at Rebirth Medical made him miss the "doghouse" in the Buffer Zone more.

As the car drove out of the administrative zone, Cheng Ye looked around like a newcomer, finding everything curious.

The tree-lined street had branches and leaves spreading wide, with soft lights streaming through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the sidewalks.

It was indeed after work hours, with men and women in different work clothes carrying canvas bags, walking briskly with relaxed smiles on their lips.

The corner grocery store was open, wooden shelves filled with everyday items, and the lady owner sat behind the counter, using a Defense Communication calculator to balance accounts, occasionally looking up to chat with familiar faces—full of living flourishes.

Especially when the Big Golden Cup stopped at a cross street waiting for the traffic light, Cheng Ye suddenly had the illusion of being transported back to the old times.

This place was too blissful!

Compared to life in the Wasteland Wilderness, this was simply paradise!

Far more reassuring than the Satellite Cities of the Firewood Shelter City.

The green light came on, and the car moved forward again, quickly entering a residential area on the west side of the Inner City, stopping in front of a large community with twelve western-style buildings.