A high wall, like an insurmountable chasm, completely isolated the decay and desolation of the wasteland world outside.

The inner city within the wall and the buffer zone outside seemed to be divided into two completely different time and space.

On the wide two-way roads, various vehicles shuttled back and forth, dozens of times more numerous than in the buffer zone. Important intersections even had automatic traffic lights, maintaining perfect order.

The black pickup drove smoothly on streets clean as mirrors. Ding Yishan and Liu Kun chatted sporadically, while Achuan stared fixedly out the window, somewhat dazed and bewildered.

The buffer zone had just experienced a catastrophe that killed over a hundred thousand people. More than ten districts had been wiped out by infection sources, and large numbers of residents chose to migrate with their crude luggage, creating a scene of widespread desolation.

But the inner city was completely unaffected, still presenting a scene of peace and prosperity. Even the air carried a leisurely quality unrelated to suffering.

The roadside buildings stood in rows, each with different styles.

The neon lights of billiard halls still blazed garishly in daylight. Giant posters outside video halls continuously played images of a man in a yellow jumpsuit with agile movements, sometimes punching like wind, sometimes kicking sharply. Below, the three bold characters "Bruce Lee" were particularly prominent in the dynamic lights and shadows, attracting several young passersby to stop and point.

The pickup left the main road and entered an artistic street.

Piano room shutters hung open at angles, and piano melodies slipped through the gaps, a cheerful tune that immediately lifted one's spirits.

Achuan's gaze fell on the corner flower shop. Red, yellow, purple... half-human-height flower bouquets of all kinds sent fragrant scents drifting through the car window cracks, making the entire world seem to come alive.

These structures, which existed only in old magazines treasured by buffer zone residents and whose names few had even heard, were here so real you could touch them, so densely packed it was bewildering.

Pedestrians wore neatly pressed clothes in bright but tasteful colors, walking in twos and threes with peaceful smiles, their conversations light and pleasant.

Their topics contained no infection sources, no migration, only unhurried work and daily life.

"Achuan."

Ding Yishan called twice before Achuan snapped back to reality and hurriedly turned around.

"Sir!"

"Mesmerized?" Ding Yishan chuckled lightly and calmly instructed, "Later, go help me buy some jerky, bread, hmm, and some fresh fruit. After we leave, I need to visit the warriors injured in this infection tide. It's not easy getting into the inner city once, and I haven't spent the past few months' quota yet, so might as well use it."

"Mm, alright."

Soon, the black pickup stopped in front of a square four-story building.

The car doors opened and the three got out in succession.

Liu Kun walked in front, Ding Yishan lagged half a step behind, while Achuan consciously stayed three steps behind both men, maintaining just the right distance.

"During the meeting later, let them say what they want. We'll let it go in one ear and out the other."

Liu Kun twisted his mouth corner, his tone carrying some nonchalance yet also unquestionable confidence. "As long as I'm here, these people can at most clamor about restoring the buffer zone police department and power division. When it comes to actual implementation, the decision still rests with us."

"I understand." Ding Yishan's expression was relaxed, his tone revealing no ripples. "Being pointed at and cursed isn't the first time over these years. I'm used to it."

The two walked shoulder to shoulder into the building. The guards at the entrance only gave them a symbolic glance before letting them pass.

As for Achuan, he shrugged and immediately turned to leave under the guards' hostile stares to buy supplies.

This was a meeting among Happiness City's upper echelons, not something just anyone could enter.

Those who could step into this building were either strong individuals wielding transcendent power or core spokespeople of various factions.

Someone with Ding Yishan's station chief status could barely speak freely in such occasions depending on others' expressions, let alone a follower like him.

Entering the meeting hall.

The interior decoration wasn't as luxurious as imagined.

Simple redwood tables arranged in a rectangle. Following Liu Kun, the two sat in the middle.

Before long, more and more people filed in and took their seats.

The seating had its own significance.

For instance, the three from the Technology faction entered and walked directly to the upper left positions, all young men just past thirty, wearing unified silver-gray uniforms with gear badges on their sleeves.

The three Transcendent faction members went to the upper right, all burly in build. The leader was a bald Westerner whose chair creaked slightly when he sat. He swept his gaze across the entire venue, especially lingering on Ding Yishan for several seconds, his eyes sharp as knives with an imposing pressure.

After another moment, three Idealist faction members also entered.

Wearing simple cotton clothes that clashed with the surrounding atmosphere, they neither joined the Technology faction's gathering nor approached the Transcendent faction, but sat independently at the end of the rectangular table without conversing, just sitting quietly like outsiders.

Besides the three major factions with elder support, there were also various departments from the inner city and industrial zones.

Medical Department, Works Department, Production Department, Defense Department, Supply Department, etc., and about thirty people took seats in order, filling the edges of the rectangular table completely.

The wall clock's hand trembled slightly. When it pointed to the number '10'.

The meeting hall's heavy wooden door was pushed open again, and a middle-aged man walked in.

Ordinary-looking, wearing a long shirt washed white, sleeves neatly rolled to his forearms. He looked less like someone wielding power and more like a common schoolteacher.

But the moment he stepped into the meeting hall, almost everyone stood up simultaneously, their gazes falling on him in unison, even their breathing seeming to slow by half a beat.

"Alright, everyone sit."

The middle-aged man's voice wasn't loud but carried an invisible penetrating power.

He walked directly to the top of the redwood table and sat behind the nameplate reading "Yuan Gang," his fingertips lightly tapping the table surface.

"The infection tide just passed. I won't waste words."

He looked up at the upper left, "Hou Rui, report the data."

"Yes, Deputy City Lord."

Technology faction spokesperson Hou Rui immediately responded, pushed his glasses up his nose bridge, and began calmly listing data.

Although everyone present had already speculated about casualties, when they heard the death toll of 160,000, there was still a suppressed intake of breath, many faces showing slight shock.

"Of these, 147,000 from the buffer zone, 14,000 from the industrial zone, and 129 from the inner city."

Hou Rui's voice carried no fluctuation, as if reading a string of cold numbers. "Currently, the buffer zone has only 370,000 people remaining. Affected by the infection tide, an estimated 130,000 will migrate out, dropping the population to 240,000, a decrease of about 280,000 from before..."

Hiss.

Another round of sharp intakes.

One infection tide had almost completely emptied the foundation painstakingly accumulated over these years from the Nightmare Parasite shadow.

"According to data verification, from June 6 to July 6, inspection station duty inspectors totaled 52 person-times. Excluding duplicates: 3 fourth-term inspectors, 7 third-term inspectors, 22 second-term inspectors, 19 first-term inspectors, and 1 trainee inspector."

When he finished speaking.

Everyone in the meeting hall unconsciously looked toward Ding Yishan.

The latter's expression was solemn. Facing the incoming gazes as if unaware, he continued staring at Hou Rui.

"According to internal inspection station regulations, personnel arrangements were proper with no abnormalities."

"Retrieving Stand-In Starfish mother source infected entity entry records, confirmed releaser: Garcia."

"Further retrieving Inspector Garcia's records, On the evening of July 2 at 18:41, he had a conflict with Inspector Liu Bi, was beaten and sent to the medical facility, and is still receiving treatment."

"Retrieving Inspector Liu Bi's records, On the morning of July 3 at 6:45, he was assigned by General Station Chief Ding Yishan to external duty, escorting power station supplies. Currently still at the power station and hasn't returned."

"Regarding the conflict between Liu Bi and Garcia, it's classified as a verbal dispute. Source tracing shows, the cause was when Inspector Cheng Ye negotiated personnel exchange with Garcia, Cheng Ye used Liu Bi as a threat to make demands, causing Garcia to hold a grudge and later have direct conflict with Liu Bi."

"Retrieving Inspector Cheng Ye's records, Trainee status, entered the inspection station for study on April 27 inheriting his father Cheng Long's position, completed all assessments on June 13, ranking second in the inspection station, behind only Deputy Station Chief Harlin. First duty position was Central Station, currently on duty at North Station."

"Duty records as follows, no abnormalities."

"Comprehensive verification shows Trainee Inspector Cheng Ye, Second-term Inspector Garcia, and Fourth-term Inspector Liu Bi had no direct connection to the Stand-In Starfish infected entity invasion. Final classification: accidental incident."

After the words fell, the meeting hall was briefly quiet for several seconds. Ding Yishan's fingers under the table slightly relaxed.

These four words "accidental incident" temporarily loosened the bonds on the inspection station.

But he knew this was just the beginning.

Sure enough, as soon as Hou Rui finished, the Transcendent faction's bald man immediately questioned, "Station Chief Ding, what are you inspection station people doing? Internal inspectors fighting each other daily, even beating people into the medical facility, how can you do good work?"

"This is my problem, a work oversight. I deeply reflect on it."

Ding Yishan stood and bowed. "Director Carlo Dickinson, thank you for your criticism. I will focus on spiritual civilization education in the station and strictly prevent such incidents from recurring."

"Hmph."

The latter snorted coldly but was stumped by Ding Yishan's attitude on how to continue.

After Ding Yishan sat down, Hou Rui continued reporting data.

Compared to buffer zone casualties, the industrial zone was somewhat better but still lost many experienced skilled workers.

"By the end of summer production tasks, industrial zone personnel loss is expected to reach 37,000."

"Very serious." Yuan Gang suddenly spoke, his tone flat but carrying unquestionable firmness. "These people must be retained!"

He looked around the venue, his face completely impassive. "It doesn't matter if all buffer zone people leave, there are always new people joining. But these industrial zone workers we've trained for so many years cannot lose a single one."

After speaking.

The meeting hall first fell into brief silence, then immediately erupted with successive responses. People continuously stood to propose:

"Deputy City Lord, I propose emergency funding to the buffer zone, immediately undertaking major construction to rebuild Zone A, allocating new housing for workers and laying heating pipes in advance to respond to winter cooling..."

"Deputy City Lord, I suggest adding large medical institutions in worker residential areas, comprehensively improving medical rescue mechanisms to fundamentally eliminate their worries..."

"Deputy City Lord, I propose substantially raising worker wages while cutting inspector salaries as warning. This both demonstrates our Happiness City's determination to reward merit and punish errors, and can appease worker emotions!"

"Deputy City Lord, I propose..."

Various proposals were thrown out in succession, mostly revolving around how to stabilize industrial zone workers, including many subtle suggestions targeting the inspection station.

When it was Ding Yishan's turn, he calmly stood and spoke clearly, "Deputy City Lord, I propose funding the inspection station to prioritize repairing the Central Station, establishing more complete isolation chambers and epidemic prevention systems to prevent similar infected entity invasion incidents from hardware perspective."

After speaking, several gazes swept over with some scrutiny, but no one immediately refuted.

Sure enough, when Carlo Dickinson's turn came, he fired directly, "Deputy City Lord, I suggest immediately restoring the buffer zone police department, dividing the inspection station's current authority, establishing an 'Inspection Station + Police Department' dual inspection model."

He paused, his gaze sweeping toward Ding Yishan's direction, continuing, "Additionally, I suggest clearly stipulating that all duty inspectors must minimally be third-term inspectors. If below third-term inspectors want duty, they must have third-term or above inspector accompaniment and supervision. Only this can avoid oversights due to insufficient personnel capability and prevent similar Stand-In Starfish incidents from recurring."

As soon as these words came out, the meeting atmosphere immediately tensioned.

Restoring the police department and dividing authority was clearly aimed at weakening the inspection station's power.

The level restrictions on duty inspectors directly targeted the inspection station's current personnel structure.

Third-term and above inspectors were already scarce, all on external duty.

Once these people were recalled, the inspection station would effectively cut itself, losing its greatest power.

Yuan Gang remained unmoved, his expression normal.

"Convention. Vote."

From the very first proposal, everyone present had one vote.

If more than half agreed, it would be considered passed. Less than half, not passed.

Proposals regarding funding buffer zone reconstruction basically received unanimous approval. When it came to inspection station proposals, people hesitated slightly.

If the Transcendent and Technology factions agreed, they would immediately follow suit and vote yes.

If only the Transcendent faction, they'd pretend nothing happened.

"Vote: reduce inspector income by 50% for one year."

After Hou Rui finished reading, he first raised his approval vote. Carlo Dickinson quickly followed.

In just a second or two, except for the Idealist faction members remaining motionless, even Ding Yishan himself voted yes.

"Vote: fund inspection station facility repairs."

Nothing happened. Only Ding Yishan embarrassingly voted alone while Liu Kun didn't even lift an eyelid.

"Vote: restore police department, establish inspection station + police department dual inspection model."

Carlo Dickinson immediately raised his hand, his gaze sweeping the venue like a hawk.

Following his action, one-third of people gradually raised hands, including representatives from several buffer zone departments.

Liu Kun sat in place, his eyes growing colder inch by inch as he swept over those raising hands.

But what shocked him was that the three Technology faction members also hesitated briefly before successively raising approval votes, clearly showing prior coordination.

"I object!" Liu Kun suddenly stood, suppressing his fury in a low roar. "The police department was abolished precisely because of low efficiency and confused responsibilities. How can we bring back failed old systems to repeat mistakes? Who will take responsibility!"

However, before his words finished, an invisible tremendous force suddenly struck.

Before anyone even realized what happened, they saw Liu Kun's entire body launched like hit by a high-speed train, flying backward like a meteor.

With a thunderous crash, he broke through the meeting hall's rear wall, smashing a clear human-shaped groove in the brick and stone debris.

"Anyone else who shouts will meet the same fate."

Yuan Gang lowered the hand that seemed casually waved, his tone as flat as discussing weather, but his eyes held no warmth whatsoever.

The entire venue fell dead silent, even breathing seemed cut off.

Four or five seconds later, the damaged wall suddenly burst into blazing flames. In the firelight, Liu Kun charged back smoking all over.

His hair was disheveled, blood at the mouth corner, chest clothing burned with scorch marks. But those flame-burning eyes, when meeting Yuan Gang's indifferent gaze, ultimately extinguished bit by bit.

He could only snort heavily and sit back down with his fiery anger, his face black as a pot bottom.

Noticing Liu Kun avoiding his gaze, Ding Yishan was stunned, his heart immediately sinking to the bottom.

"Continue voting."

Yuan Gang's gaze swept the venue as if the previous conflict never happened.

More people hesitantly raised hands, but just then, the Idealist faction representatives who had been silent like outsiders suddenly extended fingers and lightly tapped the table.

No sound, but like an invisible command.

Instantly, many raised hands fell down in unison, neat as if trained.

Hm?

Liu Kun was stunned, Ding Yishan was stunned, even Hou Rui and Carlo Dickinson were all stunned.

The dead-like Idealist faction actually had moments of actively expressing opinions?

Could these guys suddenly remember they were once inspection station members?

Hou Rui's expression changed. After pausing two seconds, he announced solemnly, "Police department restoration proposal, approval votes insufficient, not passed."

He then deliberately quickened his pace as if wanting to flip this page quickly, continuing, "Next item, vote on third-term inspector accompaniment system."

Carlo Dickinson raised his hand again, but this time no one looked at him. Everyone's gaze focused on the Idealist faction representatives, even Yuan Gang's attention lingered momentarily.

The Idealist faction members still maintained their observe-nose, nose-observe-mouth posture, shrinking back into their outsider shells as if their previous action was just illusion.

The meeting hall quieted for several seconds. People began tentatively raising hands. Just as approval votes gradually increased, the Idealist faction spokesperson seemed to suddenly awaken and lightly tapped the table again.

The exact same scene replayed, all raised hands instantly fell, leaving only Carlo Dickinson holding his hand alone, looking particularly absurd.

"Yu Hong, is this your meaning or the elders' meaning?"

Yuan Gang directly frowned, his tone carrying some impatience. "If the elders have something to convey to us, just say it directly."

"Fine."

Yu Hong stood. "Buffer zone experimental results are good. Everything is progressing as expected. Unless necessary, do not advance any reforms that might affect outcomes."

After speaking.

He sat back down directly without another word, as if merely a voice transmitter.

The meeting hall fell completely silent.

Even the impatience on Yuan Gang's face receded. His fingertips paused on the table surface before finally nodding lightly.

No rebuttal, no follow-up questions, not even extra expressions.

But everyone understood that voting regarding the inspection station had been completely killed by these few sentences.

After all, in Happiness City, elder will was always second only to City Lord An Xingfu!

Since Deputy City Lord Yuan Gang acquiesced, there was no need for further discussion.

A long moment.

The meeting ended. Yuan Gang departed ethereally, and the remaining people gradually left.

Only the three Idealist faction members, plus Liu Kun and Ding Yishan, as if sharing tacit understanding, remained seated at the long table.

After the last footstep sound disappeared at the corridor's end, Yu Hong slowly stood and walked over.

"Director Liu, Station Chief Ding."

"Mm."

In terms of relationship, although the Idealist faction was nominally once an inspection station branch, they had long since drawn clear boundaries after voluntarily withdrawing. Both sides were very restrained, occasionally intersecting but not interfering with each other.

In terms of status, the Idealist faction's apparent voice in Happiness City was actually somewhat lower than the inspection station's. Their subordinate unit was only the Works Department responsible for basic construction, managing the most trivial affairs like road repair, building construction, and land reclamation, genuinely marginal within the power system.

But their true confidence never lay in these apparent powers and resources, but in the support of the three founding elders behind them.

Currently, Happiness City had only ten elders remaining: Technology faction occupied five positions, Idealist faction three, Transcendent faction two.

As the foundation builders who established Happiness City from ruins, whether in qualifications or combat power, those who survived to today had reached pinnacle heights. Calling them this sanctuary city's stabilizing pillars wouldn't be excessive.

As long as these elders remained, regardless of factional struggles, this city's foundation wouldn't shake.

"After that incident ended, the elders said they wouldn't interfere with inspection station work. Now, that still holds, your autonomy remains in your own hands."

His gaze passed over Liu Kun, Yu Hong's eyes fell directly on Ding Yishan's face. "But if you continue internal fighting and turn the buffer zone into a free-for-all mess, destroying experimental results, after next spring the elders won't intervene anymore!"

After speaking, Liu Kun frowned slightly.

Ding Yishan immediately stood and bowed slightly. "Director Yu, please convey my thanks to the elders. Do the elders have any other instructions?"

"Other instructions, hmm..."

Yu Hong hesitated, then smiled. "The elders have no instructions, but personally I'd like to offer Station Chief Ding some advice."

"Please speak!"

"The one who ties the bell must untie it. Only by maintaining original intent can one have a place in Happiness City."

This time, he looked straight at Liu Kun. "But if you continue treating the inspection station as a transcendent springboard, as a ladder to upper power, a bargaining chip, a tool for realizing personal ambition, then the inspection station will be as unnecessary as we once were!"