Three days have passed, and the North-South Inspection Station still has not managed to divert the continuous influx of migrants.
At this mont, the number of refugees stuck in front of the Central Inspection Station has soared to a terrifying 290,000.
If this growth trend continues, tonight it will inevitably break through 300,000, heading straight for 350,000!
What does this an?
After the wave of Stand-In Starfish infections, the total population of the Buffer Zone has dropped below 250,000.
Now, the population stuck outside the Happiness Defense Line is actually more than the residents of the Buffer Zone.
Even with the Central Inspection Station operating at full capacity, only a re 5,000 people can be let through each day.
Before heading to work in the morning.
Cheng Ye stood on the central watchtower, looking ahead, and montarily couldn’t find the right words to describe the scene before him.
It seed no different from the scene he had seen here a few days ago, still the endless crowd, colorful tents stretched continuously like wrinkled dirty rags pressed tightly onto the gray-brown wasteland.
But he knew better than anyone that this seemingly calm mass of people had long turned into a powder keg ready to explode.
All it needed was a single spark to shatter countless people into pieces.
And the spark to ignite this powder keg was now in his hand, clearly displayed on the Defense Communication screen.
"It’s finally about to begin..."
Cheng Ye whispered, his thoughts drifting away uncontrollably.
The work of settling the refugees was ultimately unable to begin amidst the splendor, but had to take its difficult first step through the desolation.
The upper echelons of Happiness City were far more decisive, more... ruthless than he had imagined!
Or rather, everything about to happen was the true main the of this wasteland.
Such a massive group of refugees must have an extrely terrifying number of infection sources lurking within.
Whether known or unknown, or possibly even the mother source hiding amongst them.
If we were to accept them all with open arms, relying on inspectors and grassroots forces to slowly sift through, not to ntion how inefficient it would be, the eventual casualties would probably be several tis greater than sparking a conflict all at once now.
Therefore, the upper echelons did not hesitate, directly adopting the simplest and most brutal thod:
Direct screening.
Simultaneously trigger all infections, suppress them together, to complete the qualitative transformation of "rebirth through fire."
Those who survive will beco new residents of Happiness City.
Those who die will beco the nutrients for a new round of developnt for this Super Shelter City.
Cruel? Indeed, it’s cruel.
But it seems to be the best choice right now.
Of course, maybe the situation is not as bad as he thought, and how things ultimately turn out depends entirely on whether Happiness City is fully prepared.
Playing with fire to this extent, Cheng Ye could already determine that even if the final result is a failure, Happiness City must be fully confident in completely suppressing all chaos.
Otherwise, there is no way such aggressive orders would still be executed with 300,000 refugees piling up.
If they can intervene at the burst mont and complete a preliminary purge with minimal casualties, this storm could imdiately beco a chance for resurgence, instead of the beginning of a downfall.
Of course, none of this concerns him as an Intern Inspector.
Cheng Ye could only barely discern the deeper aning behind each of Happiness City’s choices, to protect himself.
Attempting to interfere with such a colossal entity’s advancent plan, even Ding Yishan might find himself powerless.
Eight o’clock at night.
After three days of around-the-clock operation, more than 80% of the scavenging migrants have returned.
By this ti, the front of the inspection station had returned to its previous quietness, with no one lining up anymore.
As expected, the notice from the inspection station arrived on ti:
Starting tonight, all operations will fully return to normal, with so timing adjustnts.
The morning duty ti is delayed to 9 AM, and the closing ti is moved to 6 PM.
At the sa ti, instead of two inspectors taking turns every day, one person will be fully responsible, and a lunch break will be set from 1 PM to 2 PM, during which the inspection station will be closed for disinfection.
This way, even with one person on duty, the inspector’s working ti is still eight hours.
"Brother Cheng, with this change, aren’t many inspectors able to rest?"
Wang Kang looked at the announcent, feeling a bit emotional for a mont.
As if in neighboring Zone A and Zone C, two inspectors work together, sharing the pressure.
But Cheng Ye bore all the pressure alone, allowing him to have enough sleep recovery ti every day.
He barely held on until the end of his first duty cycle, especially the last three days, exhausted like a dead dog, falling asleep as soon as he lay down.
Unexpectedly, just as he managed to endure it, the system was changed.
"Yes, they can rest now."
Cheng Ye smiled and looked up at the sky, the heavy clouds were pressing down over their heads.
The air was filled with a sticky and damp feeling, like a wet rag covering the mouth and nose, with the moisture almost condensing into water droplets about to fall.
After completing the handover, as usual, receiving two boxes of Nutrient Paste, Master Zhang’s bus slowly arrived.
"Master Zhang, starting tomorrow, you don’t need to pick up anymore."
Cheng Ye hesitated when getting on the bus, and then spoke.
Master Zhang’s face was calm, as if he had already expected: "Yes, I also wanted to tell you, the Public Works Bureau has already notified, tomorrow they want all drivers to gather."
"Be safe."
"Don’t worry, what’s ant to happen will happen, sooner or later we have to face it."
Master Zhang’s tone showed no emotion, with a slight turn of the steering wheel, the bus drove away from the inspection station.
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