Wasteland Border Inspector-Chapter 136 - 84: Post-Disaster Assembly, Will of the Elders! (Double-length)
Various proposals were thrown out one after another, mostly centered on how to stabilize the workers in the Industrial Zone, with some implicit suggestions aimed at the checkpoints.
When it was Ding Yishan’s turn, he calmly stood up and spoke clearly: "Deputy City Lord, I propose allocating funds to the checkpoints, prioritizing repairs to the Central Inspection Station, and establishing more comprehensive isolation and quarantine systems, to prevent incidents like the Infected Body invasion from occurring again from a hardware standpoint."
As his words fell, several gazes in the venue seemed to sweep over with a scrutinizing look, but no one immediately refuted.
Sure enough, when it was Carl Dickinson’s turn, he directly launched, "Deputy City Lord, I suggest immediately restoring the Buffer Zone Police Bureau and dividing the current powers of the inspection station, establishing a ’Checkpoint + Police Bureau’ dual-check system."
He paused, glanced in Ding Yishan’s direction, and continued: "Additionally, I suggest explicitly stipulating that all on-duty Inspectors must be at least Third-Stage Inspectors; those below Third-Stage must be supervised by Third-Stage or higher Inspectors. Only then can we prevent oversights due to insufficient personnel ability and avoid a repeat of incidents like the Stand-In Starfish."
These words instantly tightened the atmosphere in the venue.
Restoring the Police Bureau and dividing powers were clearly meant to weaken the checkpoint’s strength.
And the rank restrictions on duty Inspectors were directly targeting the current personnel structure of the checkpoints.
Inspectors above Third-Phase were already scarce, all out on field duty.
Once these people are recalled, the checkpoint is essentially cutting off its own arm, losing its greatest power.
Yuan Gang remained unmoved, his face as usual.
"As usual, we vote."
From the initial proposal, everyone present had one voting right.
If more than half agree, it’s considered passed; less than half, it’s not passed.
The proposal regarding allocating funds to rebuild the Buffer Zone was basically unanimously approved, but there was some hesitation regarding the checkpoint proposals.
If the Extraordinary Faction and Technology Faction agreed, they would immediately follow and vote in favor.
If only the Extraordinary Faction agreed, they would pretend as if nothing happened.
"Vote to reduce Inspectors’ income by 50% for a year."
Hou Rui finished reading, raised the approval vote first, and Carl Dickinson quickly followed.
In just a second or two, except for the Idealist Faction who remained unmoved, even Ding Yishan himself voted in favor.
"Vote to allocate funds to the checkpoint for facility repairs."
Nothing happened, only Ding Yishan awkwardly voted, Liu Kun didn’t even lift an eyelid.
"Vote to restore the Police Bureau and establish a Checkpoint + Police Bureau dual-check system."
Carl Dickinson immediately raised his hand, his gaze sweeping over the room like an eagle’s.
Following his lead, a third of the people gradually raised their hands, including representatives from several departments of the Buffer Zone.
Liu Kun sat in place, his gaze turning icy as it swept over those raising their hands.
Yet, to his great surprise, the three members of the Technology Faction hesitated for a moment and then raised their approval votes, clearly having a prior understanding.
"I disagree!" Liu Kun suddenly stood up, suppressing his anger and roaring low: "The Police Bureau was abolished back then because of inefficiency and chaotic responsibilities. How can we bring back a failed old system and repeat past mistakes? Who will take responsibility!"
But before he finished speaking, an invisible force suddenly attacked.
No one even realized what happened, and Liu Kun looked as if he had been hit by a speeding train, flying backward like a meteor.
With a crash, he smashed through the wall at the back of the venue, leaving a clear human-shaped indentation among the rubble.
"Anyone who shouts again will end up the same."
Yuan Gang lowered the hand that seemed casually swung, his tone as flat as discussing the weather, yet his eyes showed no warmth.
The room was dead silent, like even breathing was strangled off.
Four or five seconds later, the damaged wall suddenly burst into intense flames, and from within the blaze, Liu Kun came charging back, covered in smoke.
His hair disheveled, blood at the corner of his mouth, his chest clothes singed, but his eyes burning with flame gradually extinguished as they met Yuan Gang’s indifferent gaze.
He could only snort heavily, sitting back with his anger, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Noticing Liu Kun avoiding his gaze, Ding Yishan was momentarily stunned, his heart immediately sinking to the bottom.
"Continue the vote."
Yuan Gang’s gaze swept the room, as if the previous conflict had never happened.
More people hesitated and raised their hands, but at that moment, the Idealist Faction representative, who had been silent like an outsider, suddenly reached out a finger and gently tapped the table. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
There was no sound, yet it was like an invisible command.
In an instant, many raised hands fell in unison, as orderly as if trained.
Hmm?
Liu Kun was dumbfounded, Ding Yishan was also dumbfounded, even Hou Rui and Carl Dickinson were all stunned.
The Idealist Faction, as silent as the dead, actually took the initiative to express an opinion?
Did these guys suddenly remember they were also part of the checkpoint?
Hou Rui’s face changed, and after a pause of two seconds, he solemnly announced: "The proposal to restore the Police Bureau did not receive a majority vote and is not passed."
Then he deliberately sped up his speech, as if wanting to quickly move on, and continued: "Next item, vote on the Third-Stage Inspector supervision system."
Carl Dickinson raised his hand again, but this time, no one looked at him; all eyes were on the Idealist Faction representative, even Yuan Gang paused his gaze for a moment.
