Chapter 29: Hidden rules, invisible benefits of rapid checkpoints!

Letting Raul lead the way was an idea that Cheng Ye came up with on a whim, but to his surprise, this idea actually brought a lot of surprises.

For example, now, when Raven introduced the quarantine area, he was basically speaking without reservation.

Not only does it clearly explain the prosecutor's powers, but it also breaks down the unspoken rules, the means of fleecing the poor, and the ways of making money behind the scenes, and reveals them all without reservation.

Apart from the common methods that Cheng Ye knew, there was one that was particularly eye-catching.

"Illegal materials" stored in Material Room No. 3.

What are illegal materials?

The three packages of PCB boards and some electronic components previously seized from the driver cannot be called illegal materials.

Because these things can only make several times the profit if they are smuggled out and sold to other refuge cities, settlements or individual scavengers. They are actually not valuable in Happiness City, so there is not much point in seizing them.

What is truly valuable is worthy of being labeled as "illegal".

They are the crystal cores of mutant beasts, the contained sources of infection, all kinds of extraordinary minerals, special plants, and those good things that didn’t exist in the old days!

“Can I just take it off?”

"Of course not." Raven shook his head quickly. "These things can be exchanged for a large number of contribution points. If the Inspector arbitrarily seizes them, those people will probably be driven to death."

"That?"

"My lord, it is like this."

Owl, who had been standing silently nearby, interrupted, "According to the rules, individuals are not allowed to bring these items into the buffer zone due to the risk of contamination from infected sources. Even if someone managed to evade inspection and bring them in, they could only get 70% of the normal price if they sold them at the supply exchange."

"But the inspectors detained the items, took them out of the buffer zone, and found a material exchange office, where they could get 100% of the normal price. The 30% difference was the inspectors' compensation for bearing the 'material contamination risk.'"

What a material contamination risk!

Cheng Ye couldn't help but click his tongue. It seemed that Garcia was too restrained in collecting the city entry tax at the central checkpoint.

In comparison, the "illegal taxes" created by collusion between officials and businessmen at this rapid checkpoint are truly blatant robbery.

"So they're willing?"

Cheng Ye asked a question that even he felt was a bit stupid and ignorant after he finished speaking.

What can I do if I don’t want to?

Do I have to fight against such a huge checkpoint and Happy City with my own strength?

"You're joking, Attorney. They're certainly willing to do so."

Owl didn't seem to understand Cheng Ye's hidden meaning, and still explained with a smile, "Not only can you help them get the contraband into the buffer zone, but you can also get them the same price as if they sold it themselves. Why wouldn't they want to do it?"

"Really?"

Cheng Ye frowned in thought, then suddenly realized something.

Due to the limitations of the times, Luo Xiaoxue was unable to understand the internal structure of the checkpoint.

But at the same time, he was unable to immediately understand the logic built on the bottom of the wasteland.

Think about it carefully.

Without this unwritten 30% tax, adventurers might see an increase in income in the short term, but it would only spark more conflicts in the long term.

Because when entering and leaving the checkpoint, how could the inspector not be tempted by these things?

When selling items, how can the purchasing office not force down the price?

It may even breed new parasites, such as underground black markets and scalpers, which will significantly raise the purchase price of Xingfu City.

Proposing this 30% not only protects the adventurers' fixed income, but also perfectly restrains the greed of all participants in the process from entering the city to selling.

It is for this reason that Owl said, "There is no reason for them not to be willing."

It seems that 30% is taken away, but in fact the rules are exchanged for more stable profits.

"What about charging here?"

Cheng Ye pretended to be indifferent as he walked into the garage and glanced at the nameplate of the fast charging pile.

As expected, it is a fast charging station that uses three-phase AC input, maximum voltage 380V, and maximum current 160A.

If this parameter can be fully utilized and the ideal pure resistive load is achieved, a charging efficiency of about 100kw can be achieved.

But in fact, the charging pile has heat dissipation protection, and it cannot maintain full power supply for a long time. The current will soon drop to about 110A, and the power will also return to about 65kw, which means that 65 degrees can be charged per hour.

"Sir, you're talking about this. Since Area A is mainly responsible for inspecting vehicles and convoys, it's inevitable that some people will be quarantined, and their cars will be temporarily stored here. Charging is also an alternative value-added service that can bring a considerable amount of operating income to the inspection station."

“Isn’t it free?”

"How can it be free? Our Xingfu City waives electricity bills for ordinary people for the sake of people's livelihood, but these people drive out to make money. If they are all exempted, wouldn't it be too unfair?"

Seeing that Cheng Ye seemed very interested in charging, Raven took the initiative to say a few more words.

"Don't be fooled by the fact that the charging speed here is not fast and the cost is three times that of the buffer zone, but these people are still rushing here to charge."

"Why is this so? It's because charging in urban areas not only requires a fee, but also approval from the Public Works Department. Not every fleet is eligible to charge. Want to drive out of the city? You have to pay the Public Works Department's 'uncle' first."

"Do I need permission to charge?"

Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, and suddenly the previous bus driver Master Tian flashed through his mind. It seemed that he also said that he had to go to the Public Works Bureau to get a charging permit before leaving the city. However, he did not think much about it at that time, and just thought it was the permission to use the vehicle.

"Of course. Batteries are one of the most strictly controlled materials in Xingfu City. These vehicles in the buffer zone, as well as the buses running back and forth, are essentially assets of the Public Works Department and Xingfu City."

"Batteries have a lifespan. The more fast-charging cycles they undergo, the faster they wear out. How can we let go of such a strategically important resource?"

It turns out that the limitation is not in charging, but in the battery!

Cheng Ye suddenly understood.

During the time he traveled through time, he rarely saw private cars or trucks on the road except for buses.

The reason, it turns out, is here.

If the car could be charged at any time, and with the benefit of free electricity in the buffer zone, it would have been able to travel everywhere long ago.

But the reality is that batteries are strategic resources that are subject to layers of control, and are tightly controlled by the Public Works Department from production to loss, so it is naturally impossible to relax restrictions on fast charging.

"If I charge a fee, there will inevitably be records, which is a bit troublesome..."

Cheng Ye couldn't help but frown and asked about the price.

The answer given by the raven was shocking.

Wow, it’s really not cheap at all, and what they charge is not happiness coins, but contribution points!

For every 100 kWh of electricity, the buffer zone charges 5 contribution points, and the isolation zone charges three times the price, 15 contribution points, which is equivalent to indirectly transferring the battery loss cost to the charging fee.

"What about these slow charging piles?"

Cheng Ye walked to the other side of the warehouse and his eyes fell on three ordinary slow charging piles that he often saw in the underground garage of the rental house before he traveled through time.

Eighty years have passed, and several doomsday disasters have occurred in between. It is naturally impossible for such basic equipment with little technological content to undergo obvious qualitative changes.

It still uses the regular 220V voltage and 30A current, and can run up to 6-7kw.

“These are private charging points at the checkpoint, which are for vehicles that use the station.”

Raven gave a meaningful smile and explained respectfully, "To use the slow charging stations here, you don't need to spend contribution points or happiness coins, but you do need permission from our checkpoint."

"The permission for this first station is with the stationmaster."

"The permission for the second station is under the approval of the Deputy Station Master."

"The third station in the corner is authorized to the inspector currently on duty. For example, if you're currently on duty in Area A, you're authorized to use it. When the shift changes, authorization will be passed to the inspector who's taking over."

?

What the hell is going on?

Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, then his brows couldn't help but jump, and he suddenly felt that his rank was still too low.

No wonder it is said that power is the best medical beauty for men.

Damn, the person who set up this set of rules is really a genius, so sinister.

First, use fast charging that is three times the price to set a "compliance target" so that the Works Department cannot find any fault.

Then he built a slow charging station and secretly used it to sell favors and collect benefits.

The stationmaster took it, the deputy stationmaster took it, and the inspector on duty also took it. Everyone was satisfied.

Those who need to charge their batteries are also satisfied. After all, everyone used to have to please the inspector, but now they can "serve as dogs" for the inspector and get free charging. What is there to complain about?

"This is truly eye-opening! I thought everyone in this wasteland only knew how to fight and kill, but I didn't expect there were talented people at the checkpoint who could pull off such a stunt!"

Cheng Ye secretly calculated in his heart.

Among the four areas A, B, C, and D, only area A can be charged, which seems unfair to the other three areas.

However, the inspectors' duty areas are rotated. That is, Cheng Ye is in Area A this week, and will go to Area B next week, and then to Area C and Area D the week after that. He needs to complete a full rotation before returning to Area A.

In this way, every inspector has the opportunity to inspect Area A, and everyone can share in this invisible bonus.

Assuming that each person works eight hours a day, the slow charging pile can charge about 50 kWh of electricity a day, which is converted into the official electricity price in the buffer zone, which is about 3 contribution points.

It’s not a lot, but it’s not a small amount either.

It's just a drop in the bucket, about 20 points more income per month, and you can buy 1g of extraordinary mineral materials after three months of duty.

"Although I can't use this fast charging pile to recharge for the time being, a slow charging pile is still okay. I can charge an extra 50 degrees every day, and I can accumulate enough energy for a full charge in two days..."

Cheng Ye pondered secretly.

He had already made up his mind that charging in the buffer zone would not be touched without a solid foundation in the early stages.

If the person recording the power consumption finds something unusual and comes to him, he won't even have a chance to explain.

But free ones are different.

Firstly, no matter how detailed the records are, it is meaningless. As long as the unused resources do not cause trouble, no one cares where they go.

Secondly, the charging piles in this warehouse are a black account. If they are recorded too clearly, it will easily leave a handle.

"I'm afraid someone will record the fast charging station, so I dare not do it for now. I'll wait for a while to understand the situation before I do it."

"It's only 15 contribution points. There are plenty of ways to make money, but I'm afraid there's no channel."

"But since these slow-charging stations are a hidden benefit of the express checkpoints, there's no need to be afraid. If they're all taking advantage of it, why shouldn't I participate?"

...