After explaining the rules, Sonny Valentine didn't follow along much longer, having someone fetch a marker pen and handing it over, "If you see any vehicle you like, just mark it directly with the marker pen. We'll arrange for masters to dismantle them uniformly afterwards."

"Alright, thank you for the trouble."

Cheng Ye took the pen, and Sonny Valentine tactfully led the guards to retreat to a distance, giving the two men enough space.

After the people had gone far, Cheng Ye turned to look at Master Tian, getting straight to the point, "I'm planning to form a merchant caravan specializing in routes between satellite cities."

"You?" Master Tian frowned, his tone carrying some doubt, "As far as I know, inspectors aren't allowed to privately establish merchant caravans according to regulations, right?"

"You know about that too." Cheng Ye clicked his tongue, explaining, "In principle, yes, but there are exceptions. For instance, my caravan's purpose is to promote trade circulation between Happiness City's satellite cities, transporting products from satellite cities to sell elsewhere, satisfying external consumer demands. That doesn't count as violating regulations."

"Then where would the caravan's profits come from?" Master Tian thoughtfully pursued the question.

"Reputation, word-of-mouth, systems, channels!" Facing Master Tian, Cheng Ye didn't plan to beat around the bush. These methods could only be handled by inspectors anyway, requiring both situational control and sufficient strategic thinking.

His speech wasn't slow, firing off his thoughts like a rapid barrage, "First, use goods trading to build the caravan's reputation and fame."

"Then use each satellite city's guaranteed after-sales service to improve word-of-mouth."

"Once a cyclical system forms, it's equivalent to having fixed sales points with built-in appeal in every satellite city, where consumers will actively come to buy."

"Finally, channels. The core of what I'm doing is traffic diversion, drawing everyone's attention to my next project, which is where the real profit lies."

Master Tian had traveled far and wide in his early years and even mixed in gray areas, so his mind worked quickly.

After pondering for a moment, he grasped the logic and profit points of this model, but still deliberately asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell others about this?"

"What's most important for a third-rate assassin to survive?" Cheng Ye didn't answer directly, smiling as he counter-questioned.

Master Tian was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Third-rate assassins don't have the ability to lead caravans for you."

"It's actually not that dangerous." Cheng Ye shook his head, his tone very frank, "This benefits all inspectors and all satellite cities. Moreover, once this model is revealed, people will quickly learn and imitate it. The inspection station might establish its own logistics system within days. The reason I'm not submitting this plan to the inspection station is because it's unnecessary. Mutual exchange between satellite cities is inevitable. At such close distances, independent development is impossible."

"Then you..."

"The difference lies in the conclusion, in the next move." Cheng Ye said lightly, "Even if my caravan only captures one-tenth of the market share in the end, just the customer traffic from the concluding phase could bring substantial profits."

"Simply put, I want to make a batch of products, but currently lack promotional funds and channels. The caravan is advance groundwork. Once enough traffic is accumulated, subsequent products can be sold."

What was the core of modern internet economics?

Ask a hundred people, and ninety-nine would answer: traffic.

Only with traffic could there be exposure, and only with exposure could goods be sold. This was the most basic logic.

The Qingping Merchant Caravan he intended to create ultimately aimed to gather this traffic into a monetizable "pool."

"Hmm," Master Tian grasped the key point but still pursued, "What if your final batch of products can't sell?"

"You've hit the nail on the head. This is precisely what other inspectors, even the inspection station, can't learn." Cheng Ye twirled the marker pen between his fingers, his eyes carrying certainty.

"I dare to do this because I'm confident in the subsequent products, so I'm willing to first transport goods for free and accumulate traffic. But if others blindly copy me, only knowing how to accumulate traffic without knowing how to use it, that would truly be making unpaid contributions."

He paused, then corrected himself, "Actually, it can't be called unpaid. Everyone is contributing to satellite city circulation, it's just that I can make some money from it in the end."

"I understand!" Seeing Cheng Ye's confidence, Master Tian nodded gently, though his face didn't show much hesitation.

There was just a flash of surprise at Cheng Ye and bewilderment at not fully understanding this model yet.

However, this alone was far from enough to make him join the caravan.

He didn't want to go out as an errand boy, adding bricks and mortar to Cheng Ye's ultimate money-making plan.

Making money was fine as long as it was enough.

Current life was quite good, with the family having no worries about food or clothing and a big house to live in.

If it weren't for his daughter Tian Lei being too troublesome, insisting on going to the outer city, he'd have no interest in such complications.

With two staff members in the family, their living standard could definitely rank in the top 10% of the buffer zone.

Seeing Master Tian's reaction, Cheng Ye smiled. Indeed, this alone was far from enough to move a master who had achieved Unity of Heaven and Man.

People who could form beliefs had their own behavioral principles and wouldn't be easily swayed by money.

Then, let's talk about the future.

Gesturing for Master Tian to follow him to the outdoor car yard, Cheng Ye said while walking, "The buffer zone has indeed developed well these years, but it always lacks a fire that could ignite this place. This migration wave doesn't count. Once satellite cities are built, the buffer zone will only have its economy and population siphoned away, screening people out wave after wave. In the end, only staff members with official positions, their families, plus a small portion of old residents will remain."

"Going forward, newcomers to Happiness City won't be able to directly enter the buffer zone anymore. This place will gradually upgrade, rebuild these ruins, and finally become like the high-level areas of Xinghuo Sanctuary City, with stricter rules and higher thresholds."

Cheng Ye's tone shifted, adding some directness, "And people like you, Master Tian, will be the first to be screened out."

"Why?" Master Tian's face darkened slightly.

"Because the upgraded buffer zone won't tolerate a master who has achieved Unity of Heaven and Man staying inside driving buses." Cheng Ye stopped walking, looking at the big bald head who had shed his gentleness with a half-smile.

"The core purpose of satellite cities is multi-level coordinated defense. Any factors that might cause instability inside will be cleared out to the outer satellite cities. The vast Happiness City, whether inner city or outer city, will ultimately be left for those ordinary people with real potential who need stable environments. Like those young people I just saw at the Mechanical Department, they need quiet environments to study and research, preferably remaining naive, protected within this sanctuary city, not having to worry about wilderness dangers or survival pressures."

"Additionally, what this Happiness City needs in the future are newcomers who can contribute, not old people resting on their laurels. Diligent veterans who've worked day after day for decades, if they can't keep up with development pace and lose irreplaceable value, will paradoxically be the first to be dispatched as examples."

"Of course, no one can say exactly when this day will come." Cheng Ye spoke honestly, without deliberately stirring anxiety, "It might arrive in a year, or maybe we'll wait five years, ten years, or even if satellite city construction fails, we might never see this day. But I'm someone who likes to plan ahead. I don't think this day is far off, I only think about making plans early and leaving more escape routes."

Having said this much, the atmosphere had completely changed.

After exposing Master Tian's strength disguise, whether recruitment succeeded or failed, their relationship could never return to its previous simplicity but this was the reality that would inevitably arrive after satellite cities spread out.

Inspectors like Li Changfeng needed to climb up step by step from lower areas.

What about ordinary people?

They would only have it worse!

Since the threshold for entering the inner city kept rising, Happiness City would set thresholds for the outer city, for the buffer zone, pushing down level by level.

Drawing upward goals for newcomers while putting shackles on everyone that couldn't stop.

Only this way would people be willing to stay in the outermost satellite cities, continuing to contribute to Happiness City despite the dangers.

This great ship of era development certainly wouldn't carry all the crew members from the old era on its voyage.

Under the great personnel change, some people's interests would inevitably need to be sacrificed.

Those with flexible minds were already thinking about how to "go into business" after the new era arrived, accumulating their first bucket of gold and living lives they previously dared not dream of.

People trapped in stability could only passively wait for that final judgment moment to arrive, being swept into dust by a great tide, with all accumulations and stability vanishing overnight.

If Master Tian were an ordinary person, that would be one thing, he could only passively accept judgment when that moment came ut now knowing all this, being a survivor from Xinghuo Sanctuary City, and having the ability to make a bid as someone who achieved unity of heaven abnd man, could he still calmly insist this day would never come?

Or believe that Happiness City could find a more perfect new path based on Xinghuo's existing example, risking attempts at new systems?

Master Tian was immediately stunned in place, his face like clouds blown by wind, sometimes pale, sometimes gloomy.

Actually, his daughter Tian Lei had said these things too, he just hadn't wanted to think about them.

Or he believed that even when the time for personnel changes came, the Tian family shouldn't become this sacrifice.

Including when Cheng Ye had obviously wanted to recruit him at noon, he had already vaguely sensed it.

He just never thought he'd really have to take this step.

After pondering for a full two to three minutes, Master Tian still slowly shook his head, not knowing what he was thinking, or perhaps weighing something.

"No rush, think it over first. I'll wander around a few circles and see if there's anything useful outside," Cheng Ye smiled, turning to walk toward the depths of the scrap yard.

Having been to Xinghuo and seen the destroyed C35, he never believed there were truly safe places.

To take root in this wasteland, his own strength wasn't enough, he also needed a massive power shell.

Whether for living a better life or realizing certain ideals.

Rather than saying he was winning people over, it was more accurate to say he was recruiting like-minded partners.

People like Master Tian, who still had expectations for a beautiful life and wanted to continue living stable days.

Better to go all-in directly.

If successful, he'd immediately gain a powerful helper who had achieved Unity of Heaven and Man.

If unsuccessful, he could still preserve some dignity without constantly testing and souring relationships.

"Oh, these cars aren't too badly damaged after all."

After walking just a few steps, Cheng Ye suddenly stopped, his gaze falling on a dusty small cargo truck.

The truck's right side was smashed to pieces, with the entire A and B pillars folded inward, the car leaning sideways on the ground.

Through the shattered front windshield, he could see the passenger seat and left side of the rear seat's leather upholstery covered in thick dust but without obvious damage.

Going around to the side door and pulling it open, his fingertips touched what turned out to be foam-filled genuine leather seats that felt quite solid.

"Good stuff!" Cheng Ye pressed the seat with his hand, his eyes flashing with pleasant surprise, but looking at other parts of the car interior, he couldn't help shaking his head.

This cargo truck used second-generation batteries. The passenger compartment rear showed obvious disassembly marks, the interior was empty, with only a few brittle, rotted pipes and scattered wire harnesses, as if core components had been roughly removed.

He opened the front hood. The motor was still there but wrapped in thick dust, turned gray.

In the past, he couldn't tell whether this motor was good or bad, but now scanning several key interfaces and coil positions, he already had a judgment.

The motor's top connection box cover was long gone, exposing three thick copper posts inside.

The copper wires that should have been wrapped in insulation now only had half-sections of blackened copper cores left. In the motor stator core slots, several enameled wires were directly burned through, with exposed copper wires sticking out, some stuck together, turned into dark yellow copper slag.

"This motor is probably half-scrapped. Stator windings exposed, burn damage so obvious..." "Other places are probably damaged similarly. Just one seat, far from worth 100 points."

Just as he was about to move on to look at other cars, Cheng Ye suddenly stopped.

He remembered that after choosing United Mounting earlier, he had retained the search function brought by front-loading mounting.

Why not try the effect?

Following old habits, he silently recited "search" in his mind. The panel indeed popped up a prompt:

[Activate mounted search to search current target (small cargo truck)?]

[Please note: This search only targets specific single objects, cannot perform range searches]

[Please note: Search energy consumption will fluctuate based on skill level, current single-use base consumption: 0.1%] ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel-fire.ɴet

[Detected that collector's mounted skill learning progress meets conditions, consumption reduced to: 0.03%]

"Only consumes 0.03%?"

Cheng Ye was stunned. This was the first time he'd seen the Collector's functions consume so little energy.

Calculated by the 400-degree standard, that was only 0.12 degrees of electricity.

After searching twice, only 3% power remained, but it was enough for over a hundred searches with surplus.

"Not bad, seems tool-style front-loading mounting isn't without benefits." Cheng Ye nodded slightly, thinking to himself, "With such low energy consumption, I can use this for checking machinery in the future. Much more convenient than blindly figuring things out myself."

He didn't hesitate, using his mind to click confirm search on the panel.

This time wasn't his previous half-baked judgment, but integrated search relying on complete Basic Mechanical Principles and Intermediate Mechanical Identification information-type skills.

Equivalent to having a veteran master like Sang Hezheng do a comprehensive inspection, but faster with more intuitive results.

In just a few seconds, a light blue virtual panel popped up, clearly listing the cargo truck's inspection results:

[Target: Second-generation small cargo truck (Model: HK-220)]

[Overall condition: 74% damaged]

[Core component inspection:

Motor (72% damaged, stator windings exposed and burned, silicon steel sheets partially fallen off, rotor shaft slightly deformed, cooling water channels cracked and leaking)

Electronic power steering pump (18% damaged, right oil pipe connector slightly deformed, shell covered with mud and sand, internal motor, hydraulic pump and control circuit board intact, low-pressure terminal connections secure)

ABS system (65% damaged, right front and rear wheel speed sensor probes shattered, connecting harnesses broken)

High-voltage distribution box (100% damaged, shell crushed and deformed, completely melted and burned)

Onboard charger (11% damaged, input connector metal contacts slightly oxidized, internal electrolytic capacitors, rectifier circuit board and cooling fan all intact)

Brake master cylinder (5% damaged, reservoir brake fluid expired, pump piston moving smoothly, output pipe connector seals not aged or leaking)]

Like a professional institution's inspection report, the panel displayed data specific to core components inside the vehicle.

"The charger, master cylinder, and power steering pump are actually all relatively intact?"

Cheng Ye could hardly believe it.

He quickly closed the panel and crouched by the front of the car to carefully study the internal core components.

Since he hadn't searched for repair skills, he could only determine what was broken, not how to fix it but even so, he could judge repair value based on the panel's damage percentages.

"The parts are actually all still good!"

A few minutes later, Cheng Ye straightened up, his hands stained with mud from the front compartment, his eyes full of disbelief.

He hadn't expected that the first scrap car he casually selected would hide such a big surprise.

How many contribution points were these components actually worth?

When buying chassis at the Industrial Department earlier, he'd forgotten to ask Old Sun for specific component prices.

Cheng Ye took out his defense communicator and simply called directly, to avoid having to make another trip later.

"Inspector Cheng?"

"Old Sun, please help me check the new prices for several components. I'm doing a repair cost comparison here."

"Sure, go ahead."

Cheng Ye quickly reported the markings and model numbers on these components.

Industrial components produced in Happiness City, as long as they weren't discontinued, could all be traced in the supply system.

Especially automotive core components changed generations much slower than batteries, so first-generation truck components were still in circulation.

Sure enough, in less than ten seconds, Old Sun's voice came back, "Found them, Inspector Cheng! Electronic power steering pump is 450 points each, charger is cheaper at 280 points, brake master cylinder is even cheaper at only 140 points."

That added up to 870 points?

Cheng Ye's hand holding the defense communicator paused, his mind suddenly feeling a bit dazed.

Had he picked up a "golden lump"?

A scrap car parked outside nearly falling apart, just these three usable components were worth nearly a thousand contribution points?

"Inspector Cheng? Are you still listening?" Old Sun called again when he didn't hear a response.

"Yes, yes!" Cheng Ye snapped back, quickly adding, "By the way, could you please send me a price list for commonly used vehicle components?"

"No problem, I'll organize it and send it to you," Old Sun readily agreed.

"Thank you."

Cheng Ye thanked him and hung up, his mind still a bit dizzy.

Compared to working duty at the inspection station, this scavenging speed in the scrap yard was ridiculously fast for making money but then again, resources that couldn't circulate had no meaning regardless of how high their prices were set.

Happiness City's official system never bought back used components. Even if repaired, they could only be sold to independent merchant caravans.

Caravans would definitely suppress prices, and contribution points couldn't be traded privately, so at most they'd exchange for Happiness Coins.

"Not bad either. Saving money is equivalent to making money!"

Cheng Ye shook his head, quickly reasoning through it mentally.

What he was saving now was Lee Matteo's real investment money. The more he scavenged, the more operating funds the caravan would have.

While pondering, the defense communicator dinged, and Old Sun's component price list arrived.

Cheng Ye opened it and saw the spreadsheet was exceptionally detailed, from core components like motors and controllers to small parts like harnesses and seals, even different specification screws' models and unit prices were clearly listed.

But this comparison revealed Happiness City's resource control intensity.

Components involving core industrial technology were priced exorbitantly.

But basic consumables for vehicle repair, like rubber gaskets, copper core harnesses, standard screws, and even non-core components like interior panels and seat rails, were surprisingly cheap, some even sold by weight.

Especially tires, as long as you submitted old tires produced in Happiness City, each tire could be replaced for free three times per year. Even if they blew out on rough roads, there was no need to worry.

Beyond the limit, replacement prices were only 50 contribution points, practically cost price.

"Perhaps when the next Great Development Era arrives, with sufficient industrial overcapacity and core technology no longer being scarce commodities, they can truly be released to ordinary people."

"Before then, sanctuary cities are still engaged in silent resource warfare. Once technology leaks out, it's nurturing competitors. Happiness City definitely won't relax."

Cheng Ye put away his defense communicator.

No wonder purchasing energy panels from Rainbow was difficulty level five. With Happiness City's control intensity, Rainbow was most likely the same.

Without the right price, wanting to get goods, unless inspectors had special abilities, it simply wasn't realistic.

After marking this vehicle with the marker pen, Cheng Ye wasn't reassured, so he simply called Sonny Valentine over and instructed directly to have the dismantling crew remove the parts now.

"Alright, I'll call the masters over right away."

Repairing cars was troublesome, dismantling was easy.

Sonny Valentine didn't dare delay, immediately taking out his phone to contact them.

Apprentice workers from the Mechanical Department arrived quickly with two boxes of tools.

The labor cost for dismantling one car was 5 points, or 35 Happiness Coins, already high-paying work for apprentices but compared to Cheng Ye's selection speed, it was still much slower.

Using search functions, he soon marked 13 large and small scrap cars in the outdoor yard.

Even if some components were duplicates, it didn't matter. As long as damage was under 10%, they were good items, perfect as spare parts.

The only pity was that most cars in the outer yard were severely damaged, and after searching the whole area, he found no motors with damage below 50%.

Additionally, components involving electronic elements, like vehicle control units and battery management systems, weren't within the skills' search scope and couldn't be assessed for now.

He could only detect inverters, chargers, distribution boxes, power pumps, and so on.

"Sang Zhe..." Remembering the specialties of Master Sang's two sons, it seemed he'd need another opportunity to search Sang Zhe.

With his thoughts settled, when turning to the indoor garage, Cheng Ye's eyes quickly lit up.

The scrap cars here were obviously much better than those outside.

Without much effort, he easily picked out three truck motors with 350kw power and 760Nm torque.

Damage levels were all around 15%, presumably not difficult to repair.

The motors on pickup trucks and SUVs all used unified permanent magnet synchronous motors, 200kw power front and rear, maximum torque 680Nm.

Six total, for front and rear dual-motor configuration. Due to large inventory, damage was basically all under 10%, with one only at 3%. After disassembly and cleaning dust plus straightening connection terminals, it could practically be used as new.

Of course, indoor garage components had to be calculated at individual prices.

"Even scavenging still burns money," Cheng Ye rubbed his temples. His previous budget for each vehicle's components was 1000 points.

One motor at 250 points, just 9 motors cost 2250 points, not including subsequent repair prices.

Vehicle control units at 350 points for 6 units was 2100 points.

Plus the 13 cars outside, priced at 1300 points.

Even with bulk discounts, these core components cost 4955 points, averaging 825 points per vehicle.

Adding final refurbishment repairs, it would probably slightly exceed Lee Matteo's previously estimated budget.

"Fortunately, everything was carefully selected quality goods. After refurbishment, they'll be no different from new!"

After selecting all components, Cheng Ye didn't rush to leave, instead personally overseeing the three apprentice workers' dismantling.

Power steering pumps, chargers, and important motor components needed separate foam box packaging. Vehicle components needed protective foam wrap, and even screws had to be bagged by vehicle type. Finally, everything was piled in a corner of the yard warehouse, covered with moisture-proof cloth and marked.

"I'll have someone come collect the goods tomorrow or the day after. Keep a close eye on them, don't let anyone walk off with these components," Cheng Ye repeatedly instructed.

"Rest assured! I'll arrange two guards right at the warehouse door. Absolutely nothing will go missing!" After all, this was a 5000-point major order, so Sonny Valentine guaranteed with chest thumping.

After busy work lasting over two hours, the sky had darkened, and the scrap yard's street lamps lit up with dim yellow light.

When Cheng Ye walked out, he saw Master Tian squatting on the steps by the yard entrance, his brow furrowed enough to crush mosquitoes.

As if he'd figured something out, yet as if he hadn't completely made up his mind.

Seeing Cheng Ye approach, he slowly stood up, his face showing a complex bitter smile.

"Don't look so gloomy. It's not like I'm asking you to go die. Why be so afraid of getting rich?"

Cheng Ye couldn't help laughing.

"Come on, let's go to my place. I'll draw a few more pies for you to eat your fill at once!"