Codename Farmer?

Cheng Ye frowned slightly, while Matthew Lee pondered, trying to search for the name in his memory.

After a while.

He gently shook his head, "This name isn’t in the known Guardian Extraordinary archives of the nearby four provinces. Either it’s too far back in time, or... I don’t have the clearance to access it."

"Yes, he is not a Guardian Extraordinary from around here."

Master Tian said honestly, his tone carrying a hint of heaviness, "He is a Guardian Extraordinary from the Black Zone, and now... he is still alive."

Black Zone?

The expressions of Cheng Ye and Matthew Lee changed simultaneously.

The Black Zone is a "forbidden zone" of the entire East Continent, holding remnants of the Extraordinary Mother Source not fully eradicated in the past, lingering S3 Extraordinaries, and some self-sealed Guardian Extraordinaries.

They are either insane to the point of losing rationality or confined to specific areas, each extremely dangerous.

"You’ve been to the Black Zone?" Matthew Lee’s voice immediately became serious, with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

"Back then, when escaping for my life, I lost my way in panic and ran all the way there."

Master Tian rarely curled his lips into a bitter smile, "I had an S-level bounty on me. There was nowhere else I could survive except the Black Zone. But it wasn’t as terrifying as the outside world says. There are even settlements on its fringes. The people there revere the Guardian Extraordinaries who wander in the Black Zone, establishing a belief system and gaining protection from certain Guardian Extraordinaries."

"I’ve heard other Inspectors mention those settlements." Matthew Lee nodded, with a hint of lament in his tone, "They abandoned technology long ago, reverting to primitive thinking, living like ascetic monks. But a few years ago, when the Black Zone expanded again, all news from those settlements ceased—uncertain if they were swallowed or migrated."

He looked Master Tian up and down and suddenly smiled, "Not bad, surviving an S-level bounty and having visited the Black Zone—if you had someone package your experience, you might become a grassroots legend ten or twenty years from now."

Master Tian wasn’t in the mood for jokes, only giving a wry smile, staring dazedly at the tabletop.

Cheng Ye brought the topic back: "What is Farmer’s ability?"

Master Tian’s smile vanished instantly, and he sighed, "He only appears in the Black Zone; no one outside can grasp his ability completely, only two vague concepts: ’planting’ and ’harvesting.’"

He pointed to his chest, with a hint of fear in his voice, "I am the ’fertile soil’ he set his sights on. The belief he implanted in me back then was the ’seed’ he planted. He didn’t kill me because he’s waiting for this seed to grow, waiting for the right time to harvest me. As for what he’ll reap, I’m not sure—perhaps my belief, or maybe my life."

"Will he chase to Happiness City?"

"How could he?" Matthew Lee couldn’t help but laugh, waving his hand, "Those Guardian Extraordinaries were driven into the Black Zone by a human coalition and sealed away using special methods. Besides, Guardian Extraordinaries aren’t undefeatable, just that the conditions are extremely harsh..."

Guardian Extraordinaries can be dealt with?

Cheng Ye’s mind stirred; he wanted to inquire further but restrained himself.

Though Matthew Lee knew many secrets, methods of dealing with Guardian Extraordinaries likely required clearance, and pursuing the question further might not yield answers.

Besides, Jiang Chuan wanted to send over a batch of books, supposedly containing information about Guardian Extraordinaries.

However, the Wanderer had already confirmed his departure by that time, and Cheng Ye was busy on duty with no leisure to read them, letting Jiang Chuan send the books for photocopying and encapsulation. He hadn’t retrieved them until now.

"Looks like I need to find some time to fetch the books and study them closely,"

Cheng Ye pondered in his heart.

Not hoping to defeat Guardian Extraordinaries, but at least to know how to avoid risks and not end up like Master Tian, influenced without knowing why.

"Master Tian, since we’ve talked it out, I’ll try to find opportunities later to help you look into Farmer’s abilities and see if there’s a way to counter them."

Cheng Ye mused, smiling, "Consider the previous talks about trade routes and the future just as friendly chats among friends. Now that you know the trade route, if you decide someday, you’re welcome to join anytime. Even if you choose not to, we’re still friends, and it doesn’t change anything."

He said this while uncovering the pot lid, and a rich aroma of pickled cabbage filled the air, smiling as he invited, "Come on, eat! Let’s treat tonight as a friends’ gathering and put everything else aside."

Seeing this, Matthew Lee immediately chuckled, stretching his chopsticks to grab a piece of fish, "It should have been like this earlier! I nearly drooled from the aroma just now."

The tender fish wrapped in the tang of pickled cabbage exploded with juices in his mouth, causing Matthew Lee’s eyes to brighten as he couldn’t help but exclaim, "I didn’t expect, Inspector Cheng, that your cooking skills are comparable to those of seasoned foodies!"

"Master Tian, dig in."

Actually, right after those words were said, Master Tian’s compliance level in the top right corner of the panel had already skyrocketed to 78%.

Based on past experience, a little more persuasion, and Master Tian would likely relent and join the caravan.

But, there’s no need.

The shackles on Master are too numerous—not only the restraints of belief but also the hidden life expectancy risks brought by apparent superpowers.

To have him lead a caravan, bearing the risks running through the Wilderness, would be genuine "selling one’s life," and there’s no need to push someone to that extent.

"Thank you, Chief Cheng, and thank you, Inspector Li."

Master Tian decided not to stand on ceremony any longer, picking up his chopsticks to take a piece of fish and chewing it carefully.

The sense of happiness brought by the food gradually relaxed his tense nerves.

For the rest of the time, the three didn’t mention the Extraordinary or the caravan, instead, they talked about the situation outside the city.