Chapter 306: Chemical Plant Explosion Case

Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Chemical Plant Explosion Case

By then, only a few dozen seconds had passed since the first explosion when a second, even more violent one erupted.

A shockwave even larger than the last one struck again, and the towering inferno turned the nearby sky crimson.

The screams of the pedestrians were rendered insignificant by the blast, yet they sounded so pitiful.

After this explosion, the air in the area filled with an indescribable, acrid stench. The surroundings took on an eerie, grayish-green hue.

Combined with the soaring flames and dense smoke, the area looked like a scene from the apocalypse.

Just then, a convoy of fire trucks sped onto the scene, stopping in an open area nearby.

Dozens of firefighters leaped from the trucks, grabbed their hoses, and marched with resolute steps toward the towering inferno.

"Don’t go! Don’t go, it’s too dangerous!"

"Don’t go over there! The fire’s too big, you can’t put it out! Come back!"

"We don’t know if there’ll be a third explosion! Don’t go!"

Just then, a chorus of shouts rose from the crowd behind them, all begging the firefighters not to go, their voices laced with worry.

The situation at the fire was unknown, and a third explosion could happen at any moment.

For them to go in now was a suicide mission!

People weren’t just shouting. An older woman jogged over and grabbed the sleeve of a firefighter at the back of the line. Seeing the young face hidden beneath his helmet, her voice filled with heartache, "You’re so young. Don’t go. Please, I’m begging you.

All of you, just come back, okay?"

The firefighter she’d stopped reached out and patted the woman’s shoulder reassuringly. "Don’t worry, ma’am. Our commander is very experienced. We’ll definitely complete this mission successfully.

It’s dangerous here, you should all get back. I have to go, my team is waiting for me."

With that, he gently freed his sleeve from the woman’s grasp, turned, and hurried to catch up with his teammates ahead.

Watching their fearless figures march into the inferno, Zoe Sawyer felt a pang of sorrow.

A long time passed like this, but not a single person came out.

Several more waves of firefighters were even sent in as reinforcements, but Zoe Sawyer never saw anyone come out.

Zoe Sawyer’s heart sank. ’Did they all die? Nearly a hundred firefighters?’

And so, Zoe Sawyer stared at the inferno before her, listening to the discussions and sobs of the crowd behind her, the ominous feeling in her heart growing more and more intense.

But before she could see the final outcome, the door gently pushed Zoe Sawyer back, then slammed shut with a BANG.

Unlike the last time, however, Zoe Sawyer only stumbled back a few steps, steadying herself by grabbing a nearby table.

"Are you okay?" Sean Hughes stepped forward and steadied Zoe Sawyer by the shoulders, a worried expression on his face. "You were in there for over an hour this time, and you were thrown back at the beginning. Did something terrible happen?"

Moreover, Zoe Sawyer’s face was deathly pale, and she looked ready to collapse.

This only made the few others watching from the sidelines even more concerned.

Whatever could make Zoe Sawyer lose her composure like this couldn’t be anything simple!

"It’s a catastrophe!" Zoe Sawyer took a deep breath, as if the acrid stench she’d just smelled still lingered in her nostrils. "A factory warehouse storing hazardous chemicals caught fire, and then two explosions went off in less than a minute."

"The surrounding residential areas were severely affected, pedestrians were badly injured, and no less than a hundred firefighters went into the blaze, but... I didn’t see a single one come out."

Zoe Sawyer recounted what she had seen in the most succinct terms possible.

The entire office fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone’s jaws dropped in disbelief. ’What did we just hear? An explosion of hazardous chemicals?’

’So many innocent people caught up in it, over a hundred firefighters lost, and the economic damage would be astronomical.’

No wonder Zoe Sawyer had said it was a catastrophe.

This couldn’t be delayed. They had to report it to the Chief immediately. This was far beyond what their small team could handle!

With a grave expression, Evan Keller quickly pulled out his phone, called the Chief, and briefly recounted what Zoe Sawyer had just seen.

The call was hung up almost instantly, and less than a minute later, the Chief himself appeared at the office doorway.

"Sawyer, is everything you just said true?" The Chief’s expression was grim, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He looked at Zoe Sawyer with a sliver of hope, wishing to hear a negative answer.

But his hopes were dashed. By now, Zoe Sawyer had composed herself after witnessing the explosion. Hearing the Chief’s question, she shook her head. "Chief, I understand what you’re hoping for, but... it’s real."

The Chief took a deep breath, wiped his face, and pushed his emotions aside, reverting to his usual unflappable demeanor. He began rapidly issuing orders: "If it’s real, then we can’t waste any more time. Liam, you work with Sawyer and find the exact address of the company involved. The rest of you, be ready to move out for support at a moment’s notice.

Once Sawyer confirms the location, I’ll immediately contact the head of that jurisdiction. We have to resolve this massive threat before it happens."

After giving out the assignments, the Chief decided not to leave. He simply found a chair, sat down, and prepared to wait for the results.

Zoe Sawyer recalled the scene inside the factory, her mind finally locking onto the signature on a banner she had seen.

Based on what she had witnessed, Zoe Sawyer stated the company name from that signature.

Soon, Officer Lee had found the corresponding company and its location.

"It’s an international logistics company. As for the location, it’s in Torvin," Officer Lee said, looking at the information he’d pulled up and quickly relaying the key points to the others.

Zoe Sawyer stared at the retrieved factory layout, pointed to a specific area, and asked Officer Lee to zoom in on it, hoping to get a look inside.

Officer Lee didn’t ask why, simply acting with swift efficiency to pull up what Zoe Sawyer needed.

A detailed blueprint of the factory floor appeared before Zoe Sawyer.

Seeing the familiar ceiling height in the image, as well as the clock and banner on the wall, Zoe Sawyer immediately confirmed that this was the place where the hazardous chemicals were stored.

After seeing the factory image and hearing Zoe Sawyer’s description of the quantities, Barry Quinn frowned in confusion, his tone laced with uncertainty. "Logically speaking, with that amount, the force of the second explosion shouldn’t have been that powerful!"

But Zoe Sawyer had described the second explosion as being much more powerful than the first.

"Unless... there’s another location stockpiled with even more hazardous chemicals."