Chapter 270: Is the fire an accident?

Hey, Han Team.

Where are you, Xu Mo? The Weishi Building caught fire; someone heard an explosion while it was burning, so the fire was likely caused by an explosion. I suspect this is a terrorist attack—we're on our way there now; you should come too.

Xu Mo: "......"

As expected, I guessed right.

This really isn't an ordinary fire.

It's a fire caused by an explosion.

If I'm not mistaken, it's just as Han Fei suspected—this really is a terrorist attack!

You know, he just arrived here, and then this happened.

His Conan physique is almost too strong……

Really, wherever he is, something happens.

Xu Mo, are you listening?

I'm listening, Han Team—I'm nearby and I saw smoke coming from the Weishi Building.

Then you go first; we'll be right behind." After saying that, Han Fei hastily hung up the phone.

Just a moment ago everything was fine—how did it catch fire after just a cup of coffee…" Song Yixue murmured.

At the same time, he also looked toward Xu Mo.

Wait, shouldn't firefighters handle fires? Why are you police involved in firefighting?

Xu Mo's preparation to join the police is something Song Yixue knows.

This came up casually when Han Fei later called her to say he was quitting the show.

So hearing what Xu Mo said on the phone just now, she wasn't surprised at all.

"We don't handle firefighting," Xu Mo said with a wry smile: "but arson is a criminal case, which falls under our jurisdiction. Someone reported hearing an explosion, so this is very likely a terrorist attack—arson."

An explosion? I didn't hear any explosion just now.

The café is some distance from the Weishi Building, and they were playing music inside, so not hearing it is normal," Xu Mo explained.

Wait, this is the Weishi Building—you work on a show… isn't your office right here?" Xu Mo asked, pointing at the smoking Weishi Building.

Song Yixue nodded blankly.

Besides, looking at the floors, the smoking floor might be the one I work on… let me count.

Saying that, Song Yixue began counting the floors of the building.

Xu Mo:???

Don't mess around!

It can't be that much of a coincidence!

Fortunately, after counting floor by floor, Song Yixue shook her head.

No, I'm on the 15th floor; the fire is on the 13th.

……

A fire like this is something Xu Mo can't handle alone.

All he can do is evacuate the crowd.

And try to ensure that no stampede occurs during the evacuation, causing casualties.

Not long after.

Fire trucks and police cars arrived one after another.

The police continued the work Xu Mo hadn't finished, began evacuating the crowd, and set up police lines.

The firefighters immediately went upstairs, preparing to put out the fire.

They also deployed the fire ladder vehicle, preparing to rescue those trapped in the fire scene.

After the evacuation was complete, the police had nothing left to do.

Firefighting isn't their job; even if they wanted to help, their expertise doesn't match.

Rashly helping might even hinder the effort.

They could only watch helplessly as the firefighters went to fight the fire.

At the same time, they prayed that no one would lose their life in this fire.

When did you get here, and did you hear an explosion when you arrived?" Han Fei asked Xu Mo.

Xu Mo shook his head: "When I arrived, everything was fine. After sitting in the café for a while, I came out and saw the Weishi Building smoking. I didn't hear any explosion—I was still in the café, some distance from the building."

Upon hearing that, Han Fei couldn't help but frown.

I don't know what's been going on lately—everything's happening, and the crime rate keeps climbing!

Xu Mo gave an embarrassed laugh and didn't respond.

Given the nature of this Conan physique reward, future cases will probably only increase……

This explosion case is just a beginning.

……

Half an hour later.

The firefighters came down from upstairs.

Seeing the firefighters who had finished putting out the fire come down, Han Fei immediately stepped forward to ask.

Hard work, comrade—how's the situation upstairs?

The fire is out," the firefighter replied: "The blaze wasn't too big, but there are casualties—a few minor burns, a few overcome by smoke, all rescued and ready to be sent to the hospital, plus one fatality. We tried not to disturb the scene while fighting the fire, so the body is still upstairs; let me take you up to have a look.

Okay," Han Fei nodded.

Afterwards, he greeted the officers, and together they followed the firefighter upstairs.

After bringing the officers to the fire scene, the firefighter spoke.

"Based on the fire conditions, we judge that the fire started here, in the Restroom. We suspect someone casually tossed a cigarette butt into the trash can, causing the blaze, which spread and burned to death one person who was using the restroom, and also injured several others."

"Can a Restroom fire get this big? Can it even kill someone?" Chen Ke was a bit stunned.

The Restroom is barely a tiny space, and it's full of water everywhere; for it to blaze that large is quite absurd!

Moreover, if it were truly the trash can catching fire, it should be easy to extinguish.

You have to know, this is a Male Restroom; a trash can fire… a splash of urine would douse it. How did this fire even start?

"Fires can start anywhere. Don't underestimate the Restroom just because it's small; there are plenty of flammable materials inside—paper in the trash can, wooden partitions, and, since these are squat toilets, stagnant waste can produce a certain amount of methane if not cleaned promptly, so it's not surprising it could ignite," the firefighter explained.

He paused, then pointed to two blackened, charred piles on the floor that were no longer recognizable, and added.

"This spot is a blower; wherever there's airflow, fire spreads quickly and fiercely. I suspect this blower caused the fire to spread too fast, ultimately leading to the tragedy… As for this, it's a cleaning vehicle, loaded entirely with flammable material, including combustible cleaning agents, and not only the contents—the vehicle itself is made of plastic, which ignites easily."

Han Fei, standing nearby, hadn't voiced any opinion up to now.

She was just clasping her chin, listening to the firefighter, while also pondering something.

After the firefighter finished speaking, Han Fei finally spoke.

"A trash can fire, a blower accelerating the spread, a methane explosion further intensifying the blaze, and a cleaning vehicle loaded with flammable material on site… So it's very possible this wasn't arson but an accidental fire leading to a tragedy?"

"That possibility exists," the firefighter nodded.

He's seen many fire scenes.

Among them are many oddly peculiar fire locations.

The causes of fires are even more varied; all kinds exist.

Restroom fires, he's seen more than once.

Therefore, he doesn't find anything suspicious about this fire.

But at that moment, Xu Mo, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up.

"No, this must be arson! The blower and the cleaning vehicle must have been deliberately placed here by someone!"

The officers instantly turned to Xu Mo, not knowing why he suddenly said that.

Could it be that Xu Mo noticed something amiss?