Chapter 13: Fire Rescue
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
A red Ferrari 599 dashed out of the automatic doors of the National Order Council building like a wild horse.
The powerful G force pressed Xia Ping’an’s entire person tightly into the passenger seat of the car.
The path from the main entrance of the National Order Council building to the main road was a few hundred meters long, but they had already dashed to the end in a matter of seconds. The red sports car did a perfect 90-degree drift at the end of the path, letting out an ear-piercing screech as its tires skid across the road. Once on the road, it immediately began to speed up.
F*ck!
Xia Ping’an had never imagined that such a sunny beauty like An Qing could actually drive wildly.
What was even more shocking was that An Qing did not seem to slow down as she reached out a hand, took out warning light from beside her seat, opened the window, and placed the light on the roof of the car. When the warning lights came to life, An Qing had already closed the window. The sound of the siren from outside was greatly muted.
This was a woman who could drive a Ferrari with one hand!
She was driving so fast, yet she had a calm face, as though she was sitting in a sight-seeing vehicle.
“Actually, more than 90% of the requests for the National Order Council’s help from the various government departments and organizations have nothing to do with dimensional invasions and supernatural factors. Nevertheless, we have to send someone over to be sure.”
An Qing started chatting with Xia Ping’an as she drove. It was as though she was the elder sister next door who was patiently tutoring her junior in his studies. “In the past, such matters were handled personally by the director. He was the only one in the National Order Council Xianghe City branch Special Forces Unit with clairvoyance. Now that you are here, he will throw all cases requiring clairvoyance to you. Among all the abilities of the Awakened, clairvoyance is the most versatile. That is why he was in such a hurry to recruit you. He wanted to slack off.”
“Sis, you should probably focus on driving. I do not wish to read about my own traffic accident in the newspaper tomorrow,” Xia Ping’an said as he swept a glance at the car’s speedometer that had already reached 180 kilometers/hour.
An Qing laughed softly and continued to floor the accelerator, leaving behind a group of cyclists who were practicing far behind them. She left the athletes stunned and staring wide-eyed at her as she left them in the dust. “Are you that much of a coward? Big Tu said that you were quite courageous to even follow a demonic rat down tunnels.”
“I just want to live a little longer,” Xia Ping’an replied as he looked at the road ahead. An image had already appeared in his mind. “After the right turn up ahead, there is an old man on a motorcycle who has stopped to pick up a box of apples that he dropped. You will crash into him right after you turn. You’d better slow down.”
“You are definitely qualified to be a navigator,” An Qing ed with a gentle laugh. As she said this, the car immediately slowed down. A few seconds later, as the Ferrari turned the corner and passed by a forest by the side of the road, they saw the old man squatting down to pick up apples on the road. The Ferrari cruised slowly past him, posing no danger to him.
A few minutes later, Xia Ping’an could already see a plume of black smoke rising into the sky above Xianghe City with his own eyes. Once he saw the black smoke, he knew that the fire was out of control.
An Qing drove very fast. After a few more minutes, the red Ferrari followed behind a few fire engines and headed towards the fire near the Lyra Shopping Complex.
Police lines had already been drawn up on the surrounding streets. Large groups of people were dashing out from the doors beneath the shopping complex. There were dozens of fire engines parked in the streets. Teams of firefighters were dragging hoses and running around.
Since this place was considered downtown, the crowd and traffic were busier here. There were traffic police dispersing and coordinating traffic.
An Qing stopped the car by the side of the road. She took out a lanyard and passed it to Xia Ping’an. “Put this on,” she instructed as she did the same.
Both of them got out of the car and immediately walked over towards the shopping complex.
The policeman setting up the police lines saw the two of them walking towards him. He swept a glance at the lanyards they wore and then at An Qing. He did not ask anything and allowed them both to enter past the police lines.
The shopping complex was filled with thick smoke. The fire was already coming out through the windows of the shopping complex. It had grown very large. There was also thick smoke and flames coming from the apartments above the shopping complex. The situation was dire.
The fire engines had already raised their ladders and were using high-pressure water cannons to suppress the flames. Firefighters were dashing into the smoking shopping complex to rescue some of the elderly and children who had yet to evacuate.
Some people in the apartments waved their arms or towels by the windows, attracting the attention of the people downstairs.
The two fire engines with scaling ladders were parked downstairs. The scaling ladders kept extending upwards as the firefighters began their mission of saving those who were trapped in the apartments. On the ground, inflated air cushions were set up.
A few men in firefighter uniforms and a few men in suits were discussing something loudly amid the few fire engines. They were looking at a map as they engaged in an intense debate.
“As soon as most of the people in the mall were evacuated, my teammates rushed into the building. They are currently searching for people who are trapped in the mall and in the apartments. The smoke is too dense. The rescue team is still figuring their way around.”
“The fire is spreading rapidly. There are more than 300 units in the apartments. We can’t possibly go through every single room.”
“The property manager told us that there are still people trapped in the basement, but he is unsure of their exact location.”
“Where are the drones? Send some drones to carry the water nozzles up first.”
The expression of a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of the Fire Department chief eased up when he saw Xia Ping’an and An Qing walking over. He walked over hurriedly towards them.
“Thank goodness. You have finally arrived. Miss An, didn’t Director Mo come with you?” the man asked as he looked behind them.
An Qing introduced, “Chief Fei, here’s my new colleague. Director Mo has sent both of us here to assist your team.”
When the chief from the Fire Department heard An Qing’s introduction, only then did he look at Xia Ping’an properly. Chief Fei revealed a doubtful look as he said, “Can he...can he see the situation inside?”
Xia Ping’an stared at the complex covered in thick smoke and flame. Right away he said, “A few people are trapped in the second basement floor of the shopping complex. They are at passageway No.5 that connects Area B to the shelter.”
At this moment, Xia Ping’an didn’t have to explain further. It was best to showcase his ability in front of the other party.
When Chief Fei heard Xia Ping’an’s words, his facial expression changed. He immediately seized a transceiver and gave out instructions for his team to rescue the people trapped inside the building.
Xia Ping’an expanded his view. Countless images of people being in the burning building continuously appeared in his mind.
“Shopping complex second floor. East court. Two ladies and two children are trapped in the women’s restroom.
“Shopping complex fourth floor. Joy’s Kitchen. There are seven restaurant workers trapped in the kitchen’s freezer.
“One of your firefighters is injured at the fifth floor staircase. He can’t move now. The smoke is very dense there. Please send someone to rescue him immediately.
“Apartment Room 6011. A child is hiding under the sofa in the living room.
“Apartment Room 7031. An old man in a wheelchair has fainted in the living room.
“Apartment Room 7066. A mother is hiding in the bathroom with her children.
“Apartment Room 8009. There are three children in the bedroom.
“Shopping complex second floor. East court, Area B3. A firefighter is trapped amid the fire. Please send help immediately.”
With Xia Ping’an’s accurate information, the rescue team was able to move more efficiently with clear directions.
In moments like this, the presence of a summoner with clairvoyance could speed up the rescue by more than 10 times.
While Xia Ping’an was utilizing his clairvoyance to continuously report on the situation in the shopping complex and the apartments, the facial expression of An Qing, who had her eyes closed, gradually turned solemn.
Summoners were sensitive towards summoning techniques and other supernatural powers. Amid the burning shopping complex and apartments, which were now covered in thick smoke and flame, An Qing could sense the residue of a flame caused by supernatural powers.
This fire was not an accident. It was caused by supernatural powers.
Just when Xia Ping’an was scanning the entire building with his clairvoyance, an image suddenly popped up in his mind.
In Room 9089 on the ninth floor of the apartments, three corpses were dismembered. Their heads and limbs were cut off from their torsos.
Still dripping in blood, the three torsos, six arms, and six legs were arranged into the pattern of an eye in the room. The three heads were located in the center of the pattern, where the pupil was supposed to be. The heads had gaping mouths and agonized expressions.
Blood covered every corner of the room. The pattern made using the dismembered corpses was bizarre and frightening. Blood oozed out from the eye, making it seem like there was a petrifying eye that was crying tears of blood.
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