Outside the Cafeteria
After hearing the shouts about the fire, Johny Lee, Tammy, and the others immediately ran out of the cafeteria like everyone else, craning their necks to look at the Grey Building.
The fire was in the building where the General Office was located, but it was on the second floor, quite a distance from their actual office so it shouldn't spread to their workspace.
However, thick smoke billowed out from the middle section of the second floor into the corridor, pouring out of the windows with a whooshing sound, indicating the fire was quite large.
"Whose office is that? How did it catch fire?"
"Quick, call the fire department!"
"Already called!"
Many people had gathered in the compound, creating a chaotic scene.
At first, Johny didn't pay much attention; a fire was just a fire, and as long as he wasn't in it, it had nothing to do with him. But when he turned his head and saw Section Chief Lee and Director Zane's pale faces, he instantly realized something.
He looked again at the smoky spot on the second floor.
Damn it! That's Section Chief Lee's private office!
Lee yelled, "Quick! Everyone from the General Office, follow me!"
Zane nervously wiped sweat from his forehead, following closely behind Lee and rushing toward the Grey Building. "Quick! Put out the fire! Put out the fire!"
Jack and Paul had already sprinted ahead. Johny also knew the situation was bad and hurried over with Tammy and Samson, running with all their might.
Johny knew clearly that the cause of the fire must have been the faulty electric kettle. Lee and Zane had forgotten to unplug it before leaving for lunch and the responsibility would inevitably fall on them.
Moreover, those two very important classified documents from the morning seemed to still be in Lee's office.
If the office burned down, that was bad enough. But if those irreplaceable documents were destroyed, the fallout would be catastrophic.
The entire General Office might even face a major disciplinary hearing!
The Second Floor Corridor
The hallway was filled with thick, acrid smoke, causing people to cough uncontrollably.
Several staff members from the Political Department and Finance Department were already fighting the blaze, splashing basin after basin of water onto the burning wooden door of Lee's office.
"The door is warped from the heat! Can't open it!"
"Put out the fire on the door frame first! Don't let it spread to the hallway!"
"Quick! Get a few more basins of water! Not enough!"
Section Chief Lee was truly anxious this time. On the way up, he grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it onto the tightly shut door with a sputtering sound.
Jack and Paul couldn't find fire extinguishers, so they anxiously grabbed plastic basins from the cleaning closet, ran to the nearby restroom to fill them with water, and rushed back to throw it on the flames.
A moment later, Jane, Johny, and the others arrived and joined the chaotic bucket brigade.
"What's going on?! Lee! Tell me what's happening!"
At the end of the corridor, a middle-aged man with a stern face strode over, his voice booming over the chaos.
It was the Division's top leader...the iron-faced Director Yancy (Yan Liang)!
Lee stammered frantically, panic written all over his face. "Director Yancy, I... I don't know how the office caught fire!"
He was clearly lying through his teeth to evade immediate responsibility.
Director Yancy pointed a finger at Lee's nose. "Don't give me that! Quickly get the useful documents out!"
"Director Yancy, I... I..." Lee didn't know what to say. "The other files aren't important, but... but the two classified documents you asked me to give to the Confidentiality Section this morning are... are still inside!"
"What did you say?!" Director Yancy's face instantly changed color. "Say that again!?"
The fire extinguisher in Lee's hand ran empty with a pathetic hiss. He dropped it, panicking.
"The Confidentiality Section had a meeting this morning, and there was no one there to sign for the documents, so I took them back to my office to safeguard them. I planned to send them later in the afternoon. Who knew..."
Director Yancy roared, "Are those the kind of documents you can keep in your desk?! Huh?! What did I tell you when I gave them to you! Those are original archives with no backups! There can't be any mistakes!"
Yancy was furious. "You actually threw them in the office and went out to eat? Do you understand security procedures?! Do you understand!?"
Director Zane was sweating profusely beside him, looking like he might faint.
Lee pleaded, "Director, don't worry! I'll get the documents out right away! There should still be time! Still time!"
The fire on the main door was basically extinguished by the water brigade.
Lee looked at the charred wood and shouted loudly to Paul. "Don't worry about the water anymore! Kick the door open and get the documents! They're in the second drawer from the left in the desk in the inner room! Get them out even if you die trying!"
Paul understood immediately.
If he could retrieve the documents at such a critical moment, it would be a massive achievement.....a hero's merit.
He immediately rushed forward to kick the door. Thud! The warped wood made a dull sound but didn't budge.
Johny also saw the opportunity. Just as he was about to step forward to kick the door, Jack suddenly nudged him hard, shoving him aside to steal the spot.
Jack leaped and kicked the door panel with all his might.
Bang!
The weakened door fell inward with a crash!
Seeing his chance to perform snatched away by the bully, Johny almost swore out loud.
I've made a contribution! Jack laughed heartily in his mind and prepared to rush into the office to claim glory.
Paul didn't want to fall behind either, following closely on Jack's heels to run inside!
But just as they crossed the threshold, a wave of intense heat rushed toward them, accompanied by billowing black smoke!
Whoosh!
Jack and Paul were nearly scared to death. They scrambled backward frantically, dodging the raging flames fanned by the sudden influx of oxygen from the open door!
The anxious-faced Lee and Zane yelled from the hallway, "Go quickly! The second drawer!"
Jack and Paul had originally thought the fire was only near the entrance, but they had no idea that the entire room was an inferno.
The large cabinet filled with books, the promotional pamphlets piled in the corner, the computer, the wooden desk, everything was burning.
Looking with lingering fear at the office which was now a sea of fire, Paul and Jack froze. They dared not rush in foolishly.
That would be suicide!
No matter how great the merit, it wasn't worth burning to death!
"No way! The documents must be burned up!" Paul shouted, backing away further.
Jack also kept retreating, shielding his face from the heat.
Lee cursed them as useless under his breath. He clenched his fists, wanting to rush in himself, but after a moment of hesitation at the threshold, he realized he didn't have the courage either.
Looking at the tragic state inside the office, Director Zane leaned against the wall, exhausted.
It's over. Both Lee and I are finished.
"Fire extinguishers are here!" Samson and Tammy ran over from a distance, each carrying a fresh red canister. They started spraying foam inside, but it was like spitting on a bonfire.
In fact, everyone present knew clearly that with such a large fire, paper documents stood no chance.
Director Yancy gritted his teeth and pointed a shaking finger at Lee and Zane. "What are you people in the General Office good for? Huh?"
He took a breath and spoke fiercely. "Do you know what those documents represent? Do you? You in the General Office can't even handle such a small matter! What use are you? Submit your resignation letters to me tomorrow!"
Director Zane knew there was no remedy. He hung his head in despair and said nothing.
He had originally hoped to be promoted before retiring, but now... disgrace awaited him.
Tammy, Paul, and the others from the General Office also felt the weight of the humiliation, lowering their heads to listen to the reprimand.
Section Chief Lee clenched his teeth tightly, unable to say a word.
Resign?
This job was too important to him. His daughter's medical expenses required a large sum every month. If he lost his job and his pension, he wouldn't know how to survive.
But... things had come to this, the fire was too big.
However, just at this moment of despair, there was a splash from the side!
A figure grabbed a full basin of clean water from the floor, lifted it up, and poured it over himself from head to toe.
Splash!
Then, under everyone's stunned gaze, the soaked figure pushed off with his feet and plunged headfirst into the raging sea of fire!
It was Johny Lee !!
Every single person present was completely stunned.
This guy is crazy! He dares to rush into such a big fire?!
"Johny!"
"No!"
"Are you crazy? The documents are already gone! Come back quickly!"
Authors Note:-
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