A Tinderbox of Vengeance

Boom!

A deafening blast swallowed every sound in the world. My eardrums felt as if a red-hot iron rod had been driven straight through them, sending a skull-splitting buzz reverberating through my head.

But because of the order I'd issued beforehand, every member of my team had avoided the direct impact in those crucial seconds before the explosion. They protected themselves to the greatest extent possible, reducing the damage to a minimum.

George and Lisa weren't nearly as lucky.

The moment George flicked the lighter, completely unprepared, he didn't even have time to scream before a blue fireball surged forward and swallowed him whole.

Standing so close to him, Lisa didn't escape either. The violent shockwave hurled her into the air and slammed her against a load-bearing wall with a sickening thud.

The fire-resistant suit she wore blackened and carbonized under the terrifying heat, releasing thin curls of white smoke.

A few seconds later, the fiercest wave of the blast finally subsided.

Fighting through the ringing in my ears and the ache in my shaken organs, I pushed myself off the ground and shouted, "Sound off!"

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Captain, everyone's present—no serious injuries!" Josh's voice rose from within the smoke, tinged with the relief of someone who had just survived disaster.

Once I confirmed that all team members had escaped with nothing more than impact injuries and scrapes, I issued orders immediately.

"Team One, with me—put out the flames! Keep the fire contained! Team Two, prepare for search and rescue!"

I grabbed an extinguisher and rushed toward the gas tank still burning.

Minutes later, the remaining flames were under control.

When I reached Lisa, she had already fallen unconscious. Her cheeks and neck were covered with horrifying blisters from severe burns.

Beside her, George was beyond recognition—his entire body charred black, only his chest rising and falling with the faintest trace of life.

I wouldn't deny it—my heart went numb for a single, fleeting moment.

All the resentment and tangled history between us flashed through my mind like fragments of an old silent film.

But my professional instinct kicked in in an instant. The next moment, the two of them became nothing more than injured civilians in need of emergency aid.

That was my duty—nothing to do with love or hate.

My hands didn't pause for even a second as I calmly directed the rescue effort.

After getting downstairs, I transferred the wounded to the medical staff already waiting outside.

The accident investigation team and police had arrived as well.

Director Rick Bollen, who was leading the group, walked over and patted my shoulder. "Finn, good work. What's the situation inside?"

I straightened, stood at attention, and saluted him crisply.

"Sir! The fire has been extinguished and the severely injured have been transported to the hospital."