Chapter 16

Josh immediately turned his head and was horrified—dozens of electrical wires were sparking wildly beside a large stack of high-proof alcohol storage barrels. The smell of burning leather was almost masked by the strong scent of alcohol, which had prevented anyone from noticing the danger. One of the barrels was already warped from the heat, ready to leak. Without a second thought, Josh shouted to Maximo, "Quick! Get everyone out of the workshop and shut off the power!" Maximo noticed the sparking wires and the barrel that was about to leak. With years of experience in the distillery, he understood all too well what would happen if the alcohol leaked. Alcohol with a purity of over 80% could ignite everything around it, including dozens of large plastic barrels filled with the same concentration. If the fire spread, the entire workshop would become an inferno, potentially igniting the adjacent storage warehouse! Maximo turned and ran back without hesitation, shouting, "Everyone leave immediately! Fire is about to break out! Shut off the factory's electrical circuit!" The workers in the workshop were still confused about what was happening, looking around in surprise. Some even thought he was joking and didn't rush to leave. Josh panicked, seeing that hundreds of people were still doing business. He ran over, grabbed a large basin, and smashed it on the ground, producing a loud crash. With everyone finally looking at him, he yelled anxiously, "This is no joke! We're about to have a fire! Run!" Maximo joined in, shouting nonstop, and only then did the workers realize that something was seriously wrong. They didn't seem to be joking. Some began to run outside, while others dawdled or even tried to see what was happening. Josh felt like he could explode with frustration, wishing he could twist their heads off to see what was inside them. Didn't they understand that being reckless could lead to death? It took Maximo's shoving and scolding to finally get everyone moving. At that moment, a loud explosion echoed from behind them. The high temperature surged forward as Josh watched a large barrel burst, igniting the alcohol from the sparks and transforming into a river of flames that rushed toward them. Without thinking, he grabbed Maximo's hand and pulled him out. Maximo was slower due to his age, and as they neared the exit, Josh suddenly heard a massive explosion from behind. Without hesitation, he pushed Maximo out just in time, but a wave of heat followed, and a powerful shockwave sent Josh flying several feet away. He fell hard to the ground. The workshop erupted into flames, and the workers were left stunned. Had they been just a moment slower, they might not have survived. Maximo was relatively fortunate, having been pulled away in time. When he turned back and saw Josh being blown away, he gasped, "Quick! Save him!" The workers finally realized their lives had been saved thanks to Josh's timely warning. They rushed over to check on him. He had severe injuries on his back, blood pouring from his mouth and nose, and his lips were turning purple. "Quick! Get him to the hospital!" Someone hurried to drive a factory vehicle over. Hearing the commotion, Jonathan Cobb, the distillery director, rushed out and was taken aback by the situation. How could the workshop catch fire so suddenly? Moreover, the flames were so fierce that there was no way they could control it. Just then, the fire department arrived. Without needing directions, they quickly headed toward the area with the most immense flames. Jonathan was astonished; the fire had just started, yet the fire department had arrived quickly. "It must be Josh Tate!" A worker rushed over to Jonathan and said, "He must have called the fire department ahead of time! If it weren't for his warning, we would all have been burned alive!" "Josh Tate? You mean the young guy who sells sandwiches at the entrance?" Jonathan was surprised and then added instinctively, "How did he know there would be a fire? He didn't set it, did he?" "Shut your mouth!" Maximo, furious, pointed a finger at him. "Are you even human? Josh risked his life to save others, and you accuse him of starting the fire? I've been with him since he entered the factory—am I his accomplice too?" Jonathan's face turned red from being scolded; Maximo used to be his superior, so he was too embarrassed to retaliate. Moreover, the workers were all quick to support Josh. They knew he was selling sandwiches; he had no reason to set a fire. If Jonathan continued to speak like that, they wouldn't hesitate to spit on him. Realizing he had misspoken, he quickly apologized. "Josh! Josh!" Oliver ran over, panting heavily, calling out Josh's name. Seeing Josh unconscious and injured nearly made him faint from shock. Jonathan didn't hesitate; this was the lifesaver for hundreds of factory workers, so he hurriedly ordered someone to send Josh to the hospital. Fortunately, the fire department arrived in time. Although the workshop was in ruins, it hadn't spread to the adjacent storage area. If the storage were also burned down, a year's worth of hard work would be wasted, and the entire factory could go bankrupt. Jonathan felt a sense of relief. As long as no one died the economic losses could be addressed. This made him even more grateful to Josh. Without Josh, he might be facing serious repercussions for negligence. Not just Jonathan but all the factory workers were immensely grateful to Josh. He single-handedly saved the entire factory, even those not on duty in the workshop. With the flames spreading, who knew where they would stop? "May the heavens protect him! Good people will be rewarded!" Maximo prayed with his hands clasped together, then jumped up to shout at the workers, "You all remember who saved your lives! If Josh can return safely to sell his sandwiches, you better not be stingy! Do you hear me?" A worker shouted, "Do you think we need you to tell us? From now on, I'll buy his sandwiches every day!" "I give most of my salary to my family, so I might not be able to buy that much. But from now on, if Josh sets up his stall at the factory gate, whoever dares to talk back to him, I'll take care of them! That's a promise because he's my lifesaver!" "Same here! From now on, Josh is like my brother. Anyone who mistreats him will be my lifelong enemy!" The workers shouted. Then, they all rushed to the hospital under Jonathan's lead to check on Josh's injuries. It went without saying that the factory would cover the medical expenses. Jonathan even personally slipped Oliver a thousand dollars as a token of gratitude. Oliver initially refused to accept it, but Jonathan insisted, "This is for saving lives. If you think the lives of our factory workers aren't worth even a thousand dollars, don't take it." After hearing that, Oliver felt he couldn't refuse any longer.