Chapter 3

3: 3

Deputy Director Chester Finch pushed through the crowd, his face flushed. He looked like he'd been drinking.

"What's going on here? Why are you all crowded outside Engineer Fox's door in the middle of the night?"

Russell hurried over to explain. "Director Finch, it's like this. The chlorine tank valve is jammed, there's a leak risk, so I asked Engineer Fox to come take a look. Not only did he refuse, he claimed he doesn't know the technical side. That's a flat-out lie, isn't it?"

Chester sobered a little. "How does a valve get jammed? What did you do to it? What's the situation right now? Is it leaking?"

The questions came one after another, and they only made Russell more nervous.

"It, it just seized up during normal operation. It's not leaking yet, but if we don't get it working again soon, there's a risk it will."

Chester frowned. "Who normally handles this kind of thing?"

Russell's eyes flickered.

"Me, and one other foreman. He's back home on annual leave."

"And you can't fix it?"

Russell's gaze slid away.

"I tried a few times. It really won't move. I was afraid forcing it would cause a problem, so I came to get Engineer Fox."

I spoke through the door. "Director Finch, given the situation, I'd advise reporting this to the emergency authorities. Call 911, get the police and paramedics out too, and evacuate the plant workers and the nearby residents immediately."

Chester was about to nod when Russell grabbed his arm.

"Director Finch, we can't call this in. Right now the plant's up for its safety certification, this is the critical moment. If a response unit shows up, even with no accident, it goes on record. Our safety rating drops, and we lose the qualification to even bid on that twenty-million-dollar government contract."

The alcohol drained out of Chester in an instant, and his brow tightened.

"You're right. We can't call it in."

He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Engineer Fox, look, this is a small problem. No need to alarm the higher-ups. Go take a look, and I'll thank you on behalf of the whole plant."

Russell changed his tone too.

"Engineer Fox, I admit I got worked up earlier. I was just anxious. It hasn't leaked yet, there's still time. But if we keep dragging this out, everyone living around here is going to suffer."

I figured with this many people here as witnesses, surely he couldn't pin it on me.

I was about to open the door when my phone chimed sharply with a text.

【Don't open the door. Russell has already staged the scene. The second you go in, he'll use "no unauthorized personnel near the site" as an excuse to send you in alone.】

【The cameras are broken. You won't be able to defend yourself. It's still a dead end.】

I froze and pulled my hand back.

I refused, keeping it polite.

"I'm really sorry, but I genuinely don't understand the specific structure of this equipment. Forcing my way through it could make things worse. I still recommend you call this in right away."

Chester's expression shifted, and the respect went out of his voice.

"Engineer Fox, isn't that excuse a bit thin? I'm the one in charge of safety here. A minor issue like this is nothing to a man like you. Are you holding out because you want money?"

"Relax. Tomorrow I'll have finance send you a thousand dollars in service fees."

Russell chimed in from the side, voice dripping. "Director Finch, I offered him two thousand and he thought it was too little and sent it back. A thousand? Our great Engineer Fox won't even glance at that."

Before I could explain, Russell posted the screenshot of his transfer to me in the whole-plant group chat.

Then he tagged me. 【Engineer Fox, I make six thousand a month. That was a third of my salary. I know it's not what you're worth, but do the plant a favor and just fix the valve.】

The message jolted awake most of the night owls in the group, and one snide reply after another flooded the screen.

【Two thousand to fix a valve and he thinks it's too little? Does he really think he's some master?】

【A little job like that and he wants money? Eating, drinking, and living here for free, and this is the ingrate we raised.】

【Send it to their supervisor. Somebody with character this bad has no business being a safety inspector!】

Russell pressed Chester from outside.

"Director Finch, we can't wait any longer. If it leaks, the plant is finished."

Chester gritted his teeth and shouted through the door. "Engineer Fox, I'll ask you one more time. Are you going or not?"

I couldn't stop shaking.

Not from anger. From fear.

【Call it in. Russell is cornered and desperate. They'll drag you off by force.】

I dialed 911 fast.

"Hello, I'm at the Everlast Chemical Plant in the east suburbs. Workers say the chlorine tank valve is jammed and there's a chlorine leak hazard. Please send a unit immediately."