Chapter 548 Heroic Spirit

In darkness and fog, the funeral procession left Watling Street and headed for the Abney Park cemetery.

scotland yard.

rifle brigade.

military band.

Metropolitan Police.

city ​​police.

water company.

Fire Protection Association.

Thousands of public officials silently saw the dead off, followed by delegations from other cities and gentlemen who came spontaneously.

"This funeral is dedicated to the gentlemen of the Braidwood family who lost their lives in the fire..."

The old man driving the car was infected by this solemn atmosphere. He lowered his voice and said, "The fire broke out at about three o'clock in the morning, and it was barely contained in one area after ten hours."

"While there, buildings were ablaze and there was a constant sound of explosions, from St. Olaf's Church to Battleship Bridge, and from the Thames inland, fully eleven acres were burned."

"Why do you know this matter so clearly?" Lu Li asked.

"God, sir, don't you read the newspaper?"

The old man looked at Lu Li with a devilish expression, and then speculated, "It seems that you are not from London? You came here recently."

"That's right."

"No wonder." The old man explained while driving to keep up with the funeral procession, "The fire alarmed half the city, spectators came from all directions, and the peddlers selling beer, ginger ale, fruit and coffee made a lot of money. Pen, even me."

"The guests paid four times the price for the car, but it was not for staying away from the dangerous area, but for the space to stand on the roof of the car, so as to broaden the view and see more clearly."

Recalling the scene at that time, the old man shook his head, the spectators were too fanatical, the window sills, the roof, the top of the tower, any place where they could settle, were crowded with people.

Tens of thousands of excited cheeks are lit up with heat, no one cares about the danger and choking smoke, let alone the firefighters who are going through life and death for the safety of the public.

Group obsession?

Suddenly, a word popped up in the old coachman's mind, and he told Lu Li about it.

Hearing this, Lu Li nodded, thoughtful, and at the same time raised doubts, "What are the identities of the dead?"

"Firefighters, there are public fire brigades, and there are private fire brigades."

"Private organizations are the first to enter the scene. After all, there are breweries, candle factories and other combustibles manufacturers in the incident, and they have their own firefighting teams."

"Then, Mr. Bradwood from the Fire Department arrived, and he was in charge of the scene."

"Later, this gentleman and several of his sons were all engulfed in the fire. It is said that the fire detonated a warehouse storing potassium nitrate.

With a loud bang, an explosion suddenly appeared, engulfing the heroes, and burning giant bricks blocked all rescue efforts. "

At this moment, Lu Li felt that he should find a pen and write down all these things.

According to the old coachman, the open fire burned for four full days before it was extinguished. At present, there are still smoldering phenomena in most areas of Tully Street that has been turned into ruins.

The reason why the fire was difficult to extinguish was that there were a large number of dangerous factories and a very large warehouse in that place, especially the latter, which stored thousands of barrels of asphalt and grease.

"boom!"

The gunshot interrupted his thoughts.

Before they knew it, the funeral procession had arrived at the park cemetery, and the soldiers of honor from the Rifle Brigade started firing their shots.

One sound after another, the originally noisy scene became quiet again, the police officers began to retreat, and the band slowly played the death march.

Lu Li took off his deerstalker hat and paid tribute to those unknown firefighting heroes——

All members of the Braidwood family died, and it was not an individual who was in charge of the funeral, but an organization, a funeral committee composed of representatives from the London Fire Department.

"Tragedy so sudden...in honor of heroes...decision to...rename Braidwood Street...to this great family..."

Amidst the mournful music, Mr. Mayor's voice choked up.

Then, Dr. Cumming (presiding priest) led the church members to pray for the deceased.

Speeches, eulogies.

Through these, Lu Li further learned that all the adult men of the Braidwood family died in the fire.

Including the old man's stepsons, all of them were firefighters, some of whom died in the line of duty long ago, and the rest did not escape the Tully Street fire.

When the ceremony was over, Lu Li did not leave in a hurry. He followed the crowd and lined up to offer a white flower to the victim.

There were black and white photos and a family photo on the tombstone. Looking at them, Lu Li sighed in his heart. He had made up his mind to take over this case and investigate the truth of the disaster.

"Let's go."

"Got it, sir."

The carriage drove slowly through the thick fog.

Lu Li sat inside, rubbing the mysterious book in his hands. No matter from which angle he looked at it, it was blank and nothing strange.

Another peaceful day.

Apart from knowing some secrets, he didn't encounter any extraordinary events.

Or maybe others too?

Everyone is waiting in boredom, occasionally taking action to teach a few perverts, and expecting things to reverse with great anticipation, such as:

Those perverts laughed wildly, tearing off the skin and flesh and blood on their faces, revealing their original appearance.

However, the wish came true again and again.

Is the principal bluffing?

Thoughts flashed away, no one would be so naive, in the calm, there must be something brewing.

Midnight, Baker Street.

clatter——

The keychain flashed across the air. Lu Li looked at the illuminated corridor, heard the movement above his head, and said helplessly, "It's midnight now, why are you still awake?"

After the words fell, a figure rushed down quickly.

"Sir, you are back!"

"Well, the matter is not complicated." Lu Li took off the white flower pinned to his chest, and said, "I could have come back earlier, but there was a funeral on the way, so I simply gave those heroic spirits a ride."

"The Braidwood family?"

Saying that, Mi Gao rubbed his sleepy eyes, and picked up a bamboo basket from the ground, which contained a lot of fruits and vegetables.

"right."

Lu Li helped pick up the rest of the baskets, and walked towards the back kitchen, saying, "Have you heard about this too?"

"Of course, the scene of that fire was pure hell, with the Thames burning."

Mi Gao opened the cellar, threw the bag of vegetables in his hand, and continued: "I was shining shoes for customers in the Financial City, and suddenly I saw pyramid-like flames appearing on the horizon, and pillars of smoke rose into the sky."

"Did you go to the scene to join in the fun?" Lu Li frowned.

"No, but the customer who ordered the shoe shine service hurried over and threw me a shilling without asking for change."

When this incident was mentioned, Mi Gao, a small fortune fan, instantly became more energetic. If he hadn't met Lu Li, that day could be said to be the luckiest moment in his life.

Dealing with household chores in the afternoon will waste time, try to make three shifts, and if it doesn’t work, temporarily change 5,000 a day.