"That's right." George Lambert said, "During the day, he pretended to sell sour plum soup, throwing ice blocks wrapped with phosphorus powder into the backyards of shops, where there were mostly wooden sheds storing firewood and sundries. By night, after the ice had completely melted and the water evaporated, the phosphorus powder would be exposed. With just a little breeze or movement, it would ignite, and the fire would spread rapidly. The ice not only made the phosphorus powder easier to transport, but also served as a delay mechanism. That's why we saw the green ghostly flames, and also why the arsonist was never caught at night."

"There is only one truth..."

"The source of the fire was what he threw in during the day!"

George Lambert pointed at the old farmer selling ice. The man immediately collapsed to the ground, never expecting such a hidden method to be discovered, his expression full of panic.

"You're really something." John Brooks gave George Lambert a thumbs up. "If it weren't for you, I would never have figured it out in my whole life."

George Lambert smiled gently.

It's nothing.

Just the power of knowledge.

...

The three of them escorted the arsonist vendor back to the Yudu Guard office and locked him up for now. As for why he committed arson, further interrogation was needed.

When they went to report to Henry Howard, it just so happened that a commendation letter from the Exorcism Division arrived for the three of them.

According to the letter from the Exorcism Division, it wasn't that the three Yudu Guards "assisted" in capturing the Jiuyang spy, but that it was "entirely thanks to" the three's vigilance during their patrol that the disguised spy was uncovered.

Such wording meant that the Exorcism Division was recommending them not for "secondary merit," but for "first merit."

This made the three of them very pleasantly surprised.

By comparison, the credit for catching the arsonist in Fukang Lane seemed insignificant.

Henry Howard looked at the documents on the table, silent for a long time.

After a while, he finally spoke slowly, "Xiao Liang..."

"I was a bit impatient before, and said something harsh to you... I never expected you to be so capable."

"I told you to catch a Jiuyang spy, and you really did?"

Chapter 5: My Liang Family, Loyal and Righteous to the End

"Just luck."

George Lambert thought for a long time, but could only say this.

It sounded humble, but was actually quite earnest.

"I'll submit the letter right away and request merit for you all," Henry Howard said. "You really did achieve a great merit this time."

George Lambert smiled and asked, "Does that mean we can be made regulars?"

"It's possible, but whether it happens depends on the superiors," Henry Howard replied. "After all, the main credit still goes to the regular guards. Whether you two, as auxiliary guards, have enough weight is hard to say."

"Mr. Howard." John Brooks placed his hand on the table and said, "This first merit should go to the two of them. I only assisted from the side. Just give me a secondary merit, or none at all."

"Don't be ridiculous," Henry Howard said immediately. "Your family sent you here to earn merits too. Big catches like this don't come often."

"I'm not being ridiculous," John Brooks said seriously. "George Lambert and David Clark need this merit more. I'm already a regular guard, and since my direct superior isn't dead, no matter how urgent it is, I can't be promoted. If this first merit can help them become regulars right away, that would be best."

George Lambert gave John Brooks a grateful look.

This time, he didn't refuse.

Daniel Parker was also moved and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "John Brooks, you're a good man."

"..." Only Henry Howard frowned, feeling that although the words were touching, something about them was a bit odd.

After a brief chat, the three left with smiles, went to get their wounds treated and bandaged, and rested for a while. By evening, as they were about to go home, George Lambert went to ask one more thing.

"What happened to the arsonist?" he asked. "Did he confess his motive?"

Henry Howard's expression was inscrutable. "The case is closed, and the merit has been recorded for you. Why are you still concerned?"

"He doesn't seem like someone who would act on his own. There must be someone behind him, so I wanted to ask," George Lambert said honestly.

Phosphorus powder in this era wasn't easy to make. It should only be available through the Ministry of Works or some alchemists practicing Daoist arts, who might have secret recipes. There was no way an old farmer selling sour plum soup could get it so easily.

"Ahem..." Henry Howard cleared his throat and said, "The case ends here. You don't need to worry about it anymore. I'll have someone handle the follow-up."

"What?" George Lambert frowned, immediately sensing something, "Is the mastermind behind this someone important?"

But then he thought it odd, "What big shot would send someone to set fires in Fukang Lane? That seems beneath them. Is it some underworld force?"

"You're smart, but remember to keep a low profile. Some things, once you leave this room, you keep to yourself..." Henry Howard saw he couldn't hide it, so he said, "The mastermind this time is the Longya Gang."

"The Longya Gang?"

In Longyuan City, almost no one didn't know this gang. As a powerful organization, the most prosperous streets in the southern city were all Longya Gang territory, including Hongxiu Lane.

Even three-year-old children knew that the Longya Gang's Boss Hong was the most formidable person in the southern city.

But they rarely acted like ordinary street thugs, fighting, robbing, or causing trouble. They had always been well-behaved, secretly paying tribute to the various offices without hesitation, and never provoking officials.