Benjamin is wanted for arson and intentional homicide.
"Caron, you said the person in the photo is from the Special Patrol Office?" Sheeran asked.
"He was the one who had always dealt with me before, and he was also the one who took action to contain the 'phantom man' during the graduation concert."
Fan Ning looked at the photo for a long time in surprise.
He once thought that the appearance was just a coincidence, after all, the names were different.
However, the wanted notice stated the identity of the arsonist as a police officer in the text, so this could hardly be a coincidence.
"How big of a fire was this? Why was the entire auction house sealed?" Fan Ning was very puzzled.
If Sylvia is from the Special Investigation Department, then the relationship between the perfumer and Prudence Auction House should be clear to the Special Investigation Department. Whether they want to deal with this auction house, or they need to secretly investigate something extraordinary
Factors, there should be no need to take such extreme measures. To say the least, Benjamin really needs to set fire, and he will not become a wanted criminal.
Could it be that this Special Patrol Investigator has gone crazy?
Several people came to the side door, and Fan Ning showed his ID to the police, who explained what happened in concise and accurate language.
Prudence's auction was only held at night, and during the day it was time for exhibitions and static auctions. Benjamin came in with the first group of guests after the museum opened in the morning and stayed inside for two hours.
To enter and leave such a place, you need to prove your legal identity and legitimate occupation, and you need to undergo inspection of your belongings. However, a plainclothes senior police inspector who showed his ID apparently had no problem.
According to eyewitnesses, he suddenly became emotional while watching the art exhibition, cursed loudly, and poured colorless liquid from the kettle onto paintings, carpets, curtains and other places.
The witness initially thought it was water until he took out a lighter.
In this era, false evidence was rampant, and many impromptu crimes ended up being unsolved. However, Benjamin did not hide his public identity as a senior police officer before the incident, and his face was also witnessed by the waiters and guests.
Fan Ning knew that this wanted order would be of no use, and the public would not be able to help in tracking down those with knowledge. However, many people had been burned to death, so posting it was a procedural explanation.
Judging from the tone of these police officers, they were confused about their colleagues' motive for committing the crime.
Although Benjamin finally took action to save himself and the two principals at the graduation concert, Fan Ning did not like him based on his feelings about the few interactions he had with him. Moreover, the real motive of the Special Patrol Office was extraordinary interests.
…
When Fan Ning was thinking about various action plans on weekdays, he vaguely acquiesced that Benjamin was monitoring him and regarded him as a rival. Even in Fan Ning's subconscious, he always felt that when the conflict intensified one day, he would be very worried.
He might even fight Benjamin.
But now this investigator from the Special Inspection Bureau, who is unsmiling, cautious, and extremely fearful of himself... has gone crazy?
Fan Ning didn't know whether he should feel happy or inexplicably horrified.
What is he investigating recently?
When they arrived, Fan Ning and his group were about to go in through the side door to take a look at the scene. He had just taken a few steps when he noticed the obvious footsteps behind him, so he turned around to look.
The gentleman in front of him was wearing a top hat, an all-black shirt and trousers, his face was short and depressed, and he was holding a metal ring of a pocket watch in his hand.
"Special Inspector, Joe Vasius."
Another investigator.
Fan Ning was just about to introduce himself and the people around him, but the gentleman in the top hat said directly: "No introduction is needed, I know all three of you."
"Um...that wanted notice at the gate, is it Mr. Benjamin?" Fan Ning asked tentatively.
"Mr. Fanning is also interested in this arson case?" Wasius asked noncommittally.
"I originally just wanted to come and visit a solo exhibition with my friends." Fan Ning shrugged.
"You can't visit the exhibition. As officials with knowledge, if you are interested in investigating, feel free to investigate." The voice was neither salty nor cool.
"The onlookers are curious, but they are not willing to take over the case," Fan Ning said.
"Mr. Vasius, I seem to have heard your voice. Was it you who made the phone call to notify you of the membership?" Joan also tried to say hello to him.
Vasius ignored her and walked past several people.
…Are all the people in the Special Patrol Office facial paralysis?
So this temporarily became a strange combination, with two members of the Guidance School, a member of the Bologna School, and an investigator from the Special Inspection Office traveling together. Fan Ning and the other three did not deliberately avoid it, nor did they walk side by side. That was it.
Walking together as if they were off the ground.
Following closely behind were the police and auction house staff.
Fan Ning looked around silently, but speculations kept rising in his heart.
So the investigation work that Benjamin was previously responsible for was taken over by Vasius?
Then some of his dealings with him in the past six months, including the files from the Turner Art Museum in the past, were probably handed over to this person.
After the four of them had walked a little more than ten meters, thick smoke was everywhere, and the stench filled their entire nostrils.
Walking further inside, Fan Ning saw that almost all the paintings in the gallery had been burned. Looking at the walls and floors, there were traces of black smoke everywhere. There were ashes on the ground and the color of red charcoal fire. The firefighters were still working hard.
Stop and shuttle around to check for potential re-ignition hazards.
Many people carried the stretcher one after another from the inside out.
There is no need to say more about the condition of those who were covered with white cloth. Although the burns of those who were not covered with white cloth did not appear to be serious, looking at the unconscious appearance after being poisoned, they were probably in danger.
The two little girls covered their noses and coughed repeatedly, trying their best to avoid the colorful fire water.
"...Isn't this range too big? A bottle of gasoline can burn it?" Qiong couldn't help but ask.
"The gallery is such a spacious space, why didn't so many people run out? Was the fire so fierce?" Sheeran also felt a little confused.
"Benjamin has also studied 'Candle'. If you take into account the extraordinary factors, it is not surprising."
Fan Ning squatted down several times in the core area where the burning was the worst, and used his hands to rub the ash from the burnt canvases that fell to the ground.
In front of a scrap of canvas, he suddenly discovered something unusual.
The ash appears very, very thin.
In contrast, it seems that there are very few slag lumps after the pigment is sintered?
He called the nearest staff member: "Are all the oil paintings on canvas hanging around here?"
"Yes, sir."
"How complete is it?"
The staff was a little confused: "Of course the paintings that are on display are completed paintings, sir."
It's a bit strange indeed.
No matter what technique the painter uses or how thick the coating is, there must be a coating, right?
Although the temperature of this fire is high, it is not an incinerator. Why does the ashes look like a canvas with only a rough draft?
What about paint?
A special material that is flammable and leaves no black residue when exposed to fire?
Acrylic paint is not like this.
Or... it was scraped off in advance?
"What did you find?" Wasius saw Fan Ning squatting in one place for a long time, seeming to be in a trance, so he came over and asked.
"I feel a little heartbroken." Fan Ning sighed and looked at his five dark fingers.
"Such a fire is a huge blow to galleries and artists. After your Turner Art Museum is repaired, it is recommended to strengthen fire prevention measures."
Fan Ning raised his head.
This sentence seems a bit too long compared to Vasius's style.
and…
Damn it! You people burned the painting. If your investigators want to enter the Turner Museum to view the exhibition, I may not dare to stop him?
Forget it if you don't do human things, can you say something human?
Fan Ning stared into Wasius's eyes, imitating his paralyzed facial expression, opened his mouth to smile, and nodded in agreement.