Chapter 12 — Before Retirement, I Was Demoted to Work as a Laborer

When the fire was gradually controlled... Two black file boxes had almost half burned down. Old Ho put on gloves and pulled two barrels out of the puddle. Open the lid of the tank. Inside there were only shredded paper and ashes. Phan Minh just glanced... His face turned even whiter. I sat down. Use tongs to pick out a remaining piece of paper from the pile of wet ashes. Only half of the name can be seen clearly.

"...Ngoc Tran."

La Thien gently closed her eyes. I picked up another piece. There are three words left on it:

"Honor money."

Tham Trieu An turned to look at Trinh Hoai Nhan.

"This is what you call..."

"Didn't cause actual damage?"

Trinh Hoai Nhan replied coldly.

"Who knows who threw them in."

Old Ho immediately spoke up.

"The camera at the West gate recorded it."

Co Nam quickly brought the tablet over. On the screen... A man wearing a maintenance uniform was pushing a shopping cart. He dumped two boxes of files into the trash compactor station. Masks cover the face. The hat is also pulled very low. But on the left wrist... Wearing a black Buddha necklace. As soon as he saw that necklace... Phan Minh's whole body trembled. I turned to look at him.

"Do you know this person?"

Phan Minh's lips turned white.

"No... not familiar."

I calmly said:

"Every time I lie..."

"Your eyes are unconsciously looking down to the right corner."

"Thirty-two years ago..."

"Still not fixed."

In the end, Phan Minh completely collapsed.

"It's Mr. Khau."

"Vice President Trinh's driver."

Trinh Hoai Nhan immediately grabbed him by the collar.

"Say that again!"

Several security guards rushed forward to pull the two people out. Tham Trieu An's voice was cold.

"Find the driver."

Co Nam continuously made three phone calls. No one picked up the phone. Old Ho immediately asked the security guard to check the vehicle's entry and exit history. Five minutes later... The walkie-talkie rang.

"Old Khau drove away from the West gate about ten minutes ago."

"The license plate ends with 386."

Tham Trieu An looked at Trinh Hoai Nhan.

"Your car?"

Trinh Hoai Nhan did not answer. At that moment... I suddenly remembered the strange text message I received during the day. Don't touch the twenty-ninth floor. I took out my phone. Open the message and give it to Co Nam.

"Look up this number."

Co Nam just picked up the phone... The phone vibrated again. Still the same phone number. This time there is only one sentence. If you want to get the real list back, leave Tan Ngoc Tran alone and go to the factory's old warehouse. Ha Mieu was so scared that he covered his mouth with his hand. Old Ho cursed out loud.

"This is a threat!"

Tham Trieu An reached out to take my phone. But I didn't give it. I stared at that message. Old factory warehouse. That was the first place where Vien Thai laid its foundation. This is also where the Special Guarantee List for companions from the start-up period was first signed. I looked up and looked at Tham Trieu An.

"Dear President Tham."

"In addition to the original kept in the safe of the President's Office..."

"Is there a second version available?"

Tham Trieu An was silent. That silence... Made everyone's hearts sink. A moment later... He slowly spoke up.

"That year, to prevent fires..."

"I made a backup copy."

"The copy is kept in an iron box in the factory's old warehouse."

Trinh Hoai Nhan suddenly burst out laughing.

"President Tham..."

"You really kept it a secret."

Tham Trieu An did not look at him at all. Look straight again Trinh Hoai Nhan.

"You knew all along that there was a copy."

He did not admit it. But that smile just now... Said it all. Phan Minh said with a trembling voice:

"Before... Deputy General Trinh asked me something."

"He asked if the Startup Guarantee Fund must be saved in two sets."

"An original."

"A copy."

La Thien's face turned pale.

"Then you said you didn't know."

Phan Minh bowed his head.

"I really don't know."

Tham Trieu An slowly closed his eyes.

"Old Khau did not run away voluntarily."

I calmly said:

"He can't have the key to the factory's old warehouse."

Co Nam immediately spoke up:

"The old warehouse has been discontinued for a long time."

"The key is still kept at the President's Office."

Tham Trieu An turned to look at him. Co Nam's face immediately stiffened.

"The spare key was borrowed by the Civic Center last month."

"They said they needed to go into the warehouse to inventory old assets."

All eyes... Once again focused on La Thien. Finally... La Thien completely collapsed.

"It was Trinh Hoai Nhan who told me to borrow it!"

"It was he who said..."

"President Tham will never pay attention to those old things again!"

"He also said..."

"As long as the list disappears..."

"Then no one will be able to bring back the past!"

Trinh Hoai Nhan angrily raised his hand to slap her. But Mr. Ho and several security guards immediately rushed in and pinned him down. At that moment... The sound of police sirens rang out from afar, then closer and closer. Red and blue light shines in from the West gate. Projection on each person's face. The policemen had just got out of the car... Co Nam's phone rang again. It was a call from the security post. The voice of the person on the other end of the line trembled clearly.

"Secretary Co..."

"Deputy General Trinh's car has been found."

"The car is parked at the turn leading to the old factory area."

"The car door is still open."