Chapter 14 — Before Retirement, I Was Demoted to Work as a Laborer

The policeman immediately used a tool to pry it out. Inside the secret compartment... Revealing a yellowed oil paper package. Tham Trieu An almost held his breath. Co Nam immediately used the evidence bag to carefully pick it up. The layer of oiled paper is opened... Inside... It's not a red-covered list book. Inside... Not a red-covered list book. A negative of a group photo from thirty-two years ago. Underneath the film is a handwritten note.

"If both the original and the copy are lost, the list on the back of the negative will be used as the final basis."

Below is the signature. Tham Trieu An. Attached is the date... This is the year the old factory stopped operating. Tham Trieu An stared at that line. Speak softly.

"To myself..."

"I almost forgot."

I calmly replied.

"There are still people who have never forgotten."

As soon as he finished speaking... From deep in the warehouse, a deep sound suddenly rang out. It was like someone accidentally kicked an iron barrel. All flashlights immediately shined in the direction of the sound. Behind the row of shelves... Revealing a piece of blood-stained sleeve. The police immediately rushed over. Turn the person over. His face was drenched with sweat. The mouth is sealed with tape. Both hands and feet were tied tightly. He's still alive. I turned to look at Tham Trieu An. He was just about to speak... Lao Khau suddenly shook his head frantically. Eyes opened wide. Looking intently outside the warehouse door. I immediately turned my head to follow his gaze. In the dark... Someone... Locked the warehouse door from the outside. The sound of the lock collapsing... So heavy it was chilling. The police immediately rushed forward, using their shoulders to ram the door. But outside... There was no reaction at all. The next second... In a corner of the warehouse, there was suddenly a strong smell of gasoline. Co Nam's face immediately changed.

"Someone poured gas!"

The flashlight immediately scanned the surroundings. The ground next to the pile of old rags was soaked. From behind the pile of fabric pulled a small string. The end of the wire connects to... An old-fashioned ignition device. The police officer immediately shouted loudly:

"Everyone stay back!"

The windows at the back of the warehouse were all sealed with iron bars. There is only a row of small ventilation panels close to the ceiling. Tham Trieu An is old. Can't run fast. I immediately pulled the tape off Mr. Khau's mouth. He coughed loudly. The whole person trembled.

"It's not me..."

"Miss Tan..."

"I really don't want to hurt you."

I looked at him coldly.

"Don't say those things."

"Tell me first..."

"How to get out?"

Old Khau's tears welled up.

"Behind..."

"There's another side door."

"But it's blocked by shelves."

"Once upon a time..."

"Used to transport scrap."

I immediately looked towards the deepest part of the warehouse. That place was filled with old wooden crates. Almost halfway up the wall. The police officer immediately assigned two people to clean up. The ignition line has not yet activated. The red light on the device has turned on. Co Nam's voice was as tense as a guitar string.

"It seems..."

"It's a remote control device."

Police immediately asked everyone to turn off their phone signals. At the same time communicate with outside forces. But the walls of the old warehouse are too thick. Sometimes the signal is there, sometimes it's not. I grabbed Mr. Khau's collar tightly.

"Who told you to send the message?"

Old Khau cried and shook his head.

"I didn't send it."

"My phone..."

"Had been Deputy President Trinh took it away."

"He told me to drive to the old factory."

"Just bring two crates into the warehouse."

"Arrive..."

"I just discovered that the box is not a file."

"A set of bloody clothes..."

"The same fake list."

"I was going to run away..."

"Then someone knocked me unconscious from behind."

I asked immediately: Mr. Khau's lips trembled.

"I can't see clearly."

"In that person's hand..."

"There's a burn scar."

Standing not far away... La Thien suddenly raised her head in surprise. I immediately noticed her reaction.

"You know who it is."

La Thien bit her lips tightly. Still refused to open his mouth. I go one step further.

"If you continue to hide it from him now..."

"Then you will be buried with this."

La Thien's tears immediately fell.

"It's Cao Bin."

"Trinh Hoai Nhan's grandson."

"He used to work at the Civic Center."

"In charge of asset liquidation."

"Then secretly sell the old equipment for money."

"I helped him cover it up."

"Trinh Hoai Nhan told him to quit..."

"I said I'll use it later."

The police officer immediately recorded the entire statement. Co Nam said softly:

"Tonight..."

"The name Cao Bin is not on the list of people at the company."

I turned to Mr. Khau.

"Blood on the back seat of the car..."

"Whose is it?"

Old Khau bent down and looked at his arm.

"He used a knife to cut my hand."

"Then take the blood and smear it on the car."

"He said..."

"That would be like I was killed to silence me."

At that moment... The ignition device suddenly made a sound. In the warehouse... Everyone stiffened at the same time. A police officer immediately rushed to cut the rope. But the device was sealed with glue. Cannot be removed immediately. Tham Trieu An said in a deep voice:

"Get everyone out first."

One by one, the old wooden crates were moved aside. Finally... The side door was half exposed. The latch bar is still installed from the inside. But it was completely rusted. I picked up the iron bar from the ground. Hit the door latch hard.