Chapter 8 — Having occupied a Business Seat, I went straight to First Class

The time after that… every second that passed… felt like lead. don't call again. The entire Khai Minh Group fell into a strange state of... silence. As if nothing had ever happened. But I know very well...under that quiet shell, are suffocating underground streams. Manh Phi is definitely using every means... to defuse the time bomb my father left behind. This is no longer an ordinary war. It's a battle of wills. It's a battle of wits. And it's a technology battle. Time passes every second. The distance to the twenty-four hour mark... is getting shorter and shorter. Ten hours. When there was only one minute left on the clock. My phone… finally vibrated. I picked up the phone. On the other end of the line... was an old, tired voice. And a little shaky.

“Is it… Khuong Nhien?”

“I am… Manh Quoc Dong.”

That name... was like a poisonous needle... piercing straight into my heart. Twenty years. I also heard this person's voice. The person who destroyed my father's life. My hand unconsciously tightened. My voice was so cold that I no longer had any emotions.

“Can we…can we talk?”

He asked, his voice carrying a bit of scrutiny.

"Talk?"

I laughed softly.

“What do you think between us… is there anything left to talk about?”

“Your father, Khuong Van Bac… is a genius.”

Manh Quoc Dong did not answer my question. His voice carried complex emotions. Just like nostalgia. Just like jealousy.

“The code he wrote… was like poetry.”

"It took me twenty years, inviting the best programmers... but I still couldn't fully understand what he left behind."

“I thought… I made it all mine.”

“Until today... I realized I was wrong.”

“From the beginning… he left me a trap.”

“A grave… from which I can never escape.”

“You say that… to ask for my pity?”

I interrupted.

“If so, then you are wrong.”

He sighed.

“I just want to say… I admit defeat.”

“Your father… won.”

I was a bit stunned. I used to think… someone like him… would risk it until the last minute.

"So you're going to follow my request? Hold a press conference and publicly apologize?"

The answer surprised me again.

“I won't apologize.”

“All my life I've only been used to winning.”

“I did not end up as a failure.”

I frowned.

“So why did you call me… for?”

“I want to… trade.”

His voice suddenly turned cold.

“I can return the entire Khai Minh Group to you.”

“Intact.”

“Not one thing is missing.”

“But you must agree to one condition.”

“What conditions?”

“Forgive Manh Phi.”

His voice was as firm as nails.

“This… is that she's too impulsive, she shouldn't have teased you.”

“But everything he does… is for his family.”

“All the sins… are mine.”

“It has nothing to do with it.”

“I can use my life… to repay the debt to the Khuong family.”

“But you have to make sure… let her take some money and leave.”

“Forever… no prosecution.”

I was silent. I didn't expect... in the end... he would choose this way. Use yourself... in exchange for a daughter. And in that moment... Why did Manh Phi become what he is today. No tricks. having a father… shielding her to this extent.

“Khuong Nhien, I know you hate me.”

“I also know… I deserve to die.”

“But Manh Phi… is innocent.”

“Since birth… he was pushed on this path by me.”

“It has no choice.”

“Consider it like I'm begging you... to give up my status a father.”

“Give it… a way to live.”

His voice… was a little pleading for the first time. Completely different from the image of the cruel old fox in my imagination. At that moment... a shrill female voice rang out on the phone.

“Dad! What are you talking about?!”

“I don't need dad to use his life to exchange for me!”

“We haven't lost yet! I absolutely will not admit defeat!”

The sound of struggle rang out. phone was snatched away.

“You hear me clearly, Khuong Nhien!”

Manh Phi's voice... was completely out of control.

“Want to destroy the Manh family? It's not that easy!”

“My dad is old, he's scared, I'm not scared!”

“I've already reported it to the police! I accuse you of blackmailing and threatening personal safety!”

“I also contacted the media! I will let the whole world know… how you used dirty tricks to attack a legitimate business!”

“You thought you won? I tell you, even if I die… I will drag you to hell with me!”

“Meng Phi! You're crazy!”

On the phone, Manh Quoc Dong's angry roar rang out.

“Give me the phone!”

Tut… tut… tut… The call was cut off. I stood still, still holding the phone, not saying anything for a long time. I understand. The Manh family... was broken from the inside. Manh Quoc Dong wanted to stop, wanted to save his daughter. And Manh Phi... the heir who was raised by him... chose to go to the end. She doesn't accept losing. She wants to pull everything... down together. I looked at the screen. Countdown… the final seconds. In that moment… the world was silent. Lam Phong's team held their breath. All eyes focused on the main screen. Three hundred and seventy-one symbols... represent the lifeblood of Khai Minh. One by one. Turns gray. being called by name. By death. Three hundred and seventy-one points of light on the screen… Like stars falling from the sky. Not a sound. But enough to end an era. The entire meeting room was silent. No one dared to breathe loudly. This is not a movie. Not the effect. This is an empire... collapsing right before our eyes.

“It's over…”

Lam Phong's voice became hoarse. I said nothing. There is no joy of victory. empty. I avenged my father. never come back. At that moment, the phone rang simultaneously.