Chapter 12 — Reef Keeper

The next morning, the whole group gathered at Phan Bao Duy's small office temporarily rented at a motel on the island to make the next plan together. The video recorded last night has been carefully backed up to many different places — personal computers, portable hard drives, and also an emailed copy to a trusted friend of Bao Duy's at the mainland newspaper office, in case something unexpected happens.

"We need more information about the Six Cuffs before we act any further." Bao Duy said, opened his laptop, and started looking up public information he could find about this man's fishing business. "Full name, vessel registration documents, and especially any connection to Blue Ocean Group."

Nguyen, as a fishery inspector, can legally access the boat registration records at the marine conservation station. He spent the morning going through records, finally finding information about Sau Cong's fleet — a total of four medium-sized ships registered in his name, one of which had characteristics that matched what they observed in the video, including the characteristic patch on the starboard side.

"Here it is." Nguyen pointed to the registration file, his voice filled with determination. "The ship bears the license plate VN-Vong Ngu Island 0847, registered under the name Tran Cong, nicknamed Sau Cong, licensed for offshore fishing five years ago."

"Five years ago," Khue repeated, frowning in thought, "was exactly the time he started getting rich quickly according to Uncle Tam."

Bao Duy, after many hours of searching on public business portals, finally discovered an important clue. "I found it. There is a sea logistics service company called Cong Phat Seafood Co., Ltd., headed by Tran Cung himself, founded four years ago. And this company..." He stopped, typed a few more keys, and a list of service contracts appeared on the screen. "This company has a long-term contract to provide construction materials transportation services by sea with the Blue Ocean Group, signed from the time Kinh Duong Bay resort started re-construction."

This discovery left the group silent for a moment, fully aware of the severity of the connection that had just been revealed. It's no longer just vague speculation — there's already black and white evidence of an official contractual relationship between Sau Cong and Blue Ocean Group, although the true nature of that "materials transportation service" is most likely just a legal cover for much dirtier activities.

Bao Duy continued to trace the value of the contract, the number recorded in the periodic announcement made all three stunned. "Look at this amount of money, each quarter the Cong Phat company receives nearly the total income of dozens of fishing households in the neighborhood combined. It's not just the usual cost of transporting supplies, there's definitely some amount disguised in this."

"So that means the protection money, the reef breaking fee, are all legalized through this transportation contract." Khue said, her voice became cold with indignation. "On paper, it's clean and legal, but in reality it's payback for destroying the very sea that supports generations of fishermen here."

Nguyen closed the boat registration application and rubbed his hands together as if trying to dispel the unpleasant feeling that had just risen in his heart. "Unfortunately, these numbers, no matter how suspicious, are not enough to constitute a crime before the law if it cannot be proven that the money actually paid for the sabotage. We still need more direct evidence, a clear connection between the flow of money and the illegal act."

"So that means," Khue said slowly, piecing together all the pieces of information in his head, "Six Cong was officially hired to provide transportation services for the resort, but in reality, he was also paid extra to clean up the reef with explosives, pave the way for the marina, and possibly even participate in illegal dumping."

"Very likely." Bao Duy nodded. "This is the common modus operandi of these types of cases — hiring a local, seemingly legitimate intermediary to carry out work that the investor does not want to be directly involved in, in case it is discovered, legal responsibility will fall on the intermediary, and the corporation can still wash its hands of it, saying it was unaware."

In the afternoon, Khue decided to go see Mrs. Bay Xuyen, hoping that the older woman with a deep understanding of everything in the neighborhood could provide more information about Sau Cong, especially his relationship with her father in the past.

"Six Cuffs?" Mrs. Bay Xuyen frowned when Khue asked, her hands were still quickly sorting the dried fish on the stall. "I know, I know very well. In the past, he and your father were close for a while and went to the beach together a few times."

"Close?" Khue was surprised. "So why do you now suspect he is involved in the bad things happening on the reef?"

Mrs. Bay Xuyen sighed, stopped, her eyes became distant as if she were searching for an old memory. "People change over time, Khue. Back then, Sau Cong was a poor fisherman like everyone else, honest and simple. But after what happened to your father, he changed completely, socializing less with the neighbors, then slowly became rich, bought big ships, and built tall houses."

"What happened after my father?" Khue asked immediately, his heart beating faster.

Ms. Bay Xuyen seemed hesitant, as if considering between speaking out and remaining silent. "I remember, after your father disappeared, there was a time when Sau Cong and Mr. Suu, Nguyen's father, often gathered in private, talking about something very secret, not letting anyone hear. She overheard a few sentences, like 'it's over, don't mention it again' or 'keep your mouth shut to keep the whole family safe'. At that time, I didn't understand, nor dared to ask, I just thought it was probably a sad story about your father, so they didn't want to talk about it."

These fragmented memories, when put together with what Khue already knew, began to paint a much scarier picture than she had ever imagined. If both Sau Cong and Uncle Suu are involved in some secret right after her father's death, and now Sau Cong is the one directly carrying out acts of destroying coral reefs under the protection of the resort, then the possibility that her father's death was not simply an accident becomes even clearer.

"Mrs. Bay," Khue said, her voice shaking with emotion, "do you think... my father was harmed? It wasn't just an accident?"

Mrs. Bay Xuyen held Khue's hand tightly, her eyes filled with pain. "I don't dare to confirm anything, Khue, because I don't know for sure. But I'm telling the truth, for many years now, I've always had a doubt in my heart, an uneasy feeling, that your father's death was not as simple as the commune records recorded. I just don't have any proof, and I'm afraid that speaking out will bring disaster to myself and to you as well."

Ms. Bay Xuyen's confession, although not providing specific evidence, clearly confirmed the suspicion that had been simmering in Khue's heart for many weeks. She hugged Mrs. Bay, both women were silent in an emotional moment, sharing a pain and a secret that had been buried for too long.

"I will find out the truth, Mrs. Bay." Khue said, her voice was determined even though her eyes were still filled with tears. "No matter what the cost, you must know what really happened to your father."

"I believe you can do it." Mrs. Bay Xuyen patted Khue's back. "But remember, be careful. The truth is important, but your life is more important. Your father probably wouldn't want you to risk your life for him."

That evening, Khue recounted the entire conversation with Ms. Bay Xuyen to Nguyen over the phone. Nguyen was silent for a long time on the other end of the line, then finally spoke, his voice lowered.

"So that means my father actually knows something, possibly even directly related to what happened." He said, his voice filled with pain. "I will talk frankly with you again, Khue. This time I won't let you avoid it anymore."

"I don't want you to have a hard time with your father because of me." Khue said, feeling guilty thinking that she was indirectly pushing Nguyen into a heartbreaking confrontation with his own father.

"Not because of you." Nguyen replied, his voice softened. "It's for the truth, for justice for your father, and also for my father himself. If he's been carrying a burden of secrets for the past twelve years, perhaps it's time for him to be freed from it, no matter how painful the truth is."

After the call, Khue sat quietly on the porch, looking out at the quiet night sea. She felt she was standing on the threshold of a great truth, a truth that had been buried for twelve years under the quiet waves of Da Bac Reef. And she knows, no matter how cruel that truth is, she is ready to face it, because she no longer has to walk alone on this journey.