Chapter 21 — Sassy Boy: Heir to the Underground Family

The sound of police sirens grew closer and closer, mixed with the panicked whispers of the crowd of students and parents who were gradually being guided by Lam Chinh Dao's security force to evacuate the dangerous area in an orderly manner, in the name of an electrical technical problem causing the stage to malfunction.

Co Bach Nghi stood still in the middle of the siege, there was no way back. He looked at Trinh Anh Kiet handcuffed by Thanh Phong Hoi's own security team, waiting to be handed over to the police on charges of public disorder and assault — enough to keep him at bay while the more serious charges of kidnapping and attempted extortion were handled in a different, more discreet way.

"You won't get out of this by running away," Vinh Bach said, standing opposite Co Bach Nghi, his voice calm but decisive. "All evidence of money laundering, bribery of officials, and now, evidence of the plot to kidnap Vuong Khanh Linh has been sent to three different places — the city's economic investigation agency, and two underground organizations that he owed a favor to but betrayed in the past."

"You've prepared so well," Co Bach Nghi said, his voice bitter but still with some grudging respect.

"I learned that from my father," Vinh Bach replied. "Never go into a battle without planning for every possible outcome."

Duong Khai Phong stepped closer, his stern eyes looking straight at the man who had been his former colleague twenty years ago. "Co Bach Nghi, according to the rules of our world, kidnapping an innocent bystander is an unforgivable crime. You will have to answer to the council of the alliance of underground forces for this action."

"As for blackmail, bribery, and illegal financial transactions," another voice rang out from the school gate, where two people in police uniforms and several economic investigators had just entered, "that part will be handled by the law."

Co Bach Nghi looked at the newcomers and immediately realized that this was not a random arrest, but the result of an investigation process that had been carefully prepared in advance, smoothly coordinating underground rules and official laws.

“You have calculated everything,” he said, his tone almost an admission of defeat.

"Not everything," Vinh Bach replied. "Just enough to ensure justice is served, both ways."

The police approached and read the arrest warrant related to allegations of financial fraud and bribery of officials that the economic investigation team had quietly collected evidence for many weeks, based on documents that Lam Chinh Dao had discreetly transferred through a trusted intermediary channel, ensuring not to reveal the direct connection between Thanh Phong Hoi and the authorities.

Meanwhile, more serious crimes — attempted kidnapping, organized attacks on an educational facility — will be handled separately by the council of the city's underground forces, who view endangering innocent people, especially minors, as a serious violation of unwritten rules that have existed for generations.

"Do you remember the core principles we both learned from the first days we entered this world?" Duong Khai Phong asked, as Co Bach Nghi was led between two police officers. "Never touch an innocent person. You broke that rule, and now you must pay for what you sowed."

Co Bach Nghi did not respond, just turned his head to look at Vinh Bach and Dieu Linh one last time before being put in the car. In his eyes, there was no longer the same arrogance or ambition as before, only fatigue and belated acceptance remained.

After Co Bach Nghi and Trinh Anh Kiet were taken away, the schoolyard gradually returned to order under the skillful guidance of the security team. The confused students and parents were reassured by the explanation of the technical problem. None of them knew the truth about the underground war that had just taken place right on their school campus.

Vinh Bach turned to find Duy Khang, who was still standing quietly in a corner, his eyes full of worry about his future after publicly betraying his uncle.

"You'll be fine," Vinh Bach said, placing his hand on his shoulder. "Your actions tonight have proven that you deserve another chance, completely separate from what the Dark Gold Order once stood for."

"Are you going to help me, after everything I've done?" Duy Khang asked, not daring to believe in this tolerance.

"Dieu Linh taught me that no one should be judged only by the circumstances they were born into, but by the choices they make when faced with difficulties," Vinh Bach replied, glancing at Dieu Linh standing next to him with a warm smile. "You made the right choice, when it was hardest."

Dieu Linh approached Khanh Linh, who had just been brought back by Trong Nghia after the situation had stabilized, and hugged her friend again. "Are you okay? I'm sorry you had to have such a scary night."

"I'm fine," Khanh Linh replied, although her voice was still a bit shaky. "But this time, I think I have a better understanding of the world you're entering, Dieu Linh. And I respect your choice, no matter how dangerous it is."

That night, when everything gradually calmed down, Vinh Bach took Dieu Linh home, the two walked slowly under the street lights, no one was in a hurry to break the silence after a tumultuous night.

"You did something wonderful tonight," Vinh Bach said, taking her hand. "I have never seen anyone as brave as you to face Co Bach Nghi directly."

"I just said what I really think," Dieu Linh replied, smiling tiredly but satisfied. "And I realized, I'm no longer afraid of your world like before. Not because it's any less dangerous, but because I know I can face it, with you."

Vinh Bach stopped, turned to look at her under the pale yellow streetlight, his eyes filled with a deep emotion that he had never fully expressed before. "Dieu Linh, thank you, for choosing to stay, for trusting me, and for becoming the strongest person I've ever known."

Dieu Linh smiled, resting her head on his shoulder in that rare moment of peace, knowing that although the road ahead was still uncertain, together they had overcome the greatest challenge, and now, both of their futures could begin to be built on a stronger foundation than ever.

A few days later, official news about Co Bach Nghi's arrest for large-scale financial fraud appeared on economic newspapers, causing business circles in the city to stir for many days. No one in the public knows the entire truth behind the incident, only a small group of insiders understand the true meaning of that news.

At the headquarters of the Thanh Phong Hoi, the council of the alliance of underground forces also met to discuss and make the final verdict on the Black Gold Hoi - this organization was officially dissolved, the remaining assets and business network were redistributed according to the agreement between the parties involved, under strict supervision to ensure that no more threats could arise from the ashes of the old organization.

"So everything is really over," Lam Chinh Dao told Vinh Bach as the two looked over the final summary of the incident. "He will face justice for what he has done, both legally and implicitly."

"I just hope that this will be the last time I have to witness someone willing to hurt innocent people just because of their ambition for power," Vinh Bach said, looking distantly out the window.

"In this world, I'm afraid it's completely unavoidable," Lam Chinh Dao replied, his voice thoughtful. "But you have proven that, even in a calculating world, there is still a place for integrity and true loyalty. That is what your father would be proudest of, if he could still see what you did that night."

Vinh Bach nodded slightly, his heart filled with a feeling of both relief and quietness when thinking about his deceased father. He knew that the road ahead to truly stabilize Thanh Phong Hoi was still very long and arduous, but at least, the biggest storm of the past three years had truly passed, and he no longer had to face the remaining storms of the future alone.