Chapter 10 — Seventy-Eight Billion And The President Has No Heir

Ta Quang Lam's tea farm is located behind a winding slope.

He lives in a wooden house, grows vegetables, repairs pumps and does not use a smartphone. When he saw Vu, he closed the door. When he saw me, he opened it a crack.

“You were the one who discovered the cold storage transaction,” he said.

“Yes. I got fired because of that.”

Lam looked at Vu.

“If you're still alive, you should disappear.”

We entered the house. He brought out a tin box containing memory cards. On the card is the recording of Father Vu's last meeting. The old man is weak, but his voice is still clear:

"If Quang Vu does not return, the shares must be divided to the person who can build a transparent system. Not someone of the same bloodline, but someone who dares to take responsibility."

After that sentence, the screen became noisy. Lam said Vu's father once discovered Khai withdrawing money, but did not want to send his younger brother to prison. He intended to force Khai to return his assets by transferring management rights to Vu.

“Why don't you make it public?” I asked.

"I sent the documents to Vu. The next day, he had an accident."

Lam opened a notebook. On the last page are the warehouse codes and the approver's signature. I realized that the code "Bac Nam" appears in both the old and Tan Cuong systems.

“Who is the person behind my firing?”

Lam did not answer immediately.

“Pham Quoc Tai.”

I was stunned. Quoc Tai is Tan Cuong's deputy general, and also Minh Chau's father-in-law. The person I met in the finance department of my old company.

On the way back, our car was followed by a black SUV. Vu told the driver to turn onto the dirt road. The other car overtook and blocked the front.

Three people walked down. No one had a gun, but the leader had a folding knife.

“Hand over the memory card.”

Vu opened the car door. I pulled his hand.

“We have no advantage.”

"Have."

He pointed to the walkie-talkie. The security team called local police in advance.

The group of people ran away when they heard the siren. One person was arrested, but the memory card was no longer in Lam's pocket. I realized he gave it to me when we broke up.

That night, Khang made a video call. Behind him is the new kitchen, the walls still smell of paint.

“I heard you were with the president,” he joked.

I don't laugh.

“Do you believe me?”

"Believe. But I want you to come home and eat the first dish I cook."

I looked at Vu standing on the hotel balcony, reading documents alone.

“I will return.”

I didn't know how quickly that promise would be tested.