Chapter 70 — Shrimp Street Without Name

One week after Nguyen Dang Hoai officially cooperated, the investigation agency announced its decision to prosecute Mr. Tran Quoc Vinh for crimes related to human trafficking, money laundering, and organized land market manipulation, even though he is still abroad, out of the direct reach of Vietnamese law. At the same time, an international arrest warrant through Interpol is also proposed to be issued.

This news created a huge stir nationwide, not only because of the scale of the case, but also because this was the first time in many years that an influential figure like Mr. Vinh, with an extensive network of relationships and abundant financial resources, was officially brought into the law's sights with such serious crimes.

Hai Yen, upon receiving the official news, felt a complex mixture of joy of victory and a new worry. She understands that prosecuting a person abroad, even though it is an important legal step, does not mean that he will soon face justice. The extradition process, if possible, would require complex cooperation between many countries, which could last many years.

“This is an important victory in principle,” lawyer Hoang explained during an update meeting with the group. "But Ms. Yen is right, the road to actually bring Mr. Vinh to justice is still very long. We need to prepare mentally for a long legal battle, which may involve international diplomacy."

Meanwhile, the list of local officials suspected of receiving bribes from the network, provided by Nguyen Dang Hoai, began to be carefully verified case by case. Some of the names on the list shocked Hai Yen — not because she knew them directly, but because they held important positions in the local administrative system, people who should have been the first line of defense against this type of crime.

Among the verified names, there is an official who signed and approved a number of documents related to the transfer of land of old cooperatives, including transactions related to Rach Goc and Dam Cung that Kien had previously discovered. This further strengthens the evidence that the entire land collection process ten years ago was not just a unilateral action by a group of businesses, but had support, whether accidentally or intentionally, from a part of the local administrative apparatus.

“This will be a major purge,” the lieutenant commented during the meeting, his tone serious. "Not only stopping at dealing with the leaders of the criminal network, but also cleaning up corrupted links in the public system. This will be a complex and sensitive process, and will certainly encounter resistance from many sides."

Hai Yen nodded, understanding the deep meaning of what he just said. The war is now not just between her and a group of organized criminals, but has expanded into a much larger struggle that reaches to the very roots of how power and interests operate in society, a struggle that she understands will last long after her personal story is over.

In the evening, when Hai Yen sat alone, looking back at the entire seventh journey Ten days had passed since she set foot back in Nam Can, and she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the scale to which everything had grown. From a small suspicion about an old farming area code, the story expanded into a transnational investigation, uncovering an organized network of human trafficking, money laundering, and corruption, involving hundreds of victims and possibly many more undiscovered accomplices.

She reopened her father's notebook, which had now become a sacred symbol in her journey, and read the last words he wrote ten years ago once again. "We can't let this continue. We have to say it, even if we lose everything." Now, after all that had happened, she understood the full meaning of those words more than ever—not just the determination of a man facing his own mistakes, but also the prophecy of a far greater war, a war that his daughter, ten years later, was carrying on with all the strength and courage she could muster.

She closed the book, looked out the window where the moonlight was shining gently down on the peaceful sleeping town of Nam Can, unaware of the great upheavals still going on behind the scenes. She understood that the road ahead — facing Mr. Vinh, purging the system of traitors, and finally, bringing the entire truth to light in a public trial — would be longer and more challenging than anything she had experienced up to now. But she also felt that she was ready, trained through seventy days full of hardship and loss, but also full of human love and hope.

Her phone vibrated slightly, a text message from Kien: "Are you still awake? I just thought, we should take a day, just one day, to not talk about the case, not think about Nguyen Dang Hoai or Mr. Vinh, simply live like two normal people. What do you think?"

Hai Yen smiled at that message, feeling a warmth spread in her heart amid so much stress and worry. She replied immediately: "I like that idea. Is tomorrow possible?"

“Tomorrow,” Kien replied, accompanied by a simple emoticon but enough to make her laugh in the darkness of the room.

The next morning, as scheduled, they spent a whole day for themselves, walking along the beach, eating familiar street food, talking about the simple things of life that both of them had not had a chance to mention for a long time amid the storm of work and investigation. It was a rare peaceful day, a precious silence in the midst of a long and turbulent journey, helping both of them recharge the energy and affection needed to continue moving forward.

In the afternoon, when they sat on the dike watching the sunset fall on the sea, Kien held Hai Yen's hand, his voice became more serious than usual. "Yen, I know now is not the right time, in the midst of all that is happening. But I want you to know, no matter how long this journey lasts, no matter where it takes us, I want to go with you, not just as a work companion, but as something deeper than that."

Hai Yen turned to look at him, her heart pounding at those sincere words. “I feel it too, Kien,” she replied, her voice soft but full of emotion Real. “Perhaps, amidst all the loss and pain, this is the best thing this journey has brought me.”

They sat together in silence, hand in hand, watching the sun gradually disappear behind the horizon, carrying a silent promise for a future that both, despite the uncertainty, were ready to face together, no matter what lay ahead.

When night completely fell, they stood up, hand in hand, slowly walking back on the familiar coastal road. Hai Yen felt a rare complete peace, different from the temporary feeling of relief after each small victory in the investigation. This is a peace that comes from deep within her soul, from knowing that, no matter how chaotic and dangerous the outside world is, she still has a place to return to, someone to share all her burdens with.

On the way home, they stopped by to visit Mr. Tam, who can now sit up and talk normally, although he still needs more time to fully recover. When he learned about the new relationship between Hai Yen and Kien, he smiled brightly, even though his voice was still weak.

“Finally, there is good news amid so many stressful things,” he said, his eyes shining with sincere joy. “You two are a perfect match, congratulations.”

Leaving the hospital, Hai Yen felt filled with gratitude for everything she had gained on this journey - not only the truth and justice that she was gradually achieving, but also the precious relationships and sincere feelings that had blossomed amid challenging days. She understands that even though the road ahead is still difficult, she will never have to face it alone again, and that, more than anything else, is the greatest source of strength that helps her continue moving forward, even though there are still many unknowns ahead.