Chapter 71 — Shrimp Street Without Name

Two weeks after a rare peaceful day on the beach, Hai Yen's life returned to its usual tense pace, when the investigation agency officially announced the preparation of the case for first instance trial for Mr. Bao and his arrested accomplices, while the part related to Mr. Vinh continued to be handled under a separate international extradition path.

“This will be a big trial, attracting the whole country's attention,” lawyer Hoang said during the first preparatory meeting. “We need to prepare more thoroughly than ever, because this is an opportunity for the whole truth to be presented publicly, officially, before the law.”

Preparing for trial requires a huge amount of work: reviewing all evidence, preparing witnesses, predicting defense tactics that the defendant may use. Hai Yen, although not a lawyer, still actively participates in this process as the person who best understands the entire development of the case.

Meanwhile, another worrying development appeared: Mr. Bao's defense team, after realizing the unfavorable situation, switched to a new tactic, focusing on attacking the legality of the evidence collection process, especially the evidence related to Ms. Ut Phuong's notebook and Hai Yen's initial witness meetings before she officially lost her role as an examiner.

“They are trying to argue that much of the original evidence was collected by an individual without official investigative authority, and therefore does not have enough legal value,” lawyer Hoang explained, her tone serious. “This is a sophisticated legal tactic that can prove difficult if not rigorously challenged.”

“How do we refute it?” Hai Yen asked, her voice worried.

“Fortunately, most of the most important evidence — Ms. Sau's testimony, financial data, records collected from the warehouse, Nguyen Dang Hoai's testimony — were all officially collected by the investigation agency after the case was officially accepted,” lawyer Hoang explained. "What you initially collected only serves as an investigative guide, not direct evidence used to convict. I will clearly argue this distinction in court."

That reassurance helped Hai Yen feel more secure, although she still couldn't help but worry about the possibility that the other side would continue to find other loopholes during the upcoming complex proceedings.

At the same time, Minh Khang announced notable news: Sarah's international reportage had won a prestigious journalism award, continuing to attract more international public attention to the case. Global public pressure, combined with domestic attention, creates a context where any attempt to downplay or conceal the truth will face unprecedented scrutiny.

“This is both an opportunity and a pressure,” said lawyer Hoang. “Great attention can help ensure the transparency of the trial, but it can also create unwanted pressure, causing some involved parties to act recklessly because they want to quickly end the case.”

In the afternoon, Hai Yen spent time visiting Hung's family, who has gradually fully recovered both physically and mentally after many weeks of care and psychological support. You now have it can return to a somewhat normal life, although it still takes time to heal the deep psychological wounds from the horrific experience.

“I want to testify at the trial,” Hung told Hai Yen, his voice resolute although still a little shaky. “I want everyone to know the truth about what happened to me and others, so that no one can deny or minimize it anymore.”

Hai Yen was moved by the young man's courage and promised to convey this wish to lawyer Hoang to make appropriate arrangements, ensuring that Hung received full psychological support throughout the process of testifying in court, an experience that certainly would not be easy for someone who had just experienced such severe trauma.

On the way home, Hai Yen stopped by lawyer Hoang's office to update Hung's wishes, and at the same time reviewed with her the list of expected witnesses for the trial: Ms. Sau, Ms. Tuyet, Mr. Son, Ms. Ut Phuong, Mr. Bay Correct, and now, Hung and possibly a few other victims of the human trafficking ring if they are ready.

“This will be a long and diverse list of witnesses,” lawyer Hoang commented, looking over the documents. “That is both a strength, because it shows the scale and systematicity of the crime, and a challenge, because it requires careful coordination to ensure each witness is fully psychologically prepared before facing the pressure of the courtroom.”

“I think we should organize separate psychological preparation sessions for each person,” Hai Yen proposed. “Especially people like Hung, who are still recovering, need more thorough support to avoid being further traumatized by having to recount painful experiences in court.”

Lawyer Hoang agreed and proposed inviting more forensic psychologists with experience working with victims of serious crimes to support this preparation process, ensuring that all witnesses are fully protected both legally and psychologically throughout the proceedings.

In the evening, when Hai Yen told Kien about the amount of work preparing for the trial, he could not hide his worry. “You're taking on too much responsibility,” he said, his voice concerned. “You need to remember, you are not a lawyer, you are not the only person responsible for the success of this trial.”

“I know,” Hai Yen replied, smiling tiredly. "But I feel a responsibility to all the people who have trusted me and walked with me. I want to make sure, when they enter the courtroom, they feel fully prepared, protected, not alone."

Kien nodded, understanding the deep motivation behind her devotion, although he still reminded her to take more care of herself amid the huge amount of work that awaited. “Please let me and everyone else share the burden,” he said. “You don't have to do everything alone.”

Hai Yen nodded, thanking him for his concern, although in her heart she understood that, with her personality, it would be difficult for her to completely let go of the responsibility she had placed on her shoulders during the past long journey, a responsibility that has now become an inseparable part of her personality.

That night, before going to sleep, she made a to-do list for the coming week, trying to make a better division between what she needed to do directly and what could be delegated to others. This is a difficult but necessary lesson she is slowly learning — that true strength lies not in carrying it all alone, but in the ability to trust and rely on those around her, who have proven their trustworthiness through each challenge they have overcome together.

She texted Mr. Duc, asking him for more support in preparing technical evidence for the trial, so she could focus more on psychological support for the witnesses. Mr. Duc agreed immediately, without hesitation, another testament to the solid support network she had built throughout her journey.

Before turning off the lights, she looked back at all that had been accomplished over the past two and a half months: from a single audit, to a large network of people joining hands for justice, from initial fear and loneliness, to a united community ready to face any challenge ahead. Although the upcoming trial would certainly bring new tensions and uncertainties, she felt more prepared than ever to face it, not alone, but with all the people who had become such an integral part of her life, people she had barely known just a few months ago, but had now become closer than immediate family to many of them.

She turned off the light, lay down, and in the moments before falling asleep, she silently thanked fate for bringing her back to this land, no matter how painful and arduous the journey, because it gave her more than she ever dared to dream of when she first set foot in the container yard of Nam Can port more than two months ago, carrying a secret she thought she could keep forever, until fate brought her back to the right place she needed to return.