Chapter 79 — Shrimp Street Without Name

The second day of the trial focused on witnesses involved in the human trafficking ring, the most serious and heartbreaking part of the case. Hung was the first person to be called up. His figure was still skinny but his eyes were much more steady than the first days of being rescued.

“Can you tell the jury about what happened to you on the fishing boat?” The representative of the Procuracy asked, his voice gentle, understanding the sensitive nature of the upcoming testimony.

Hung took a deep breath, then began to tell the whole story, his voice shaking at first but gradually becoming steadier as he continued. He told about being tricked onto the ship with the promise of a high-paying job, about having his documents kept, about strangers being brought onto the ship in the middle of the sea, about the fear and despair during the months of detention.

The entire courtroom was absolutely silent as Hung told his story, many in the audience could not hold back their tears at the heartbreaking story of a young man who had suffered so much. Hai Yen held Kien's hand tightly, and they both listened with heavy hearts.

When the defense lawyer stood up to question him, he was much more reserved than before, perhaps realizing that harsh questioning of such a young victim could seriously backfire in front of public opinion and the jury.

“Are you sure that Dai Duong company knows about this activity, or is it just a few individuals acting independently?” the lawyer asked, trying to find a way to separate the company's responsibility from the behavior of specific individuals.

“I don't know much about the company structure,” Hung replied honestly. “I just know, that ship belongs to Ocean's fleet, and the people who give orders to me and the others all wear company uniforms.”

That simple but powerful answer made the defense attorney unable to find any more points to exploit, so he had to end the questioning earlier than expected.

The next witness was a representative of the international NGO that supported the rescue operation for the victims abroad, detailing the process of identifying and rescuing three of the four victims, along with ongoing efforts to find the fourth. This testimony, based on official and highly specialized documents, further reinforces the systematic nature and international scale of the human trafficking ring.

In the afternoon, Ms. Ut Phuong was called up and told the story about the notebook she had kept for ten years, about the illegal expenses she recorded when she was an accountant for Kenh Ba cooperative. She also recounted the illegal detention she experienced, when people in the network tried to prevent her from returning evidence to Hai Yen.

“I was kept in an abandoned warehouse for many days,” she said, her voice shaking as she recalled the horrifying experience. “I don't know if I will survive, but I have never regretted the decision to give that notebook to Ms. Yen.”

Ms. Ut Phuong's testimony, combined with the official investigation file of the detention, constitutes another strong evidence of the ruthlessness and willingness of this criminal network to use violence to protect its secrets.

Mr. Bay Correct, the last witness of the second day, recounted The story of how Mr. Do Van Tien once personally went to his pond to investigate an unusually polluted water source, an important detail that further affirms Mr. Tien's integrity and responsibility, even though he also made certain mistakes in the past.

As the second day of the trial ended, Hai Yen felt exhausted but also filled with a deep sense of pride. Each testimony, each piece of evidence presented, is gradually portraying an undeniable panorama of the crime that has taken place over the past ten years, a picture that she and all her companions have painstakingly built piece by piece.

After the trial ended that day, Hai Yen found Hung in the hallway, wanting to check his psychological condition after having to recount his painful experiences in court. He sat on a bench, his mother sat next to him, her hand holding her son's hand tightly.

“Are you okay?” Hai Yen asked, sitting down next to him.

“I'm fine,” Hung replied, his voice somewhat tired but also relieved. "Saying everything out, I feel like a huge burden has been lifted. I no longer have to keep it in my heart alone anymore."

Hung's mother, her voice filled with emotion, turned to Hai Yen. "Thank you, Ms. Yen. Without you, we might never have found our son again."

Hai Yen humbly responded, affirming that it is the resilience of Hung and his family that is the most admirable. She stayed and chatted for a while, making sure Hung felt fully supported before he and his family left the courthouse.

In the evening, the group gathered as usual, this time with a more subdued atmosphere after a day filled with heartbreaking testimonies about human trafficking. Lawyer Hoang, although still maintaining his professionalism, could not hide the emotion in his voice when summarizing the events of that day.

"Today's testimonies," she said, "are the most difficult, but also the most important. They paint the full picture of the brutality of the evil we are fighting against."

Kien, sitting next to Hai Yen, held her hand. They were both silent for a long time, letting the emotions of a long and heavy day subside. “Tomorrow will be an important day,” he said finally. "It is said that the prosecution will present its conclusion, and maybe Mr. Bao will officially give his testimony in court."

Hai Yen nodded, mentally preparing herself for another challenging day, knowing that the trial, although it had come a long way, had not yet come to an end, and the most important moments, possibly, were still ahead.

That night, before going to sleep, Hai Yen called Mr. Son, who was still living in witness protection, to ask how he felt after completing his testimony in court. His voice rang out through the phone, somewhat more relieved than before.

“I felt like I had just lifted a burden that had been on my shoulders for ten years,” he said. “Even though I know I will be held legally responsible for what I did, I still feel relieved to finally tell the truth.”

“Thank you, uncle, for everything you did to help bring this case to light,” Hai Yen said, her voice sincere.

“You are the one who deserves to be thanked,” Mr. Son replied. “You gave me the opportunity to atone for part of my mistakes, something I never dared to hope for all these years of living in fear and silence.”

The call ended, leaving Hai Yen with a complicated but meaningful feeling, realizing that her journey to seek justice not only brought punishment to the guilty, but also brought the opportunity to atone and heal those who were caught up in the cycle of crime not entirely voluntarily.

She lay down on the bed, looking up at the familiar ceiling, her mind still echoing the emotional testimony of a long day. Tomorrow will be another important day, and she needs to rest to have enough strength to face what lies ahead, as the trial gets closer to the final decisive moment.

She turned on her phone one last time before turning off the lights, skimming through the comments and messages of support that had been sent to her throughout the day, from acquaintances and complete strangers who had followed her journey through Minh Khang and Sarah's posts. Every word of encouragement, no matter how small, gives her a little strength amid these stressful days.

She put down the phone, closed her eyes, and in the moments before falling asleep, she silently thanked all the people who had gone through this journey with her — acquaintances, and even strangers who had become an indispensable part of the story of the quest for justice that she had and continues to pursue, with all the strength and courage she could muster, until the last day when the truth was fully recognized before the law, closing a chapter full of changes. impact in the lives of all the people who have gone through this journey together.