Chapter 80 — Shrimp Street Without Name

The third day of the trial opened with an unexpected development: Mr. Bao, through his lawyer, announced that he wanted to give testimony himself in court, instead of just having his lawyer speak. This is a rare decision, causing the whole courtroom to stir in anticipation.

When he stepped onto the witness stand, his appearance was completely different from the powerful, confident image that the public knew. He seemed much thinner, his eyes carried the deep fatigue of someone who had been facing his own conscience for many weeks.

"I want to make it clear to the court," he began, his voice trembling slightly but clearly, "that I do not seek to abdicate my responsibility. I have made serious mistakes, letting greed and fear of greater power guide my decisions over the years."

The whole courtroom listened silently as he told the whole story from his own perspective: about the pressure from Nguyen Dang Hoai and those behind Mr. Vinh, about the fear when he realized he was too deeply involved to turn back, about the feeling of guilt that has followed him for ten years since Mr. Do Van Tien's case happened.

“I didn't know that someone would die because of that shipment,” he said, his voice choking. "But when I learned the consequences, I chose to stay silent, to continue to benefit from that collapse, instead of standing up and telling the truth. That was my biggest sin, a sin I will have to carry with me for the rest of my life."

He continued to recount his relationship with Nguyen Dang Hoai, and how he was gradually drawn deeper into the network, from accepting the initial "support" to becoming an inseparable link in the entire system. He spoke of the sleepless nights, of the haunting feeling of seeing the faces of those he had indirectly harmed, and of the strange relief he felt when he finally decided to tell the truth.

“I'm grateful that finally someone is brave enough to confront everything I've tried to hide,” he said, his eyes turning to Hai Yen for a brief moment. "Miss Yen, I'm sorry for what I did to your father, to your family. No apology can make up for what I took away, but I hope you know, I'm truly sorry."

Hai Yen sat silently before that unexpected apology, feeling a complex emotion rising in her heart - not complete forgiveness, because what was lost cannot be regained, but also not completely indignant, when seeing the image of a person truly facing his own mistakes.

The representative of the Procuracy continued the interrogation, asking Mr. Bao to provide more specific details about the leadership structure, about other individuals involved who have not been detected, and about the entire financial system that has been used to launder money and hide illicit profits for many years.

Mr. Bao answered each question in detail, no longer avoiding or trying to reduce responsibility as in previous public statements. His testimony, combined with what Nguyen Dang Hoai previously provided, creates a complete picture, without gaps, of the entire activities of this criminal network for more than a decade.

When Mr. Bao's testimony ended, his defense lawyer stood up and asked the jury to consider his client's level of cooperation and remorse as a mitigating factor during the sentencing process. The representative of the Procuracy did not object to recognizing this cooperation, but emphasized that it could not completely erase responsibility for the serious consequences that his behavior had caused.

The morning trial ended with a heavy but emotional atmosphere, when for the first time, the head of the company that had caused so much suffering officially admitted his responsibility publicly, before the entire public.

During lunch break, Hai Yen sat quietly alone in the corner of the hallway, trying to sort out the complicated emotions swirling in her heart after Mr. Bao's apology. Kien came and sat down next to her, not saying anything, just letting his hand gently rest on her shoulder as a quiet support.

“What do you think about what he just said?” he asked softly.

Hai Yen was silent for a long time before answering. “I don't know,” she admitted. "Part of me wants to believe that he is truly remorseful. But another part reminds me that he, no matter how manipulated, was still the one who chose to stay silent for ten years, letting my father be unfairly named, letting so many other families suffer."

“Both of those things could be true,” Kien said, his voice thoughtful. "He can be both genuinely remorseful and fully responsible for what he has done. Remorse does not erase guilt, but it also does not make remorse false."

Hai Yen nodded, feeling somewhat comforted by Kien's thorough perspective. She recalls the lesson she learned about her own father — that people are always more complex than people want to believe, that sin and repentance can coexist in the same person, not mutually exclusive.

In the afternoon, the trial continued with the interrogation of Mr. Bao's other accomplices, mid-level employees who participated in specific activities of the network. Each testimony adds another piece to the overall picture, reinforcing the systematicity and scale of the crime that took place over more than a decade.

When the third day of the trial ended, the representative of the Procuracy announced that the interrogation of witnesses and defendants was basically completed, and the trial would move to the final arguments and sentencing in the coming days. This news brought a new thrill to Hai Yen and all his companions, as they realized that the final decisive moment was approaching.

On the way home, Hai Yen received a call from the lieutenant. His voice had an unusual tone, both serious and somewhat excited. "Miss Yen, I have important news. We have just received official notification from the foreign side about Mr. Vinh's extradition process. There is a new development, I think you should know immediately."

Hai Yen's heart beat faster before that promising opening statement, mentally preparing for news that could completely change the outcome of the remaining days in this historic trial.

“Tell me,” she replied, trying to keep her voice calm even though her heart was pounding in her chest. “What news is that?”

“From the country's authorities "We have completed the procedure to verify Mr. Tran Quoc Vinh's identity and residence," the lieutenant said, his voice careful but unable to hide his excitement. "They confirmed that he is staying at an apartment under a false name, and have officially received the extradition request from Vietnam. According to the bilateral process between the two countries, they will conduct a preliminary hearing within the next two weeks to decide whether to approve the extradition request or not.”

Hai Yen felt a stream of complex emotions rising in her heart - both relieved that there was finally concrete progress after weeks of waiting in silence, and worried because two weeks was still a long enough period of time for things to change in an unfavorable direction.

“What are the chances of him fighting the extradition request?” she asked, trying to keep a realistic outlook instead of letting hope take over.

“His legal team will certainly find ways to delay or deny the request,” the lieutenant admitted. “But the evidence we have provided, combined with international financial records and Nguyen Dang Hoai's testimony, creates a very solid dossier. The international lawyers assisting us also assess the possibility of success to be quite high, although no one can be absolutely certain in complex cases like this."

The call ended, Hai Yen stood silently for a moment on the sidewalk, letting the news she just received settle in her mind. She looked at Kien, who was waiting for her in the car. His eyes were questioning and full of concern when he saw her pensive expression.

“What's going on?” he asked as she got into the car.

She recounted the entire content of the call, her voice both hopeful and cautious. Kien listened attentively, then took her hand and gave it a gentle, encouraging squeeze.

“That's very good news,” he said. “Even though we still have to wait, at least the door is no longer closed like before. Mr. Vinh cannot hide forever, no matter how much money or power he has."

On the way home, Hai Yen looked out the car window, watching the familiar streets of Nam Can pass by in the gradually falling sunset. She thought about the entire journey that had passed — from the first day she set foot back in this land with a heavy secret in her heart, until now, when the historic trial was taking place, and now, the possibility that the leader of the entire criminal network was about to face justice.

She thought of her father, of the notebook he left behind, of the promise she had made to herself from day one: she would not stop until all the truth was revealed, and all the guilty were held responsible. Now, as she looks back on her journey, she feels a deep sense of pride, not only for what she achieved, but also for how she achieved it — not through blind hatred or revenge, but through perseverance, through faith in truth and justice, and through the strength of a community that stood together against injustice.

When she got home, she told her mother the news. Mrs. Sau's eyes lit up with a new hope. “If he really is extradited here,” she said, her voice both trembling and determined, “it will be a day of truly complete justice, when the leader will have to stand before the dock like the other accomplices.”

Hai Yen nodded, hugged her mother, Feeling the familiar warmth gives her more strength for the important days that lie ahead. That night, before going to bed, she wrote in her notebook a short but meaningful line: "The third day of the trial has ended with a publicly acknowledged truth, and a new door of hope has just opened. The road is still long, but the light at the end of the tunnel is now clearer than ever."