Chapter 37 — The Last Seed Keeper

The reception hall of the Vom Cat merchant guild did not have a high platform or dozens of armed guards like the hall of Confucius Ba Truc. Instead, a round room with a transparent glass roof let the morning sunlight pour in naturally, a long table made of recycled wood was placed in the center, and the man sitting at the head of the table stood up as soon as the group entered, personally approaching to shake hands with each member one by one.

"Cau Bach Thinh," he introduced, his voice warm and sincere. "Welcome delegation from the Green Dome. It has been too long since we last welcomed a delegation directly from your Dome — most recent transactions have been through intermediary trade delegations."

He was a middle-aged man, with a neat figure, calloused hands with small burns typical of someone who had personally worked in a glass factory before becoming the head of a merchant guild, and his eyes carried a keenness of hospitality that rarely went together.

"We are very grateful for your welcome," Khe Mien said, introducing her role. "Green Dome is in need of some air and water filtration components, as well as wanting to exchange some rare plant varieties with what Vom Cat can provide."

"I heard the radio message you sent first," Cau Bach Thinh said, motioning for the group to sit down. "We have most of what you need in stock — we always keep a spare supply of parts for long-time partners like Green Dome. As for seeds, I'm looking forward to seeing what you bring."

The negotiation went much more smoothly than what Khe Mien had mentally prepared for after her experience at the Salt Dome. Cau Bach Thinh carefully examined each sample of Khe Mien seeds carefully removed from the shockproof box, asking intelligent questions about the growth characteristics, drought tolerance, and nutritional value of each variety — questions that showed that he was not only a businessman but also had a real understanding of agriculture.

“These breeds are amazing,” he said, his eyes shining with sincere appreciation after his inspection. "We're willing to trade all the parts you need, plus a spare supply of solar panels, in exchange for a small portion of what you brought — not all of it, I understand the value of keeping the majority for the Green Dome itself."

The fairness and respect in the way he proposed the transaction made Khe Mien feel a deep sense of relief, completely different from the feeling of coercion and intimidation in Salt Dome.

"We agree," she said, without further consideration.

"I want to ask one more thing, if you don't mind," Diem Quynh spoke up, after Khe Mien nodded for permission. "I'm in charge of the crew's engineering. In addition to the energy harvesting panels, does Cat Dome have replacement parts available for the water distillation equipment controller? Our equipment was seriously damaged along the way, and we want to have a complete spare set before returning."

"A very practical question," Cau Bach Thinh said, nodding in approval. "We have our own factory that manufactures basic electronic components, although not as sophisticated as what Stone Dome can produce. I will have someone prepare a full spare set, with detailed repair instructions, as an added goodwill to today's agreement."

“We are truly grateful,” Khe Mien said, touched by the generosity that went beyond what she expected.

"That's how long-time partners should treat each other," Cau Bach Thinh replied, his smile sincere. "I still remember the story my father told, about the years when Vom Cat was young, when a group from Vom Xanh brought not only seeds but also farming techniques in conditions lacking fertile soil, helping us overcome the most difficult period. That kindness, my family has never forgotten."

After the formal terms were agreed upon and recorded, Cau Bach Thinh invited the group to stay and have lunch with him, a friendly gesture that went beyond the scope of mere negotiations. During the meal, when the atmosphere became more comfortable, Khe Mien decided this was the right time to begin the cautious questions she had prepared.

"How long have you been leading the merchant guild?" she asked, starting with an innocuous question.

"Nearly twenty years," Cau Bach Thinh replied, smiling in memory. "Inherited from my father, who inherited from my grandfather. The Sand Dome has existed for five generations since its founding, right after the Great Transformation."

"Five elements," Bach Lam commented, mentally calculating. "So Sand Dome is one of the earliest established Domes."

"That's right," Cau Bach Thinh confirmed. "My great-grandfather was one of the founders, along with several other families who survived the most chaotic early years after the disaster."

"Did your great-grandfather ever talk about that period?" Khe Mien asked, trying to keep her voice natural like a normal historical curiosity. "We've always been curious about how the different Arches were founded, compared to what we know about the Green Dome."

Cau Bach Thinh paused for a moment, as if searching for memories. "My great-grandfather died when I was young, so I only remember fragments of the story through my father's words," he said. "He said that in the early years after the Great Cataclysm, there was a clear division between the communities that had initial technical support, and those that had to fend for themselves from scratch. Sand Dome was fortunate to be in the second group — we were built almost entirely by the founders' own efforts, with no support from any major organization."

That answer caught Khe Mien's particular attention — the distinction between "supported" and "self-managed" suggested exactly what the documents in Dai Van Cuong's box had implied.

"You said 'large organization' — do you know which organization that is?" she asked, trying to keep her voice as gentle as possible.

Cau Bach Thinh looked at her for a moment, a little surprised at her specific curiosity, but didn't seem wary. "My father mentioned a name, once, when he told stories about the Arches built with technology far superior to the rest — the Upper Arch being the most obvious example. He said that the founders there were not ordinary survivors, but former employees of a large corporation from before the disaster, people who had plans and resources in preparation long ago."

"What is the name of that corporation?" Khe Mien asked, her heart beating rapidly as she waited for the answer.

"I don't remember exactly," Cau Bach Thinh said, frowning and trying to remember. "Some name related to protection or protection... Thien... Thien Ho, perhaps. But that's just a vague memory from a story my father told many years ago, I'm not sure how accurate it is."

That confirmation, even though it came from a source completely independent of Dai Van Cuong, made Khe Mien feel a chill run down her spine — not because the information was new, but because the fact that it was confirmed from a completely different perspective, a family that had led Vom Cat for five generations, made her theory even more credible.

"Why do you ask about this?" Cau Bach Thinh asked, his eyes now carrying genuine curiosity instead of suspicion.

Khe Mien pondered for a moment, then decided that part of the truth was safe to share with this man, who had shown sincerity throughout the encounter. "We found some clues on the way here," she said carefully, "suggesting that the official history of the Great Cataclysm may not be entirely complete. We're trying to find out more, cautiously."

Cau Bach Thinh nodded slowly, his face becoming more serious. "If that's what you're looking for," he said, "I think I know someone who can help you more than me. Lai Ba Nguyen, the person in charge of archiving and preserving the ancient documents of Vom Cat. He has spent his entire life studying the remains from before the Great Transformation. If anyone here knows more about Thien Ho, it would be him."

"Can we see him?" Khe Mien asked, trying to keep her voice calm even though inside she felt an excitement that was hard to contain.

"Of course," Cau Bach Thinh replied, standing up to call an assistant. "He works at the Archives, a small building near the southern edge of the Arch. I'll have someone take you there this afternoon, if you don't mind waiting a little longer while we complete the delivery of the supplies."

"We're happy to wait," Bach Lam said, and Khe Mien noticed an eagerness in his voice that he rarely expressed so clearly.