Chapter 19 — The Secret in the Basement B2

17I looked at the row of iron cabinets in front of me. Only the sound of Mr. Ma's intermittent panting remained. Uncle doesn't want me to open it. Han Lap Thanh also didn't want me to open it. The man surnamed Luong locked us all in this cold storage warehouse... He never intended to give me the right to choose. He just wanted to force me... Hand over what my mother left behind. Manh Ky An took off his jacket. Gently apply it to Mr. Ma's body.

"Don't let him lead you."

I replied softly.

"If you don't open the cabinet..."

"He won't forgive us either."

"And if it opens..."

"At least I know..."

"What exactly does he want?"

At that moment... Han Lap Thanh suddenly raised his head.

"On Kieu..."

"Don't just leave behind the accounting book."

I turned to look at him. He clenched his teeth. As if he had finally made up his mind.

"She left behind..."

"A list."

"The names in there..."

"Not from the company."

"All front accounts..."

"It was used to circulate money that year."

"The people behind the scenes receive the money."

My heart was shocked.

"So..."

"What the Luong people really want to find..."

"Not an accounting book."

"That list."

Han Lap Thanh nodded.

"Accounting book..."

"Just enough to prove that Thieu Chan Hai has a problem."

"And the list..."

"Can pull all the people behind him..."

"Get in the water."

The other side of the screen. The man named Luong... It was that silence... That proved... Han Lap Thanh was right. I walked in front of cabinet number three. The cabinet is very old. The edge of the door still has black burn marks from the fire. Below the label... There is a fingerprint slot. Same very small lock. I turned back to look at Uncle Ma. Uncle no longer had the strength to speak. Just desperately shook my head. Tears silently slipped from the corners of my eyes. Very quickly... It froze into tiny drops of water under the cold air. I knelt down next to him.

"Uncle Ma..."

"I know..."

"I want to protect you."

"I've been caught up in this."

"If you don't open..."

"They will continue to use the people around them..."

"To force you."

Uncle Ma held my hand tighter and tighter. The palm of my hand is cold as ice.

"My mother..."

"...not..."

"...died by fire..."

The bridge of my nose is stinging.

"...Who is it?"

His lips trembled. It was difficult to utter two words.

"...Acquaintance..."

As soon as he finished speaking... The screen suddenly emitted a deafening electrical noise. The voice of the man surnamed Luong became cold.

"Old man..."

"Should have shut up sooner."

The next second... The infusion machine next to the hospital bed suddenly started to alarm continuously. The infusion fluid begins to flow backward. Uncle Ma's whole body convulsed violently. Manh Ky An rushed forward. Hold the device tightly.

"He remotely controls the infusion machine!"

The commander repeatedly kicked hard on the door. The outside is still blocked. I no longer hesitate. He raised his hand to touch Uncle Ma's collar.

"Uncle Ma..."

Right next to your chest... There's a small cloth bag sewn shut. I used my fingernails to rip out the stitching. From inside... A very thin piece of copper fell out. Jagged cut edges. Like... Broken from a key. I hold the piece of copper. Go in front of the safe. The fingerprint slot lights up. I put my finger up. The system immediately displays a notification.

"Family verification successful."

My heart beats strongly. Really left this authentication to me. I inserted the copper piece into the lock. There was no reaction. A few seconds later... From deep inside the cabinet... There was a very soft clicking sound. The iron door... Slowly opened. Han Lap Thanh suddenly shouted loudly.

"Don't pull the door open now!"

It's too late. Inside the cabinet... A red light immediately lit up. From the crack in the door... Thin white smoke began to come out. Manh Ky An immediately rushed forward. Hold the door tight.

"There's a self-destruct mechanism inside!"

Han Lap Thanh dragged his injured leg. Jump in front of the cabinet.

"Underneath..."

"There is a manual shutoff."

"Bottom left corner!"

I knelt down to the ground. Slide your hand under the bottom of the door. Metal cutting edge... Cut a long incision on the back of my hand. Blood immediately leaked out. Finally... I reached a very small lever. I used all my strength... Pressed down hard. The red light flashes twice. The iron door... Finally opened completely. Inside... There wasn't a thick stack of files like I thought. A moisture-proof box. An old recording pen. A faded photo. In the photo... My mother is hugging me when she was young. I was about thirteen or fourteen years old. Frowning, avoiding the camera. Mom stands behind. Smile gently. Never seen this photo. Tears... Suddenly fell. Manh Ky An reminded softly.

"Let's get the things first."

I took a deep breath. Gently take out the moisture-proof box. On the lid of the box... It's my mother's handwriting.

"If Nam Tu sees this box..."

"Don't trust anyone you know." I stared at that line.

A cold air... Suddenly ran down my spine. Don't trust anyone you know. Uncle Ma just said... He's an acquaintance. I opened the box. Inside... There is a memory card. A thin accounting book. Half of the transfer agreement has been signed. On the agreement... Besides the name Thieu Chan Hai... There is another name. But most of it was destroyed by fire. Only left... Half of the defense. As soon as Manh Ky An saw that half of a word... His face immediately changed. I asked him.

"What's up?"

No reply. At that moment... The recording pen... Suddenly lit up automatically. From inside... Mother's voice rang out. Younger than I thought. Also more tiring than I thought.

"Nam Tu..."

"If you hear this recording..."

"That means..."

"Mom was unable to return home."

"Don't blame your father."

"It's mom..."

"It's the one who told him..."

"Lie to me."

"That day my mother took me to the old building..."

"Because I used to think..."

"That place..."

"It's the safest place."

"But I didn't expect..."

"Mother traitor..."

"It's that person again..."

"Mom trusts the most."

In the recording... Suddenly there was a loud knocking on the door. Glass! Glass! Glass! Mom immediately lowered her voice.

"...He's here."

"Mom, I don't have time anymore."

"Nam Tu..."

"Remember well..."

"Wear an old bronze watch on your wrist."

I suddenly raised my head. For a long time... Everyone assumed... The old bronze watch... was Thieu Chan Hai's identification mark. The video just now proves it. The person wearing that watch... It's another person. Manh Ky An's face... Pale. He immediately turned around. Look towards the archive door. At that moment... The metal objects blocking the outside... Suddenly someone moved them away. We haven't had time to celebrate yet. Then from the crack in the door... Suddenly a very familiar voice rang out.

"Give me those..."

My whole body... It was my father's voice.