Chapter 22 — The Secret in the Basement B2

20The iron door outside the warehouse made a loud banging noise. Thieu Chan Hai's voice echoed through the layers of doors.

"Nguyen Thanh Vien!"

"When you pushed me out as a substitute... did you ever think this day would come?"

My father slowly stood up. The corner of his mouth was torn. But his eyes were even darker than before.

"Shao Chan Hai."

"Can you live until today..."

"It's because I let you live."

There was a cold laugh outside.

"Then..."

"I really have to thank you."

Right after that. The sound of broken glass rang out. Someone broke the side window and climbed into the main warehouse. The police immediately formed a formation to block the front door. But the aisles in the warehouse are too many. Boxes of old files are piled high like a maze. No one can watch in all directions. The data download progress bar has reached 73%. Han Lap Thanh was sweating profusely.

"The server is too old..."

"The speed couldn't be faster."

"How much longer?"

"At least... three minutes."

The countdown notification on the system only has five minutes left. Uncle Ma's breathing is getting weaker and weaker. I supported your shoulder.

"Uncle Ma..."

"Try a little longer."

Uncle looked at me. The eyes were cloudy. But still trying to get out each word.

"My mother..."

"...don't blame your father."

I was stunned. Uncle Ma panted for a long time before continuing.

"At the last minute..."

"She just told me..."

"Take me away."

My eyes burned. Tears almost fell. My father heard that sentence. His face looked like he had just been hit by something. He stared at Uncle Ma.

"What else can I say?"

Uncle Ma did not answer. Or rather... I no longer had the strength to answer. My father suddenly walked forward. Grasping the edge of the hospital bed.

"What else can I say?"

I immediately blocked in front of him.

"Now..."

"Do you still have the right to ask?"

Dad looked at me. For the first time... A crack appeared in his eyes.

"I don't understand."

"From the beginning..."

"Dad didn't want to hurt her."

"Ba only..."

"Get that money."

"Dad just wants..."

"Your mother and I can live better."

"Later..."

"They pulled Dad down."

"Can't pull it out anymore."

"If On Kieu does not continue to investigate..."

"Our whole family..."

"Can live in peace."

I just find it ridiculous.

"So..."

"The wrong person..."

"Is that mom?"

Dad's lips trembled slightly.

"Too clean."

"So clean that..."

"Make everyone..."

"There's no way to live anymore."

Manh Ky An spoke coldly.

"It's not like she makes it impossible for others to live."

"It's you..."

"Fear of the light."

Dad immediately turned to him.

"Your senior brother that year..."

"Also say this correctly."

Manh Ky An's eyes turned red.

"So..."

"You let someone crash his car?"

Dad was silent for two seconds.

"I just told them..."

"Stop him."

"What happened next..."

"No longer in my control."

"You guys are always like that."

Manh Ky An's voice trembled with anger.

"When you give orders, you say you can control them."

"Until someone dies..."

"Again..."

"It wasn't intentional."

Upload progress bar reaches 82%. Right at that moment. From the main warehouse came a terrible scream. Right after that. A figure rushed into the hallway. Driver Cao. Don't know how he escaped. Face full of blood. In his hand he holds an iron bar. Just saw my dad. He seemed to see the last saving straw.

"Mr. Nguyen!"

"Take me away!"

My father's eyes were cold.

"What are you doing here?"

Finance Driver Cao stopped. The cut surface no longer had any drops of blood.

"It's not..."

"Will you let someone release me?"

Everyone... Everyone was silent at the same time. The laughter of the man surnamed Luong rang out from the screen.

"Of course..."

"It's not him."

"Years ago..."

"Those who directly took action..."

"You should also be fully present."

Driver Cao turned around and ran away. But I only ran two steps. An iron door deep in the warehouse suddenly fell. Blocking the exit route. He frantically banged on the door. The voice was distorted with fear.

"Mr. Luong!"

"I was wrong!"

"From now on..."

"I'll listen to whatever you say!"

The cold voice of the man surnamed Luong echoed throughout the radio system.

"Three years ago..."

"When you pulled On Kieu into the car..."

"You also said..."

"Just listen..."

"Nothing will happen."

"Today..."

"You should try it too."

Driver Cao completely collapsed. Sit down on the ground. My father's face darkened.

"Last name Luong."

"Are you planning on dragging everyone to death?"

"It's you..."

"Teach me that."

The voice of the man named Luong was calm.

"Leave someone alive..."

"In the end it was still a disaster."

The progress bar has reached 91%. Notification system. Three minutes left. The lights in the low-temperature storage room began flashing continuously. Han Lap Thanh shouted loudly.

"Someone is deleting data backwards!"

The progress bar stalls at 93%. On the right side of the screen a red warning pops up. Remote access is overriding the system. My first reflex was to look at Dad. He himself was stunned. Manh Ky An stared at the screen.

"It's the Luong family."

The face of a man named Luong appeared on the surveillance screen. He no longer smiles.

"List..."

"Can be made public."

"The original ledger does not."

"In there..."

"It's also got my name."

Han Lap Thanh gritted his teeth and worked continuously.

"He's stealing access to the base layer."

"Can't stop it much longer."

I asked immediately:

"Is there any other way?"

Han Lap Thanh looked at me.

"Need on-site confirmation."

Han Lap Thanh pointed to the deepest part of the warehouse.

"The old archive's master circuit breaker."

"Lying behind the red iron door."

I suddenly remembered your previous warning. If you see a red iron door... absolutely do not go in alone. Manh Ky An immediately spoke up.

"Let me go."

Han Lap Thanh shook his head.

"That lock..."

"It was Wen Kieu who personally transformed it."

"It only confirms the bloodline she left behind."

All eyes... Once again focused on me. Right at that moment. Dad suddenly grabbed my arm.

"Don't go."

I yanked my hand away.

"You have no right to stop me."

His voice was hoarse.

"The Luong family is waiting for you there."

I looked straight into his eyes.

"That road..."

"You guys forced me to go."

I picked up the recording pen and moisture-proof box my mother left behind. Don't look back once. I rushed out of the low-temperature storage room. Manh Ky An followed closely behind. Two policemen escorted us through the main warehouse area. There are boxes of documents scattered everywhere. Old documents were soaked by rainwater. Every step I step on... It's like stepping on a layer of rotten mud. At the end of the passage... Is a red iron door. On the door there is a long and narrow authentic slot. I put my hand on it. The electronic lock light immediately lights up. Successful bloodline authentication. The door slowly opened. Inside... There is no man named Luong. Only cramped control room. On the opposite wall... Hangs an old bronze clock. The clock hands have stopped running a long time ago. Time forever stops at... The night of the fire three years ago. 1:20 am. I haven't recovered yet. The back door suddenly slammed shut. Manh Ky An was stopped outside. Right at that moment. The screen in the control room lit up. The man surnamed Luong sat in front of the camera. His face was pale. The corners of his lips curled slightly into a pale smile. He looked straight at me.

"Nguyen Nam Tu."

"Now..."

"Only you remain..."

"...and me."