Chapter 7 — Thirty Million Yuan and One Slander

“Office manager – Ton Le.”

“She… is my best friend.”

When I said that, my heart still ached a little. For half a month I was suspended from the investigation. As my best friend, Ton Le only called me once. On the phone, she stammered and said that she was going to a meeting in the city that day and didn't know what was going on. Then… completely lost contact. At that time, I only thought that people's hearts were cold, trees fell and monkeys melted away. But now that I think about it... Her avoidance was questionable. The head of the office manages the entire administration of the agency. Including camera maintenance. The camera in front of my office door doesn't fail early, it doesn't fail late. Just on the day of the incident, the "signal was lost". She said she was going to a meeting in the city. But after I had an accident and was investigated, they didn't ask me a single question. That was completely unlike our friendship of many years. She knew from the beginning that this was a trap. She... is also Vuong Kien Quoc's accomplice!

“Understood!”

Ly Kien Quan immediately proposed a plan.

"We won't touch her right away, to avoid fighting a snake or a grass."

“We will send people to secretly monitor all her whereabouts and movements 24 hours.”

“Just need Vuong Kien Quoc to contact her, or come find her…”

“He cannot escape.”

The night is getting deeper and deeper. I was alone in the hotel room, unable to sleep. Outside the window are the lights of tens of thousands of houses in the city. But I felt like I was in a dark forest. Full of poisonous snakes and invisible traps. Husband's betrayal. The selling out of a close friend. Conspiracy of superiors. Familiar faces... Behind them hide the most malicious hearts. Right at that moment. My phone suddenly vibrated. I hesitated for a few seconds then answered the phone. On the other end of the line rang a processed voice, hoarse like electronic sound.

“Hua Tinh.”

My heart sank.

“Who are you?”

“It doesn't matter who I am.”

The voice carried a devilish smile.

“The important thing is… I know what you want to do.”

“I advise you to stop here.”

“What you know… swallow it all.”

“If not…”

“I can't guarantee that your car accident won't happen again.”

“Next time… you won't be so lucky to just end up in the ICU.”

A blatant threat. My hand tightened on the phone. Vuong Kien Quoc! He still dares to call and threaten me!

“Do you think you can escape?”

I replied coldly.

“The net of the sky is vast, although it is sparse, it is difficult to penetrate.”

“Ha ha ha…”

There was a shrill laugh from the other side.

"Innocent."

“Hua Tinh, you are too naive.”

“You think that if you overthrow me alone… then everything will be over?”

“I tell you…”

“I'm just a pawn.”

“What you are touching… is a chess board that you cannot touch.”

“Go one step further…”

“You and your entire family… will be broken to pieces.”

After speaking, the phone was hung up. Hearing the machine's long beeping sound, my back was soaked in a layer of cold sweat. Wang Jianguo's words were like a bomb exploding in my head. Behind him, is there an even more terrifying force? I immediately reported the entire content of that phone call to Ly Kien Quan. After listening, he fell into a long silence.

“It seems… we all underestimated the complexity of this case.”

His voice was low unprecedentedly heavy.

“Wang Jianguo did not fight alone.”

“Behind him… there was a larger protective umbrella.”

"So big that it made him believe that, even though he was wanted all over the city, he was still confident enough to call and threaten her."

“Things… are starting to get awkward.”

A feeling of helplessness prevailed. Enemies hide in the dark. And we stand in the light. He can strike at any time. And we... haven't even seen his appearance clearly yet.

“Can't keep waiting anymore.”

I say every word clearly.

“We have to be proactive.”

“Luring him out.”

“How is it?” Ly Kien Quan asked.

“What does Vuong Kien Quoc want to do most now?” I asked back.

“Murder gag.”

Ly Kien Quan replied immediately.

“The people he wants to silence the most… there are two.”

“The first is Liu Wei, who was arrested and gave a full account.”

“Second… it's me.”

"Liu Wei is in your hands, he can't touch it."

“So the only goal… is just me.”

Ly Kien Quan understood what I meant immediately and his voice immediately rose.

"No! It's too dangerous!"

“You can't use yourself as bait!”

“This is the only way… and also the fastest.”

I am determined.

“He thought that threatening phone call would scare me.”

“So we do the opposite.”

“I will make him think that… not only am I not afraid, but I also want to fight him to the end.”

“I will force his hand.”

“As long as he takes action... loopholes will be exposed.”