Chapter 14 — World Chess Game

No empty compartments, no hidden compartments, no anything else. Just an old toy. At that moment, a feeling of near collapse flooded over me. Were we… wrong? But just when I was about to give up, Lam Phong's movements suddenly stopped. His gaze locked on the rabbit's right eye. That tiny black button. His voice was low, almost a whisper.

"Incorrect."

His fingers touched the button and pressed lightly. A very small sound rang out. The button... sank. Right after that, from inside the rabbit, there was a very light "click" sound of electricity running, then a cold electronic voice popped up.

“Hello, Lam Phong.”

“Or should we say… Mr. L.”

In an instant, both he and I changed color. He... knows you. Don't just know your real name. But he also knows the code name. The rabbit's voice continued to sound, so cold that it gave people goosebumps.

“I knew you guys would come here.”

“This rabbit… is the first gift.”

“And the second gift…”

He stopped, then laughed softly, a low laugh that seemed to come from the bottom of the abyss.

“It's hidden in a place... you all know it, but you'll never think about it.”

“It is related to Tham Nguyet's family.”

“More precisely… your unlucky white car.”

My head felt like it was exploding. The car caused the accident.

“Your time is running out.”

“And Trieu Thien Thanh's patience... is also about to run out.”

“Find it… or prepare to pick up the bodies of the entire Tham family.”

“The game… just started.”

The sound stopped suddenly. The room fell silent again. Only the rabbit with black button eyes... seemed to be laughing at us. 15 Family Choices

“The game… just started.”

That sentence was like a knife, piercing straight into my heart. My family. My car. The person behind... is like an omniscient demon, holding everything in his hands. Why do you even know Lam Phong's code name? Why lead us towards my family… and that car?

“Where is my car now?”

Lam Phong's voice pulled me back to reality.

“Towed away by… traffic.”

I answered, my voice shaking slightly.

“Sealed as evidence.”

His eyes immediately sharpened.

“The car must be taken out immediately.”

“What we need… is definitely there.”

“And also what Trieu Thien Thanh is looking for.”

We left Kim Nguyen center in hasty silence, he threw the rabbit straight into the roadside trash can like a dangerous piece of trash. On the way back, he called Chu Ky.

“Chu Ky, use all your connections.”

“Before morning… I have to see that car.”

“No matter the cost.”

On the other end of the line, Chu Ky's voice lowered.

“Yes, Mr. Phong.”

I sat in the passenger seat, my hands were cold, looking out at the night outside the window. For the first time… I understood one thing clearly. This game... is not the type of "reverse investigation" I'm used to. This is the hunt. And I… just escaped the first trap. I felt like a puppet on a string, pulled back and forth by two invisible forces, not having a single second of freedom. On one side is Trieu Thien Thanh, cruel to the core, on the other side is a deeper mystery, like the devil behind all the drama. As for me... and my family, we are just small, innocent pieces, placed on the chessboard without any choice. Thinking of those two words, my heart ached like it was being stabbed by a needle, it hurt to the point where I could barely breathe. Even though they are cold to me, indifferent to me, even willing to push me out as a substitute... But blood... is still something that cannot be broken. I don't dare to imagine, if that person really did attack them, how terrifying the consequences would be. At that moment, my phone — my old phone — frantically vibrated. The caller… was my mother. I paused for a beat, then continued to listen. My voice is hoarse. But the other side… is not my mother. His voice roared, rough and panicked.

"Tham Nguyet! You troublemaker! Where are you hiding!"

"Are you holding something you shouldn't be holding? Say it!"

My heart sank.

“Dad… what are you talking about, I don't understand.”

"Not understand?"

“Don't play dumb!”

"Shen Hao! Your cousin has been taken away!"

His voice trembled, almost breaking.

“Just now, a group of people broke into the house and without saying a word dragged it away!”

“They said… if you don't hand over what you're holding, they'll take its life!”

My head was pounding, every sound seemed to be broken. Tham Hao... was arrested. A member of Trieu Thien Thanh. Couldn't find me... so turned to family. They also believe... that thing is in my hands.

“They left this!”

My mother screamed in panic.

“A box… inside… inside is a hand…”

"A fake hand full of blood! There's also a picture... a picture of Tham Hao tied up!"

"Nguyet Nguyet! Quickly save your cousin! He's still very young!"

Mom's cries and dad's screams were intertwined, like two blunt blades cutting into my heart one by one.

"I don't have it! That thing is not with me!"

I screamed, almost losing control.

"Do not have?"

My father laughed coldly, a laugh full of resentment.