The night of September 29, 20CH...
Her family was gone. Her home lay in ruins. A demon with crimson eyes stared down at An Binh, who knelt pathetically on the floor. It spoke, its voice laced with cruel laughter:
"Your parents shall face the judgment of the night's justice. Their deaths are but a confession sent to the Supreme Gods!"
An Binh's eyes widened in horror. She pressed her hands over her ears, screaming, "No! They did nothing wrong! Diep La! You're lying!!"
The blood-red eyes drew closer. Cold hands gripped An Binh's face, forcing her chin up until their gazes locked.
"You know exactly what kind of people they were, don't you?"
Forced to look, An Binh gasped. Behind that crimson veil lay a violent bloodlust, swirling like a dark vortex ready to swallow everything whole.
Struggling to break free from the "quagmire," An Binh shoved Diep La away and bolted forward.
Terrified and disoriented, she instinctively glanced back. Diep La stood there still, her eyes deep crimson, a grotesque smile stretching from ear to ear.
That wasn't Diep La. It was a demon dwelling inside her.
The blanket was flung aside as An Binh sat up abruptly, her heavy body drenched in sweat. She stared dazed at her familiar bedroom, where morning light filtered through the window, brightening a corner of the room.
The demon's smile haunted every dream. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw nothing but the color of flowing blood.
From downstairs, the voices of a middle-aged man and a familiar woman drifted up, clearing the heavy atmosphere of the room.
An Binh stepped out cautiously, her movements hesitant.
She nudged the door open, revealing the warm atmosphere of a couple chatting happily in the early morning. Seeing her father cheerfully preparing for work, a faint smile of relief finally touched a face worn thin by nightmares.
"I'm off to work. I'll be back a bit late tonight, so you and your mom go ahead and eat dinner first," An Hieu said. As he finished speaking, the front door clicked shut.
Hand-in-hand with her sigh of relief was a nameless sense of unease that continued to swirl in An Binh's heart.
After all, was it just a nightmare, or a prophecy?
6:35 AM. A familiar figure arrived right on time—Diep La.
From the moment Diep La took her first step inside, an invisible fear surged within An Binh. When those sky-blue eyes accidentally brushed against her own pale pink ones, An Binh instinctively looked down, not daring to meet her gaze.
"Execution comes for the wicked."
A feather seemed to brush against her face, carrying an invisible blade that sliced deep into her fair skin. A princess accustomed to sweetness, she loathed this bitter, stinging sensation.
Just as she was about to snap back in protest, An Binh was stunned to see Diep La already seated, quietly taking out her notebook to write. It seemed as though everything had been a hallucination of her own making.
22:46 (10:46 PM)
Y Vuong City...
A figure clad in a black hoodie, baggy black pants, black sneakers, and a black mask—carrying a black backpack—silently left a house, clutching a red invitation envelope.
Moving through the hurried crowds, the red envelope was tossed into a closed trash bin. No one noticed anything unusual. No one realized the horror about to unfold in the skies of Gia Uyen tonight.
23:03 (11:03 PM). The Tam Ly Skyscraper—the crown jewel of Y Vuong. Its architecture was a fusion of modern and classical styles, featuring three towers with pointed steel peaks. The triangular complex increased in height from the outside in, left to right, connected by three glass sky-bridges at varying altitudes.
The shortest tower stood at 55 floors, the second at 68, and the tallest at 81. Known as the tallest and most beautiful landmark in Gia Uyen, its sheer majesty combined with shimmering lights created a magnificent portrait against the midnight sky.
Click. A back door opened quietly. A youth in a black hoodie, mask, and backpack stepped inside. Seeing him, a male manager pointed to his watch.
"Ha That That, three minutes late. Pay deduction! Get to work! We have many high-profile guests today, so be careful!"
The youth nodded, pulling his hood lower. "Yes, I understand."
He turned away, heading to the restroom to change into his server uniform: a white shirt, vest, black trousers, black tie, matching leather shoes, and white gloves. He kept his face covered, replacing the black mask with a white one.
Every action he took bypassed the security lines without a shred of suspicion.
Pushing a trolley laden with pastries, wine, and water, Ha That That entered the elevator and headed straight for the 81st floor of Building C—the nerve center of the entire complex's surveillance system.
He entered the control room. Two men in civilian clothes were taking turns monitoring the cameras. They were local police officers.
Ha That That took out two bottles of mineral water, opened them, and handed them over.
"You two must be tired. Have some water. I'm not sure why, but the manager said we need to take good care of you."
The officers smiled, thanked him, and drank. The water flowed down their throats. As soon as the bottles were recapped, both men collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Ha That That picked up the bottles from their hands. With practiced ease, he wiped the mouth and caps of the bottles before hiding them in a secret compartment in his trolley.
Swiftly, he began operating the controls. He erased all recordings, paused the cameras, and set a timer for the building's power kill-switch.
23:24 (11:24 PM). Ha That That left the control room and went down to the 72nd floor, Room 1002, where a grand gala was underway.
The doors opened to a blinding glare of luxury—an extravagant party for the elite, filled with successful entrepreneurs. As the trolley was pushed slowly into the room, no one paid any mind to the presence of a lowly waiter. To them, servers were like tiny ants beneath their feet.
The gala was hosted by the CEO of the Moc Bach Group, Moc To Chau, to show gratitude to his loyal clients. However, Moc To Chau had also received a secret warning from the Gia Uyen police—who were currently infiltrating the party—that he would be killed tonight.
On the surface, he was jovial and welcoming to everyone, but inside, he was as terrified as a mole wanting to dig a hole and hide underground. Who knew which of the people he "trusted" here would be the one to send him to his ancestors?
A middle-aged man with a stout build and a neat suit approached. His bald head reflected the light, save for a few stray hairs around the edges. This was An Hieu, the Vice President of Moc Bach, a man who knew how to socialize through sheer flattery.
His words were overly complimentary, yet they never failed to satisfy the listener. Instead of criticism, he showered those around him with honeyed words—a communication tactic used to turn others into his pawns.
Amidst the bustling atmosphere, Moc To Chau stood in a corner, staring out the glass window at the city skyline with utter dread. Perhaps tonight would be the last time he looked upon this glittering metropolis.
Noticing his unease, An Hieu walked over and handed him a glass of wine, asking with feigned concern:
"CEO, are you alright? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Startled, Moc To Chau spun around, accidentally knocking his wine glass to the floor. It shattered instantly.
Recognizing it was only An Hieu, Moc To Chau clutched his chest and exhaled in relief, looking like an oversized cat that had just been spooked by a cucumber.
"Perhaps," he thought, "I'm just being too paranoid."