"Is that you, Vice Director An?"
"Yes. Why do you look so dazed, sir? Is something troubling you?"
"It's just that it's already past the scheduled time, and there is still no sign of Mr. Lu (Moc Bach's biggest client)."
"Now that you mention it, I noticed as well. The party started over half an hour ago, yet Mr. Lu hasn't arrived. I've heard he is often preoccupied with work. It seems we are missing one guest today."
"Indeed. You are right."
"Don't be disheartened, sir. Even if Mr. Lu doesn't show, I and the entire corporation are standing by your side to support you."
"Thank you."
An Hieu is still the reliable one, Moc To Chau thought to himself.
But how much truth lies in the words of a sycophant?
Moc To Chau had originally intended to hijack the building's electrical system to prepare a spectacular performance to welcome that important guest. But now, it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.
On the other side of the room, Ha That That brushed past a sophisticated woman conversing with other socialites.
As the woman turned around, she was startled to find Ha That That right behind her. The glass of red wine in her hand wavered, accidentally spilling onto Ha That That's white shirt.
"My apologies, Madam."
Before the woman could react, Ha That That apologized first, grabbed a tissue from the trolley to hand to her, and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Passing by An Hieu, Ha That That asked:
"Would you like some wine or a pastry, sir?"
An Hieu glanced at the tray. He wasn't in the mood to eat, but when he saw the premium chestnut cakes that Moc To Chau loved, he pointed at them and said:
"Give me one of those cakes."
"Yes, sir."
Ha That That nimbly picked up a cake and placed it on a plate for An Hieu.
As soon as he received it, An Hieu turned and offered it to Moc To Chau with an air of reverence:
"You must be tired from hosting. I asked the manager to have the chef prepare these specifically. Please, have one."
Moc To Chau looked at it, secretly swallowing hard.
An Hieu wasn't wrong. Ever since he heard the news, the fear that the killer would strike had prevented him from eating much. Facing his favorite treat now, it was difficult to resist.
However, the instinct for survival kept his guard up.
Moc To Chau tried to act as natural as possible, saying:
"Ah... Why don't you eat first? I'll have one later."
"If you say so, Director Moc, then I won't be modest."
With that, An Hieu put the cake into his mouth, silently admiring the chef's skill.
Seeing this, Moc To Chau's cravings became unbearable.
He stole a glance at Da Dang Ha, who was in a corner talking to a guest (who was actually an undercover officer), and then turned back to see that An Hieu had finished the cake and was about to reach for another. Moc To Chau spoke up immediately:
"Quickly, give me that cake."
Ha That That nodded and handed it to him.
23:52
Ha That That cleared the tray and left the room. The police officers in the room didn't pay much attention to his departure. They assumed he wasn't a central figure in this case.
23:54
Outside the building...
"What do you mean I can't enter without an invitation!? Didn't you people send this to me yourself?!"
Two security guards, a female receptionist, and a manager were inspecting the invitation. The manager shook his head and handed the letter back to the receptionist. He said:
"We are just doing our duty. Moc Bach has booked the entire building tonight. If you wish to enter, please present the correct invitation."
The man appeared frantic; his hair was a mess and his crumpled suit jacket only added to his "disheveled" and overworked appearance.
The receptionist returned the envelope and invitation to the man. The invitation clearly stated the time and location: 0:00 at Room 1002, 72nd Floor, Tower C, Tam Ly.
"You people are the ones who need to double-check! Call Moc To Chau out here right now! I want to see him!!"
The receptionist said hurriedly, "Please calm down, sir. We have checked thoroughly; there are no mistakes. If you still refuse to cooperate, we will have to use force to escort you out."
Fuming, the man quickly pulled out his phone to make a call.
23:58
On the 72nd floor, Moc To Chau had relaxed slightly, though his guard remained.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Moc To Chau scrambled to pull out his phone. Seeing the name "Lu Doanh," he was shocked and quickly answered:
"Mr. Lu! I'm here!"
"Moc To Chau! What kind of invitation did you send me?! The reception and building management won't let me up!"
To ensure the best experience for his guests, Moc To Chau had rented out the entirety of Tower C for a few hours. During this time, anyone without official business or a valid invitation was barred from entry.
Moc To Chau replied frantically, "My apologies, sir! I will come down personally to check!!"
In a corner of the room, noticing Moc To Chau's unusual behavior, Da Dang Ha quickly signaled five other officers to follow him.
00:00
Da Dang Ha entered the elevator with Moc To Chau.
Just as the elevator started moving, the lights went out one by one. The entire skyscraper instantly plunged into a silent darkness, followed by panic.
Inside the elevator, Da Dang Ha immediately opened his phone, using the light to illuminate the cramped space. The beam hit Moc To Chau, who was leaning against the metal wall in terror.
"Inspector Da! Save me!!"
"Don't panic! Thap Hoa, press the emergency button!"
Then, Da Dang Ha turned to reassure Moc To Chau:
"Don't be afraid. With this building's technology, there must be a backup power source. We'll be out of here soon."
Hearing this, Moc To Chau breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat more secure.
00:12
"Inspector Da..." Phan Thap Hoa suddenly interrupted.
"What is it?"
Phan Thap Hoa held up his phone, which showed 00:12.
"If we subtract the time that just passed, it was exactly midnight. Based on the novels I read, coincidences like this are definitely orchestrated with intent."
"Didn't I tell you to read fewer novels?"
Phan Thap Hoa looked dejected. "I—I'm sorry. But sometimes when I'm free and read those, I feel like they help me solve cases. Besides... why hasn't the elevator reached the nearest floor yet? If it's like in the novels, the building's power must have been tampered with by the killer."
Da Dang Ha fell silent, then said thoughtfully:
"You're right. If it were a power failure or an elevator malfunction, the system should automatically use backup power to take us to the nearest floor. Furthermore, we have men stationed in the surveillance room; there's no way the power could be out this long without them notifying us. There is only one possibility left."
"He has taken control of the building!"