Chapter 4 — The File No One Was Meant to Find
The rain returned that evening.
It fell softly against the windows of the main office, creating a strange silence around the plantation.
Kim sat across from Than.
Between them lay the black USB drive.
Neither of them had spoken for several minutes.
Kim finally broke the silence.
"What is on it?"
Than didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the USB.
"Where did you find it?"
"Behind the warehouse."
"Exactly where?"
"Near the back door."
Than's fingers tightened slightly.
Kim noticed.
"You know what it is, don't you?"
Than looked up.
"Yes."
"What?"
"A warning."
Kim frowned.
"A warning?"
Than leaned back in his chair.
"That USB wasn't left there by accident."
"Then who left it?"
"I don't know."
Kim stared at him.
"You're lying."
Than's eyes narrowed.
"You've known me for two days."
"And yet I can tell when you're avoiding a question."
For a moment, Than said nothing.
Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth lifted.
"You're more troublesome than I expected."
Kim pushed his glasses up.
"I've been told that before."
The faint smile disappeared from Than's face.
He picked up the USB.
"There is something you need to understand."
Kim waited.
"Whatever happens next, you must stay out of this."
"But my name is written on it."
Than became silent.
Kim's voice softened.
"Why would someone leave something with my name on it?"
Than looked directly into his eyes.
"That's what I'm trying to find out."
The Hidden Room
Than stood and walked toward a wooden cabinet.
He pressed a small metal button hidden beneath the edge.
Click.
A section of the wall opened.
Kim stared.
Behind it was a narrow staircase leading underground.
"What is that?"
"A room."
"You have a secret room beneath your office?"
Than glanced back at him.
"Apparently."
Kim followed him.
The room below was small and cold.
There were shelves filled with old documents, photographs, and locked boxes.
Than walked to a computer.
He inserted the USB drive.
The screen lit up.
A single folder appeared.
PROJECT M-17
Kim stared at the screen.
"What does M-17 mean?"
Than didn't answer.
He opened the folder.
Inside were several scanned documents.
One of them was an old photograph.
Kim leaned closer.
His face suddenly went pale.
"That..."
Than looked at him.
"What?"
Kim pointed at the screen.
"I know that man."
The photograph showed two young men standing beside a coffee plantation.
One of them was Than's father.
The other...
was Kim's father.
Than's expression changed.
"You're sure?"
Kim nodded slowly.
"That's my father."
Silence filled the room.
Than stared at the photograph.
He had spent years believing the two families had been enemies.
But the photograph told a different story.
They had once stood together.
Not against each other.
Together.
Kim whispered,
"Why did our fathers know each other?"
Than didn't answer.
He opened another file.
This time, his face became completely expressionless.
A document appeared on the screen.
At the top was a date.
June 17, 2008.
Underneath it was a list of names.
Than's eyes stopped on one particular line.
Wattanacharoenkitchara — deceased.
Kim's breathing stopped.
"My father..."
He looked at Than.
"He wasn't supposed to die that year."
Than slowly turned toward him.
"What do you mean?"
"My mother told me he died in an accident."
Than stared at the screen.
"According to this file..."
He paused.
"Your father didn't die in an accident."
Kim's hands began to tremble.
"What happened to him?"
Than looked at him.
"I don't know."
"Then who does?"
Before Than could answer—
BANG!
A loud explosion shook the building above them.
The lights went out.
Kim gasped.
"What was that?"
Than immediately pulled him behind him.
"Stay here."
Another explosion echoed through the plantation.
Then came the sound of gunfire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kim's heart pounded.
"Than!"
Than pulled a handgun from beneath his jacket.
His expression had changed.
The calm businessman was gone.
In his place stood the man everyone feared.
A man who had survived the darkness of his family's world.
Than looked at Kim.
"Whatever you hear..."
He placed a hand on Kim's shoulder.
"Don't leave this room."
"But—"
"No matter what happens."
His eyes softened for only a moment.
"I'll come back for you."
Than turned and disappeared up the stairs.
Kim stood frozen in the darkness.
Then his eyes fell on the computer screen.
The USB drive was still connected.
A new file had appeared.
Kim slowly moved closer.
The file was named:
KIM'S FATHER — FINAL RECORD
Kim's hand trembled as he reached for the mouse.
He clicked it.
The screen went black.
Then a voice began to play.
A man's voice.
A voice Kim hadn't heard in years.
His father's voice.
"If you're hearing this, Kim..."
Kim stopped breathing.
"...it means Than has finally found you."
His eyes widened.
Then his father's voice continued.
"Do not trust him."
The recording ended.
Kim stared at the screen.
Outside the room, gunfire continued.
And for the first time...
Kim began to wonder whether the man protecting him
was actually the man he should fear.