31-1 Handoyo, Owner of Kembang Setaman Discotheque

  Meanwhile, at Kembang Setaman Discotheque.

  Handoyo had arrived. Together with the old staff and employees, they were cleaning up the shards of broken gsses and bottles left after the fight.

  Handoyo looked cheerful. Even though the pce was a mess, his heart was happy because Kembang Setaman Discotheque had finally returned to him.

  In another corner, twenty members of the Green Gang were also helping to tidy the pce.

  Karto: "At st, Man. We can be part of Kembang Setaman Discotheque."

  Turiman: "Being a security guard is more respectable than being a thug."

  Karto and Turiman ughed happily.

  Tikno: "Next week we'll be given the official Kembang Setaman Discotheque security uniforms."

  Tikno, thin as a rake, couldn't hide his excitement, his body constantly moving.

  Handoyo saw the Green Gang enthusiastically cleaning. He approached Karto and Turiman.

  Handoyo: "Pak Karto, Pak Turiman, thank you!"

  Handoyo shook their hands firmly.

  Karto: "You're welcome, sir!"

  Turiman: "Thank you as well, Pak Handoyo."

  Karto: "You've given us ex-thugs a chance to be part of Kembang Setaman Discotheque."

  Handoyo: "Let's work together well and make it mutually beneficial."

  Karto and Turiman exchanged a touched look. Being a thug had always been looked down upon—if something went missing, they were the first to be suspected.

  Now they had a chance to be security guards—a much better job than being a thug.

  Handoyo was touched too.

  And why wouldn't he be? The business he had built since youth—seized by Mariana—had returned to him for free.

  It was only right for him to repay the Green Gang by giving them jobs as security.

  At st, Handoyo and the Green Gang worked together, both able to support their families.

  ***

  31-2 Mardian's Recon-Combat Drone

  Meanwhile, on the slopes of Mount Merapi.

  A grand building stood in the middle of the forest, surrounded by tall iron fences. Armed men patrolled around it.

  Behind the house, a helicopter sat parked atop a rge "H."

  In the living room, Broto sat smoking his clove cigarette.

  Mardian sat beside him, focused on the ptop in front of him, both hands on the drone controller.

  The ptop dispyed aerial footage of the building's surroundings—captured by Mardian's drone.

  Mariana was nowhere in sight.

  Broto: "Is the area around us secure, Mardian?"

  Mardian: "So far, yes, sir!"

  Suddenly, a wave of hot air seeped out from the crack under Mariana's bedroom door.

  Broto and Mardian exchanged a gnce.

  Broto: "The Madam is training."

  Mardian looked sharply at Broto, also feeling the heat.

  Mardian: "What do you mean, sir?"

  Broto didn't answer—he simply gestured for Mardian to stay silent and focus on operating the drone.

  ***

  31-3 Mariana Meditates

  Meanwhile, inside the room.

  Mariana sat cross-legged, reguting her breathing.

  Her palms faced upward, resting on her knees. Eyes closed. Breath steady.

  Slowly, she opened her eyes. There was a fsh in them—a sign of deep irritation.

  And why not…?

  Her business was under siege. Assets seized by the state. Mass arrests. Betrayal by Rizal and Diono.

  Since the appearance of Nagini, her empire had been in disarray.

  Slowly, Mariana picked up a paper fan from her p and rose to her feet.

  Her heart burned with anger.

  The air in the room was still hot—despite her "just" meditating.

  She walked to the dressing table and gazed at her beautiful but scowling face.

  She set the paper fan down on the table, then removed her long-sleeved shirt.

  Beneath it, powerful muscles ran from shoulder to wrist—like a bodybuilder's.

  It was a striking contrast to her delicate, beautiful face.

  Mariana picked the fan back up and opened it.

  She dropped into a low stance and began moving through a series of martial forms.

  The air grew even hotter.

  The paper fan hardened like steel.

  A red glow surrounded her entire body.

  ***

  31-4 Hidden Feelings

  Meanwhile, at a café on Kemang Raya.

  Burhan and Nagini sat at table number 012, which had been reserved in advance.

  They quickly pced their orders.

  Burhan: "Waitress, come here for a second."

  A young woman approached, gncing at Burhan, then at Nagini.

  Waitress: "What would you like, sir?"

  Burhan took the menu and pointed.

  Burhan: "I'll have this."

  He turned to Nagini. The air was still awkward.

  Burhan: "What will you have, Nagini?"

  Nagini twirled a strand of hair between her fingers.

  Nagini: "The same as you, Burhan."

  Burhan smiled faintly, though there was a hint of bitterness.

  Burhan: "Not ordering your favorite orange juice?"

  Nagini: "Alright… I'll have orange juice, Burhan."

  Burhan to the waitress: "Add two orange juices, please."

  Waitress: "Sure, sir. One moment…"

  Before walking away, the waitress gnced between the two of them again—then smiled to herself.

  They look like they're in love… but also like they're at war… not saying a word to each other.

  She went to the kitchen to pce their order.

  ***

  31-5 Giono Retrieves Military Gear

  Meanwhile, at Seroja Indah Apartments.

  Giono: "I'm going to get my car and military equipment. You all stay here."

  Ngatmo: "Alright, Giono. We'll wait here."

  Karsiyah: "Well, well! So you've got a car now, huh?"

  Rani and Rina exchanged gnces—they were sure Giono would take them on a trip to Yogyakarta.

  Rani: "Haven't been to Jogja in ages."

  Rina: "Wanna see Borobudur and Prambanan."

  Ngatmo: "This isn't a holiday, kids. We're going to teach Broto a lesson."

  Rani and Rina looked at each other and ughed brightly.

  Rani: "I'm not afraid!"

  Rina: "We've got our throwing knives."

  Ngatmo just smiled at his fearless daughters.

  Meanwhile, Karsiyah watched Giono grab his waist bag before heading out.

  Karsiyah: "I can't wait to beat Broto up!"

  Ngatmo: "Right. Vilins like him belong in the hospital!"

  Giono smiled wryly.

  Giono: "I'll be back with the car."

  Karsiyah and Ngatmo nodded, watching him walk out the door.

  ***

  31-6 Secret Police–KPK Meeting

  At the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department building.

  A closed joint meeting—attended only by a handful of top officials from the Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

  The long table had only three people seated.

  Haryono, representing the Police, sat breathing heavily. A cup of hot coffee sat untouched before him.

  Satrio, representing the KPK, sat across from him, his own cup steaming.

  Tina from the KPK Cyber Team sat beside Satrio, a closed ptop before her.

  Yes—this was a secret meeting.

  Haryono: "What do you have, Tina? Mariana escaped!"

  Satrio: "Was our operation compromised?"

  Tina adjusted her gsses and opened her ptop.

  Blip!

  A rge monitor in front of them lit up.

  Tina: "The raid on Mariana was not compromised, sir."

  Haryono: "Then?"

  Tina: "Mariana is cunning. A chess pyer."

  Satrio: "You mean… she's one step ahead of us?"

  Tina: "Exactly, sir. She anticipates everything. Slippery as an eel."

  Haryono shook his head, finally taking a sip of coffee.

  Haryono: "If she's one step ahead, how do we catch her?"

  Satrio: "What's our counter-move?"

  ***

  31-7 Tina's Presentation

  Tina smiled.

  Tina: "Rex, sir. We're two steps ahead of Mariana."

  Haryono and Satrio exchanged shocked looks.

  Haryono: "Two steps ahead?"

  Satrio: "Expin."

  Tina: "We managed to pnt a tracker on Mariana's suitcase before she boarded the helicopter."

  The two men looked at each other again—impressed.

  Haryono: "But who could pnt the tracker?"

  Satrio: "Isn't she bulletproof and extremely fast?"

  Tina adjusted her gsses again.

  Tina: "The dangerous job was done by Nagini, sir."

  Satrio lit a cigarette.

  Satrio: "The woman in the red jacket?"

  Haryono: "A civilian?"

  Tina: "Yes, sir."

  ***

  31-8 Mariana's Location Detected

  The room fell silent for a moment. Haryono lit a cigarette.

  Satrio: "Nagini's the needle-throwing expert, right?"

  Haryono: "Isn't a tracker risky if discovered?"

  Satrio: "Yeah, isn't our tracker bigger than a needle?"

  Tina chuckled.

  Tina: "The tracker is a needle, sir."

  The two men were stunned.

  Haryono: "A needle?"

  Satrio: "What do you mean?"

  Tina: "I modified our tracker to be embedded in a needle, which Nagini threw."

  Again, the men exchanged impressed looks.

  Haryono: "Does it work?"

  Tina pressed a button on her ptop.

  Blip!

  The rge monitor came to life.

  Tina: "Take a look."

  A map of Mount Merapi's slopes appeared, with a red dot marking a location.

  Tina: "This red dot is our tracker, sir."

  Haryono: "Mount Merapi."

  Satrio: "Yogyakarta."

  ***

  31-9 The Large Building on Merapi's Slope

  Tina adjusted her gsses again as they slid down her nose. Her chin-length hair fell straight and bck.

  Tina: "Let's zoom in on that red dot."

  The monitor screen dispyed an enrged view of the red dot's location.

  And there appeared a rge building surrounded by a high wall.

  Haryono: "Is this Mariana's location?"

  Tina: "According to our tracker, this is definitely where Mariana is."

  Satrio: "We have to move quickly."

  Haryono: "Right. Before Mariana changes her mind and leaves the country."

  The smoky room fell silent for a moment. They paused to sip coffee and take a drag from their cigarettes, while Tina remained focused on her ptop.

  Haryono: "Tina, prepare the official report for the next meeting."

  Satrio: "We'll set the date for Mariana's arrest."

  Haryono: "And remember, this information must not leak."

  Tina: "Yes, sir!"

  Tina closed her ptop.

  Bleszt!

  The monitor screen went dark automatically.

  ***

  31-10 Stealing Gnces

  Back at Kemang Raya Café.

  After finishing their meal, Burhan and Nagini sipped their orange juice. They were silent—no conversation.

  Only occasional stolen gnces. And each time their eyes met, a shy smile appeared.

  Suddenly, Burhan's phone rang.

  He picked it up. On the screen: Tina.

  Burhan looked at Nagini.

  Burhan: "One moment, Nagini… it's Tina calling."

  Nagini simply nodded.

  Burhan: "Hello, Tina. What's the news?"

  Tina: "We've had the meeting. Conclusion: we're going to arrest Mariana. Her base is in Jogja."

  Burhan: "Good, Tina. A sly criminal like Mariana must be captured and brought to justice."

  Tina: "But, Mr. Burhan…"

  Burhan: "What is it, Tina?"

  Tina: "You've been assigned to the field. Along with Tono and Rudin. Go straight to Jogja!"

  Burhan: "But, Tina…"

  He gnced at Nagini, a little surprised.

  Tina: "You were chosen because of your success in cracking the human trafficking case to Thaind."

  Burhan looked again—Nagini was still watching him, smiling.

  Burhan: "But, Tina…"

  Tina: "This is a direct order from the top!"

  Tina's voice was firm!

  Burhan: "Understood, Tina!"

  He hung up and looked at Nagini.

  Nagini kept smiling at him. Burhan returned the smile.

  His heart was a jumble—nervous, happy, and thrilled.

  ***

  31-11 Departure to Jogja

  Meanwhile…

  Giono had returned to Seroja Indah Apartments near the University of Indonesia.

  He was driving a white Avanza. In the very back seat sat a bck case filled with military equipment. At a gnce, it looked like a sniper rifle case.

  He opened the car door, stepped out, and closed it again.

  Then he called Karsiyah, who was still on the second floor of the apartment.

  Giono: "Hey, Karsiyah. I'm here!"

  While holding her phone, Karsiyah opened the apartment window and looked down.

  Giono waved up at her.

  Karsiyah: "Mbelgedes! Alright, No. We're coming down!"

  She hung up.

  Karsiyah: "Rani, Rina—let's go meet your uncle."

  Rani: "Okay, Mak!"

  Rina looked toward Ngatmo.

  Rina: "Come on, Dad. Uncle Giono's waiting downstairs."

  Ngatmo only nodded.

  The four of them headed out. After locking the apartment door, they too.

  End of Chapter 31

  to be continued chapter 32