19-1 Nagini, Bimo's First Target
A tall, broad-shouldered man with a buzz cut stood on a rooftop, watching the building across from him.
His hands worked deftly, assembling a long-barreled sniper rifle from a black case.
He set the rifle at the edge of the window, barrel pointing toward the opposite building.
Suddenly, his phone rang. The screen displayed one word: Broto.
Broto: "Hey, Bimo. Are you in position?"
Bimo: "Yes, Boss."
Broto: "Do you have visual on the target?"
Bimo: "Yes. The target's name is Nagini. She's in the building across, well within my scope."
Bimo peered through the rifle's scope. Far away, in the opposite building, Nagini was brushing her hair.
Broto: "Do you see the other target?"
Bimo: "You mean Burhan?"
Broto: "Exactly."
Bimo shifted his aim toward the parking area.
There, Burhan had just stepped out of his car and was walking toward the apartment.
Bimo: "The second target is moving toward the apartment."
Broto: "Wait for the right moment. Then take them both out."
Bimo: "Understood, Boss."
Bimo ended the call, refocused, finger resting lightly on the trigger, eyes fixed through the scope.
***
19-2 Burhan, Bimo's Second Target
Knock! Knock!
Burhan rapped on the apartment door. Moments later, it opened.
Nagini: "Come in, Burhan."
Burhan smiled and stepped inside. But something about Nagini felt… off.
Her hand never left the grip of a slender, deadly No. 3 poisoned needle—the most lethal one she carried.
Burhan: "Nagini, I was thinking of taking you to Taman Mini today."
Nagini: "I know. Give me a moment to get ready."
Burhan noticed her hand starting to glow faint blue. The air inside the apartment grew colder.
Nagini: "Burhan, get down! Now!"
Burhan froze, confused. His eyes stayed locked on her glowing hand as the temperature dropped sharply, like ice creeping into every corner.
But then he realized—Nagini wasn't threatening him. She was on alert.
Without further question, he dropped flat to the floor.
The poisoned needle in her hand shimmered with an icy blue aura—the sign she was channeling her full inner energy.
***
19-3 Poison Needle vs. Sniper Bullet
Meanwhile…
Bimo's eye stayed glued to the scope from across the street.
Bimo: "Damn it! The second target is behind the wall."
Through the scope, he could only see Nagini.
Without hesitation, he squeezed the trigger.
Bang!
The bullet tore through the air toward Nagini.
At that exact moment, guided by an almost supernatural instinct, Nagini flicked her wrist and released the No. 3 poisoned needle.
The needle shot forward, trailing a gust of icy wind.
Crack!
The bullet shattered the apartment's window.
Blarrr!
A sharp spark exploded midair as the poisoned needle collided with the bullet.
Plunk!
The bullet dropped harmlessly to the floor—barely an arm's length from Burhan's face.
Burhan's eyes went wide. His face turned pale.
***
19-4 The Sniper Disabled
From his position, Bimo saw something impossible through the scope.
His sniper bullet—capable of punching through steel—had been deflected by a mere needle.
Bimo: "No way…"
A cold sweat trickled down his forehead. His hands trembled.
Bimo: "Am I… dreaming?"
He quickly readied for a second shot, finger returning to the trigger.
But inside the apartment, Nagini had already swung her hand toward the rooftop where Bimo was hiding.
Through the scope, he caught a fleeting glimpse of something small streaking toward him.
It moved fast.
Too fast.
Only when it was close did he realize—
It was a needle.
Too late!
Before he could pull the trigger, the needle struck his neck.
Bimo collapsed instantly, unconscious.
His rifle clattered to the floor beside him.
***
19-5 Tono Arrives Too Late
Burhan called Tono on his phone.
Burhan: "Hello, Tono. Can you check the Sari Bahari Building on Tendean Street 3?"
Tono: "What's going on, Burhan?"
Burhan: "A sniper just failed to take me and Nagini out."
Tono was shocked.
Tono: "Are you both alright?"
Burhan: "Yes, we're fine."
Tono: "Alright. We're heading there now."
Burhan: "You've got two hours."
Tono: "Understood, Burhan."
Burhan hung up, then turned to Nagini with curiosity.
Burhan: "Nagini, how did you do it?"
Nagini: "You mean catching the bullet?"
Burhan: "Yeah."
Nagini: "It took years of harsh training to reach this stage."
Burhan simply nodded, then changed the subject.
Burhan: "Are we still going ahead with our plan to visit Taman Mini?"
Nagini: "Yes, why not?"
Burhan gave a faint smile at Nagini's spirit.
***
19-6 Capturing Bimo
From the rooftop, Tono waved at Burhan in the opposite building.
Tono and several members of the Densus 88 unit captured Bimo.
Suddenly, Tono's phone rang. The screen showed Burhan's name.
Tono chuckled while glancing at the other building before picking up.
Burhan: "Hey, Tono. Make a report for me, will you?"
Tono: "Sure, Burhan. But you still have to make your own report too."
Burhan: "Of course, Tono. Honestly, I just wanted to take Nagini out for a bit of fun today."
Tono: "Alright, Burhan. Have a good time."
Tono hung up.
***
19-7 Sawitri on Nagini's Mind
Burhan drove slowly. Nagini sat beside him, watching the road.
Nagini: "Burhan, any news about Sawitri?"
Burhan: "She's still in Jakarta, Nagini."
Nagini: "I'm worried about her."
Burhan: "I am too, Nagini."
Nagini: "But, Burhan…"
Burhan: "We need the right information before making a move."
Nagini listened quietly.
Burhan slowed down as they approached a toll booth. Nagini glanced at a road sign:
Exit 500 m
17-8 Picnic at Taman Mini
Taman Mini was bustling with visitors today. Children, parents, and families filled the park—it was Sunday, after all.
On a park bench in the corner, Burhan and Nagini sat chatting.
Nagini: "It's so crowded today, Burhan."
Burhan: "It is…"
Nagini: "I like watching the little kids play…"
Burhan: "And the teenagers on their dates…"
Nagini nodded.
Burhan: "Just like us…"
Nagini smiled and pinched Burhan's waist.
Nagini: "I'm still worried about Sawitri, and here you are joking around."
Burhan chuckled.
Burhan: "When an adult man and woman are together, it means they're dating, right?"
Nagini turned her face away, smiling despite herself.
***
19-9 Light Romance Between Nagini and Burhan
Burhan: "If not dating, then married…"
This time Nagini couldn't hold back her laughter and pinched Burhan several more times.
Nagini: "Stop it, Burhan. Quit talking nonsense."
Burhan grinned mischievously.
Nagini: "Still trying to flirt with an old lady?"
Burhan laughed softly.
Nagini: "I'm from the 16th century, Burhan… that's 500 years ago."
Burhan smiled faintly.
Burhan: "Well, you're a young-looking granny. Any grandson would want to flirt with someone as beautiful as you."
Nagini laughed heartily.
Although he didn't yet know Nagini's true origins, Burhan took her claim of being 500 years old as a joke.
As a police officer, he thought logically. Unless there was proof of time travel, he treated it as mere banter.
***
19-10 Burhan Thinks Like a Detective
As noon approached, Burhan and Nagini searched for a restaurant to refuel.
Nagini: "After lunch, let's go straight home, Burhan…"
Burhan: "Had enough of your little outing?"
Nagini: "That's not it, Burhan…"
Burhan: "Then what?"
Nagini: "I want us to find Sawitri…"
Burhan nodded.
Nagini: "And, Burhan…"
Burhan looked at her.
Nagini: "Why would someone want to kill us?"
Burhan nodded again, his investigative instincts kicking in.
Burhan: "Alright, Nagini. First, we find Sawitri's whereabouts."
Nagini: "Right."
Burhan: "Second, if someone sent a sniper, it means we're marked for elimination…"
Nagini listened intently.
Burhan: "There could be a follow-up plan. They might send another assassin after us, Nagini…"
Nagini began to grasp Burhan's theory.
After lunch, Burhan took Nagini out of Taman Mini and headed for the parking lot.
End of Chapter 19
To be continued chapter 20