20-1: Bimo's Failure
Kembang Setaman Discotheque.
Disco lights flickered. The DJ played "Kopi Dangdut."
On the top floor, a graceful woman sat in expensive clothes, a paper fan in her hand. She was the Grand Madam, Mariana.
In front of her, a glass table. On it stood a tall cocktail glass, cold and misty, with small ice cubes floating inside. A bent straw clung to the rim.
Several guards stood watch around her.
A tall, broad-shouldered man bowed respectfully.
Broto: "Madam, it turns out Bimo, our sniper, failed to take out Nagini and Officer Burhan."
The woman with the paper fan only smiled.
Mariana: "I already expected that, Broto…"
Broto's eyes widened in shock. His voice trembled.
Broto: "You already expected it, Madam?"
Mariana took the cocktail, sipping through the bent straw. She nodded.
Mariana: "From my clash of inner force with her in the Ramayana Mall basement, I knew Nagini was not to be underestimated…"
Broto puffed on his cigarette, smoke curling from his lips.
Mariana: "Even without the needle, Bimo's bullet would never have pierced Nagini's body."
Broto's jaw dropped, uneasy.
Broto: "What do you mean, Madam? Is Nagini bulletproof?"
Mariana smiled at his shock, amused by his ignorance of pure inner force that could destroy anything.
Mariana: "It's not like that, Broto…"
Broto tapped ash into the glass ashtray.
Broto: "Then what do you mean, Madam?"
Mariana: "Nagini's inner force is strong enough to stop a bullet."
Broto still didn't understand. He took another drag, exhaling slowly.
Broto: "Then why does she use the needle?"
Mariana swirled her cocktail, playing with the bent straw, then chuckled.
Mariana: "The needle is only a small tool to channel inner force. Just like this paper fan of mine, Broto…"
Broto nodded, starting to understand.
***
20-2: Eliminating Rani and Rina
Mariana opened her paper fan and waved it slowly.
Mariana: "Broto, aside from Bimo's failure, how about the other targets? Were they successful?"
Broto stubbed out his cigarette, lit another one, and exhaled.
Broto: "Yes, Madam. The corrupt cops—success. Arizal and Diono have been arrested for bribery and corruption."
Mariana: "Does that involve us?"
Broto: "Of course not, Madam. That was our cyber team…"
Mariana smiled faintly behind her fan.
Mariana: "Explain, Broto."
Broto: "They hacked into the Anti-Corruption Commission's site and planted proof of Arizal and Diono's dirty transactions."
Mariana smiled again.
Mariana: "And what about the twins, Rani and Rina?"
Broto inhaled deeply on his cigarette.
Broto: "I already sent Andika and three of his men to shadow them…"
Mariana sipped her cocktail, smiling.
Mariana: "Good, Broto."
Broto: "Andika and his friends are experts in nunchaku."
Mariana: "Nunchaku? Two wooden sticks linked by an iron chain?"
Broto: "Exactly, Madam."
Mariana's fan waved lazily. She smiled faintly.
Broto: "Pardon, Madam… what about Nagini and Burhan?"
Mariana: "After Bimo's failure?"
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
***
20-3: Taking Out Nagini and Burhan
Mariana: "Eliminating Nagini and Burhan won't be easy, Broto…"
Broto kept silent, listening.
Mariana: "Nagini's inner force is very high. She needs a worthy opponent."
Broto: "True, Madam…"
Mariana: "Burhan, on the other hand, is an honest cop. It'll be hard for our cyber team to trap him."
Broto smoked quietly.
Mariana: "Any solution, Broto?"
Broto frowned, sipping cold coffee.
Broto: "For Burhan… how about we hire Anton?"
Mariana smiled thinly.
Mariana: "Anton? The ex-Brimob officer fired for beating his own commander?"
Broto: "Yes, Madam. That Anton. He works as a security guard here now."
Mariana twirled her fan, sipping cocktail again.
***
20-4: Durgono and Durgani
Mariana: "Good. Send Anton right away."
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
Silence.
Mariana played with her fan. Broto smoked, his face uneasy.
Broto: "But Madam… what about Nagini?"
Mariana: "You mean a worthy opponent for her?"
Broto: "Exactly, Madam."
Mariana: "For that, I have my own plan."
Broto: "What do you mean, Madam?"
Mariana: "Do you know the old twins, Durgono and Durgani?"
Broto's eyes widened.
Broto: "You mean Gono and Gani—the karambit masters?"
Mariana: "Yes, Broto."
Broto: "Karambit… the small curved knife shaped like a sickle?"
Mariana: "Correct, Broto."
Broto smoked again.
Broto: "Aren't they retired from the underworld?"
Mariana didn't answer—just smiled faintly.
***
20-5: Sawitri at Kembang Setaman
In the middle of their conversation, a young pretty girl approached Mariana.
Mariana smiled warmly, while Broto's eyes popped at her beauty, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.
Mariana: "Broto, mind your manners. This beauty is my guest."
Broto: "Apologies, Madam."
He quickly looked away.
Mariana: "Don't be afraid. Come sit by me."
The girl sat shyly beside Mariana.
Mariana: "What's your name?"
Sawitri: "Sawitri, Madam."
Mariana: "What would you like to drink?"
Sawitri: "Nothing, Madam."
Mariana laughed lightly.
Mariana: "Broto, order an orange juice for Sawitri."
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
He went to the bar.
Mariana: "Do you like it here, Sawitri?"
Sawitri: "I do, Madam."
Mariana: "Good. Don't worry, no man here would dare touch you."
Sawitri: "Thank you, Madam."
Moments later, Sawitri's orange juice arrived.
End of Chapter 20
To Be Continued Chapter 21