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?"

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  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

  ***

  Thank you for reading NAGINI! ????

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