Resi Maespati stopped Santika, who had just returned home, when the conversation on the porch of the house was over. Banulaga's only sister was surprised to see Resi Maespati standing in front of her. Hastily he knelt to salute his teacher. Rishi Maespati touched Santika's shoulder and asked her to stand up.
"When will Granny Rishi come?" asked Santika. "This afternoon," said Resi Maespati calmly.
"Sorry, I didn't know Grandmother would come here. I couldn't welcome you," said Santika.
"It's okay, I came at your brother's invitation." "Brother Banulaga?" Santika furrowed her brows. "Why did Kakang Banulaga ask Grandmother to come?" "Looking for your father's killer."
Santika was silent. His eyes stared straight at Resi Maespati, then bowed deeply. It's been five days since their father was buried. And during that time there were no more incidents that claimed victims. Why is it only now that Banulaga wants to find the killer? Isn't that too late? Santika doesn't understand her brother's attitude. Three days after their father's death, Banulaga immediately appointed himself as his successor without consulting him first.
And now he invites their teacher to find the killer. Santika glanced inside, saw several people sitting chatting in the living room. Santika knew who they were, except for one she didn't know. The person wearing moss green clothing with a snake headed staff in hand.
"They were all invited by Banulaga," said Resi Maespati as if he understood what Santika was thinking at the moment.
"Who's the one with the snake stick?" asked Santika. "The Snake King, the brother of the One-Eyed Demon."
"Hm..." Santika mumbled indistinctly.
"I want to talk to you a little, Santika," said Resi Maespati.
Santika did not refuse when Resi Maespati asked her to go to the side of the house. They walked hand in hand without emit voice a little bit, And new stop stepped after a long distance at the back of the house which is overgrown with trees with a light that illuminates. "You haven't been home all day. What business do you have?" Receipt
Maespati spoke first. "Bored," said Santika indifferently.
"Bored? So where do you go all day?" "Anywhere, as long as you don't see Banulaga."
"Hey! What's wrong with your sister?" Rishi Maespati was shocked.
"I don't want to make a fuss with my own brother. It's better to avoid than to kill him," Santika answered lightly.
Rishi Maespati was even more surprised. He didn't even know that in Santika's heart there was a fire that could flare up at any moment.
"You want to tell me your problem, Santika?" asked Rishi Maespati.
"Maybe, but it's useless for me to say it. Granny Resi must be on Kakang Banulaga's side more than me."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I can't be like Father or Banulaga. I'm not like those who like to destroy women's lives, who like to pit one against the other and see the suffering of others as if watching a show. Grandmother Resi can see for herself how the lives of the people who work hard every day working on the rice fields .Everything just to pay debts that choke the neck.Not yet - again they sell land and paddy fields at unreasonable prices, and are forced to work them at inadequate wages. Am I wrong if I want to overhaul everything my father has done for decades?" Santika spoke so excitedly, spilling all her heart out.
Rishi Maespati fell silent at his orderly and enthusiastic speech. He didn't blame Santika in the least, but he had to admit that he didn't want Santika to overhaul the existing one. Since she was small and studied the art of kanuragan, Santika has indeed shown a pattern of thinking and behavior that is different from her principles. And now everything is clear.
"Sorry, Grandma Resi. I can't support everything that Kakang Banulaga is going to do. I have chosen my own path in life, calm and peace is what I want," said Santika as she left.
Resi Maespati could only stare at Santika's back without him being able to stop her. Meanwhile, another pair of eyes also looked at Santika and Resi Maespati who were still standing still from the grove of trees not far from the two people he had just seen finished speaking.
"Where have you been, Grandma?" Banulaga scolded as soon as Resi Maespati's foot stepped on the porch of the house.
"Walking is a breath of fresh air," Resi Maespati said, continuing to walk.
"I saw Santika enter her room earlier. Has Grandmother Resi met her?" asked Banulaga while following his steps.
"Yes," said Resi Maespati short.
"Since his father's death, he has changed a lot," Banulaga muttered under his breath.
"You never asked?"
"Yes, but he never wants to answer." "Hm..." Resi Maespati just mumbled.
"It's very late at night. Grandmother should just rest. The room has been prepared for Grandmother," said Banulaga, pointing to a room whose door was still open.
Rishi Maespati said nothing, and immediately stepped into his room. He smiled as his hand opened the door. A slender figure was seen lying on the bed. The beautiful body was only covered by a piece of soft and thin pink silk cloth. The beauty and curves of her body were so clearly visible in the dim light of the lamp. Slender and plump body that is so exciting right. Rishi Maespati closes the door and....
*
The shrill scream was so clear. Followed by a muffled scream, then..., thump! Like something had fallen to the ground. Noises and screams followed one another. The people of Banulaga's household scattered to find the source of the startling sound, which turned out to be Banulaga's room.
"Banulaga! What's wrong? What happened?" came the voice of Rishi Maespati.
"Ah!" Another muffled scream came from inside the room.
Instantly the door to the room was shattered followed by Resi Maespati, Poison Selaksa Demon, One-Eyed Demon and the Snake King jumping into the room. Banulaga was seen sitting on the edge of the bed with his left hand holding his right shoulder. Blood seeped out from between the fingers.
At that moment a black shadow flashed through the window and shattered. Resi Maespati immediately jumped after the black shadow, followed by Demon Selaksa Poison and the Snake King. While the One-Eyed Devil helped Banulaga stand up.
The One-Eyed Demon was treating Banulaga when the three people who were chasing the black shadow reappeared.
"How?" asked the One-Eyed Demon.
"He is like an angel. He disappeared very quickly," said Resi Maespati.
The shabby-faced old man glanced at the bed. A dagger was seen stuck in the neck of a young woman whose body was half naked. The Demon of Poison Thousands was quick to respond. He took out the dagger, then observed it for a moment
"Poisonous," he snorted.
He rushed to Banulaga and checked his wound. His forehead creased seeing the bluish color around the long scar. The Thousand Poison Demon quickly pressed down on the wound with his hand. Banulaga screamed loudly feeling his burning hot shoulder. He tried to hold on with all his might, but then fainted as the Thousand Poison Demon's hand shot up. Bluish-red blood came out profusely from the scratches of his elongated wound. A Poison Valley Demon muttered incoherently.
He took out a pack of white powder from his pocket, then his left hand sprinkled the powder right on the wound. A thin billow of smoke was then seen then slowly the wound dried up and the blood stopped flowing. The Demon of Poison Thousands let out a long sigh as he stuffed the remaining powder back into his pocket.
"What a poison. It works really fast," muttered the Demon of Poison Thousands.
"Luckily Banulaga has a decent body strength, so his life can be saved."
"Have all the poison out?" asked the One-Eyed Demon.
"That's it, but the wound won't go away."
For a few moments silence gripped the entire room. No one spoke. They're in the middle - tracing the paths of their own thoughts about the mysterious killer who moves fast and can't be stopped. They had the same views though unspoken.
"You can see his face, Kakang Maespati?" asked the devil Selaksa Racua
"No," said Maespati.
"His whole face was covered with a black veil." "Hm..." the other three muttered together.
*
The appearance of the mysterious black masked man made the Banulaga people even more furious. Especially when the body of Sarkam was found, who was killed with his head broken. Sarkam, who had been with Japra, was sent by Banulaga to meet Resi Maespati and the three other figures lying beside the stables of his master's horse.
Banulaga felt like he had been tricked and beaten, and almost all of his men and boys became victims of his mounting anger. Banulaga and the four figures who were his guests found nothing that could be used as a clue from Sarkam's body. Japra, who is usually alone with Sarkam, also admitted to his master that he couldn't do anything because he was indeed not on guard duty when his friend was killed.
Unlike what happened to Banulaga, this time there was not a single dagger stuck in Sarkam's body. But Sarkam's death, which was only two nights apart, made Banulaga and his people still convinced that the last two events were all done by the Man in the Black Mask.
Resi Maespati and the three other figures had no other choice, except to galvanize Banulaga with knowledge - the knowledge they have and become their mainstay. They are sure that the Man in the Black Mask will come back to kill Banulaga. A highly skilled and cold-blooded killer would certainly not take half measures to finish off every victim he was after.
While her older sister continues to hone her knowledge, Santika is almost never seen. Early in the morning before dawn, he had already groomed his horse and had just returned home when Banulaga and his guests were fast asleep. Banulaga, who actually felt bad for his guests because of his sister's attitude, no longer cared. His grudge against the Black Masked Man also made his brain no longer crammed with images of Mega Violet and the Magical Eagle Warrior.
Twenty-one days have passed since the incident that befell Banulaga. Resi Maespati and the three other figures felt they had done enough to pass on all their knowledge and intelligence to Badaraka's eldest son. And now, they can't wait to catch the Black Masked Man.
It was late at night, but Banulaga and the four guests who had become his teachers were still sitting on the central verandah. They seemed to be discussing the plans they would do.
"Banulaga, what about your people? I mean, the ones you assigned to watch over Si Karta's house and the movements of your sister, Santika?" asked Rishi Maespati.
"Hmmm..." Banulaga muttered. "The Rajawali Sakti warrior is like the wind, disappears without a trace... Santika's steps are hard to touch," he said quietly.
"Since Sarkam's death there have been no more victims..., we have lost track of the mysterious Black Masked Man," the One-Eyed Demon said, continuing Banulaga's words.
"I guess..." Demon of Poison Thousands spoke up, "While all of us are still here, that Black Masked Man won't appear again. At least temporarily."
"Then what do you suggest?" asked the Snake King.
"Our plan is still, don't let the Black Masked Man invite cat and mouse..., then insult your authority in the eyes of the people of this village, Banulaga," Selaksa Poison Devil turned his attention to Banulaga for a moment, then said again, "But we better split up....
We should divide up our respective places and tasks, then unite on the target we are aiming for…” The Thousand Poison Demon said calmly making his proposal.
Everyone was silent for a few moments. Meanwhile, a pair of ears not far from the porch of the house seemed to be waiting for what to talk about again.
"Japras!" Banulaga's voice broke the silence of the verandah of the house. The summoned immediately approached while bowing his body.
"You check all the inner rooms, then check around the house, all your friends must be in place. Then do what I ordered you this afternoon... understand?"
"Okay, sir…" Japra then hurriedly left the place where Banulaga and the four powerful figures had gathered. While behind his mustache, Resi Maeaspati's lips curved into a smile, he knew what Banulaga meant to Japra. This Badaraka child is exactly like his father, it is impossible to go days without a woman, and he orders Japra to provide one.
After Japra left, the conversation on the porch of the house continued when Resi Maespati opened his calm and deep voice
"It's not that I don't trust your people, Banulaga..., but I think we'd better talk in the inner room. Uncle Demon Selaksa Poison doesn't mind, does he?"
Resi Maespati ended his words while looking at the Poison Selaksa Demon, who was stared at, nodded slightly. The Demon of Poison Valley got up followed by the others.
Their conversation in the inner room was barely audible. They spoke to each other in a low and even pressure. And the other pair of ears had to press their bodies against the wall of the inner room.
Their conversation only ended when the night was so late. The faces that looked tired immediately entered their respective rooms, then the sound of doors closing one after another was heard.
Not long after Banulaga and the four guests and their teacher left for the contest, they heard the sound of hooves that were getting clearer and louder. Banulaga, who already wanted to touch the chubby body in front of him, no longer cared about the presence of Santika, who was galloping her horse home.
Tarsa, one of her loyal assistants, immediately approached Santika, who had just got off her horse, and received the horse's reins to be tied up.
"Hm..., thank you, Tarsa. I always bother you when other people are sleeping soundly," said Santika very politely. Tarsa smiled a little while bowing.
Santika then stepped towards the back of the house via the side, as she usually does when she comes home late at night. A black shadow immediately flashed as soon as he realized Santika's presence. Luckily, Santika didn't catch him. The black shadow disappeared into the darkness of the night.
On her bed, Santika couldn't fall asleep right away. His thoughts and thoughts wandered far away... imagining the lives of the people in Malayasati Village that he had observed. Their life is like a cartwheel that can't - spun because it was mired in potholes. Their suffering because of their hard-to-find daily needs, becomes even more so when they remember their obligation to pay debts with strangling interest to the people of Banulaga.
And seeing Santika's presence with her calm demeanor and implying peace, the residents seemed to see a situation that was contradictory and difficult for them to understand. It's a stark contrast if they compare Banulaga's attitude, who is none other than Santika's own older sibling. Banulaga and his accomplices did not hesitate to beat them with a whip if they could not pay their overdue debts.
The residents couldn't believe it when they saw Santika, who didn't hesitate to hand out a few lumps of money for them. They are starting to see the light of life that will change their destiny for the better. Moreover, in the past few days Banulaga and his people have never appeared again to bang on their houses. The people don't know that all this time Banulaga has been confused by the presence of the Black Masked Man, as well as the Sacred Eagle Warrior who has outwitted him. And now he wants revenge.
*