Alma's Journey Looking for a Mother

Mis Tegel 24: Disciples of the Black Finger

*Dark Egg Mystery (Tegel's Wife)*

Eight horses stopped on the north side of the village of Julangangin, where there are steps like a natural staircase that extends. On the steps there are houses and restaurants.

The eight horses were ridden by youths, six men and two women, all of whom had pitch-black fingers. The group was led by Giling Saga, one of the main students in the Black Finger Institution.

After a quick riding trip from college, they finally arrived at the village of Julangin, where Giling Saga and her teacher were poisoned in the restaurant Mbah Lawut.

“Here you and Master were poisoned, Milled?” ask the yellow-clothed beautiful girl whose hair is partially curled over her head. He was five years older than the age of Giling Saga. His name is Rinai Serintik.

“True. Maybe we can ask the location of the Golden Moon College to Mbah Lawut,” said Giling Saga.

After they tethered his horses, they followed Giling Saga's steps as the person who had already come to the village.

Previously, Giling Saga went back to college and invited almost all Black Finger College students to attack the Golden Moon Academy.

However, they have obstacles. As many as fifty disciples were departing, not all of them had horses. Eventually they split into three groups. The first group were the eight main students of the college who went on horseback, as they had to race against time. The second group were fifteen other equestrian disciples, but with moderate speed in order not to be so draining. And the third group were thirty pedestrian disciples made up of low-level disciples. Each group is led by the main student.

Miling Saga goes straight up to Mbah Lawut's honey roasted chicken shop. A servant immediately greeted the eight customers who came.

In the shop, there were several other customers, some of whom were swordsmen. The delicious aroma that was imaged by his sweetness was already strongly smelled.

“Welcome, warriors. Please, please!” greet the servant. Although he remembered with Giling Saga, but it was not his authority to take care of other people's matters.

“Sorry, Child. We would like to meet Mbah Lawut,” said Giling Saga.

“Oh, yes. Mbah Lawut is in the back. Wait a minute,” said the waiter.

The waiter then turned around and headed straight to the back, to the roasting section of the honey chicken.

“Mbah, the swordsman who was poisoned here came with a number of his friends. They are looking for Mbah,” said the waiter to the old man with hair and white beard.

Grandfather named Mbah Lawut was silent for a moment. He then gave the fan he held to his servant. Without saying a word, Mbah Lawut left his servant and went straight to the front of his tavern.

“Mbah Lawut!” sapa Giling Saga while menjura respect ala swordsman.

Rinai serintik and the other six colleagues immediately saluted the old man.

“Giling Saga and students of Black Finger College,” call Mbah Lawut. “Welcome. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“We want to ask about the location of Perguruan Bulan Emas, Mbah,” said Giling Saga manners.

“Do you guys not know where the Golden Moon College is?” ask Mbah Lawut.

“We only know in the range of Hill Seven Heads,” replied Giling Saga.

“This village is also included in the Bukit Tujuh Kepala area. I do know a lot of Golden Moon students because they often stop by to eat here, but I as an ordinary person certainly never come there,” explained Mbah Lawut.

“Maybe the Rich Beggar could be more helpful to them,” Mbah Lawut told the old swordsman called the Rich Beggar.

“Excuse us, Elders,” said Giling Saga while making a hero's salute. “Maybe the Elder of the Rich Beggars is willing to give us instructions to get to the Golden Moon College?”

“Hehehe! I'll give you a hint, because I don't know much. I also disagree with the actions of the arrogant Golden Moon people, especially to kidnap a powerful old swordsman by cheating. I just advise you to use the services of a guide. You need to know, the Bukit Tujuh Head area is including a complicated one on the face of the earth, because this area has many dangerous areas. If you get lost, you may get into the wrong area. And it is very dangerous,” Rich Beggar said.

“But, who is the guide that the Elders mean?” ask Giling Saga.

“Mbah Lawut can give you advice for that, but it would be nice if you eat honey roasted chicken, all of you pay for this chicken. Count your thank you marks. Hehehe!” the Rich Beggar.

“Hahaha! You will not be poisoned like your teacher,” said Mbah Lawut who was preceded by his light laughter. He suspected that the students of Black Finger College were worried about suffering the fate of their teacher.

Giling Saga looked at Rinai Serintik and some of his comrades.

“Didn't you tell me that Mbah Lawut helped you when you were poisoned, certainly there is no way Mbah Lawut gave you a poisoned dish. Moreover, we have one day of riding and have not eaten,” said Rinai Serintik.

“While you wait here, I will send someone to send a message to the Grasshopper Rat that you want to use the services of a guide,” Mbah Lawut said.

“Good, Mbah. We'll wait while we eat. Please serve us eight chickens, Mbah,” said Giling Saga.

“Okay, you guys sit down first. Surely your comrades have never tasted my roast chicken. Hahaha!” mbah Lawut said then laughed casually.

“Good, Mbah,” says Miling Saga.

“Please, please!” mbah Lawut.

Grind Saga and his comrades then go take a seat around the table that is still empty. Mbah Lawut and some of his servants immediately worked quickly to prepare an order for the Giling Saga troupe.

It looks like the Rich Beggar has finished his meal. He grabbed his black wooden stick that had irregular curves.

“Molled! My fee is paid by the disciples of Rereng Foam!” shouted the Rich Beggar.

“Good, Swordsman,” said a waiter while bowing in respect.

“Be careful if you storm into the Golden Moon!” the Rich Beggar said to Giling Saga and his comrades.

“Thank you, Elder!” the Giling Saga.

The shabby dark blue-robed Rich Beggar stepped away with the tip of the stick sounding knocking at every step.

“Then what about the group of Dendeng Pamungkas and Nining Pelangi?” tanya Kulung, a rather short but stocky young man, who is one table with Giling Saga, Rinai Serintik and Jernih Mega.

“Because we have given them instructions about this village, we will send a message to Mbah Lawut,” replied Giling Saga. (BH)