The Fragrant Soul

Chapter 18: Starting the Research

Raka told Antasena everything.

After everything was done, he asked, “By the way how did you get here?”

“I arrived at Mandeung last night. I see so many people mourning. No one dared to go to the island to pick up the bodies. Then I heard the news that Amara was safe and is now being treated on a ship. Soon I was looking for the biggest river around the city. Finally I came here,” explained Antasena. He added, “Tung Amara has recovered. If he gets hurt, I'll tear apart the island.”

“If you go there you'll die too,” refutes Raka.

Antasena can only breathe.

“Now it's time we ask Amara about the incident on the island.”

***

Amara started to tell stories.

“A lot of people come to Sepingkan island. The storm for several days made many people

floating on the sea, including me. Thankfully we managed to get there. People say there are about 200 warriors who managed to arrive. But I'm sure there's more, maybe more than 500. This is because there is no specific record of how many people came. Just in my opinion, the number must be more than 500, it might reach 1000s.”

“Yang managed to get to the island was just top-class warriors. Lower and middle class fighters already know themselves, they only reach the end of the southern Mandeung beach. High-end fighters come from a variety of backgrounds. Various kinds of schools and schools. Almost all the martial and kanuragan universities in Nusantara, especially in Pajajaran alone, have sent their best warriors. Seizing the relics of Bhiksu Kampala, no matter what.”

“When you first landed on the island, nothing suspicious. The island is a coral island

which is quite big. However, there are also shady trees growing. I was late to realize that there was not a single animal to be found there.”

“The first day everyone is still reading the situation. Each set a pace and study the opponent. The second day began to arise tension after the discovery of a cave mouth. Finally the warriors scramble in by fighting each other. No longer know who is a friend and who is the opponent.”

“I still don't want to pick up and choose to read the situation. That's when my attention was on

to Candramawa, the Spear of Satan. The moves are quite suspicious. He was the one who did not fight for life. On the third day when the sun appears, that's when people know how to behave strangely. They became more savage and violent, like crazy people. It was at this time that I met Anjani who

just came with a bodyguard. Those who later accompanied me.”

“The weirdness is getting worse, some warriors realize this and choose to marginalize themselves. I look

Candramawa hurried away. Suspicious, I followed him. He knew I was being tailed, so he told me to get out of here.”

“Then he boarded his boat and left. I asked Anjani to follow him. Not how long I've been

attacked by dozens of warriors who had gone mad. They attack each other without knowing their friends or opponents. This is where I got hurt and almost fainted. Good thing then Anjani came back to pick me up.”

“From the news heard, it turns out the fishermen have warned this. That there was a poisonous vapor that

emerging from underground. This steam comes from the crater of a volcano on the seabed. The toxic smoke that can make people forget memories and die is amazing. Thankfully I survived.”

Amara recounted her experience lightly and clearly. Raka and Antasena listened carefully.

“Is Candramawa involved?” ask Antasena to Raka.

“Still unclear. But in my opinion, if he really wanted everyone on the island to die, obviously he didn't have to come there. It should be as far away from there as possible,” said Raka.

“Betul also. Then what is the purpose of him there, why does he know to go?”

“For sure because he realized how dangerous things are there. People seem to have a death instinct

very strong,” replied Raka.

“Then what about a figure similar to him that appeared in the Devil Valley? Why is the time right?”

“We are still not sure it is true himself.”

Amara said, “I still haven't got a full picture of this whole race. Bisakan kakang Raka

summarize it for me?”

“First of all, a family as well as his bodyguards and ashes were poisoned to death, his treasures were abundant as well

gone. Only 2 people were left from that family because they were not there at the time of the incident. Old sister and little brother. My brother asked for my help to find out who did it. We promise to meet somewhere outside the city of Mandeung.”

“I then came to the city of Mandeung, met Mara and also Candramawa during the incident of your quarrel with the child of a Tumenggung. After solving the problem, Mara went to Sepingan Island to find a book, while I then went to my appointment. When he got there, it turned out that the entire house had perished. The brother's been slashed by people. The powerful guards of the mandraguna were already dead was chopped up by a Kujang that was not far from there.”

“Only the surviving sister is seriously injured. At that time, then came the warriors from

The Padepokan Rajawali Sakti. They accused me of being the culprit. I was then ready to come to their side to escort the younger brother and explain the matter. Not to mention when the sister healed, he said I was the perpetrator of the massacre.”

“What? Why is bsa so? Is there anyone disguised as you?” amara asked with anger.

“Pastya. I then fled to avoid the battle. On my run I met

bhiksu Mangkara Dharma, founder of Rajawali Sakti. He bestowed a magical animal on me, a giant eagle.”

“Hah? Do you have a giant eagle? I want to see!” mara Sahut.

“After this yes,” said Raka laughed. Furthermore, “Ketua padepokan gave me a month to

solve this problem. Riding on the eagle, I went back to Nindira's ship. I discussed with Aristi who the most capable people are doing this. We concluded that Masayu Renjani may have the answer.”

“Oh so brother went to meet him? Didn't he pounce on you? Haha.”

“Of course he pounced on your brother,” this time Antasena who said. “Fortunately your brother is very

experienced in conquering wild animals. Hahaha.”

Raka pretended not to hear Antasena's joke. He continued, “Until Masayu Renjanidi base of Devil Valley, uh I even met a giant bald-headed rat.”

Amara understood who was meant, he also gave bait, “What did the giant rat do there?”

“He was hiding himself in the trenches. Apparently he was being scolded by a female mouse,” Raka laughs.

Antasena could not answer. He pretended not to understand.

“Because the bald rat was smart to sniff, I finally told him to sniff your trail to the island of Sepingan,” of course

raka did not tell about a number of naked women who inhabited the palace owned by Masayu Renjani.

“Ohh, so so,” laughter Amara.

“Then I looked for information from Renjani about people who have great disguise ability and have a very high silat science. He said there was no such person. It's just that he has an older brother who has the ability to disguise that is no less great than him. Unfortunately, he had not heard from his brother for a long time. He asked me to all find out about his brother's news.”

arrested in order to be thrown into the Devil's Valley. The goal is to dismantle a secret society centered there. The association was led by the Great Lord Tanabasa. They are a bunch of high-scientific hit men.”

“He then asked me to defeat Tanabasa. When I fought with that man, I knew he was poisoned. Someone poisoned him before he met me.”

“What is the goal?” ask Amara.

“He definitely doesn't want Tanabasa to get caught, then unload all their secrets.”

“Means there are taller people than Tanabasa in the gathering,” Amara said.

“Could be his men who did that. At first I did not dare to draw conclusions. After that I

and Renjani raided their headquarters. He knew the headquarters had been engulfed in a huge fire. Someone asked for help from inside the fire. I rushed in and saved him. That person is Maya. He was the only one who survived. Others have died burned by fire,” story Raka.

“How can they all die without being able to save themselves?”

“Only one answer. They were poisoned anyway.”

“Then why wasn't Maya poisoned too?” ask Amara suspiciously.

“The poisoned thought were the members of the fornication alone. Maya and her other friends

those who were prisoners there were not poisoned because they were already taken captive and could not escape. When I saved Maya, she was tied up in the master room.”

“Maybe the sky deliberately saved him so that we can dismantle all this complexity, kakang.” Swishing

Amara.

“Let's call Maya and ask her for information.”

***

Maya was in the room and started telling stories.

“Guruku named Nyi Sekar Arum. He has a college in Cakrabuana Mountain. Just a little college with us 5 girls. Since childhood we were orphaned and taken students by great teachers. Almost 20 years we lived and studied with him, unfortunately he died of old age. We decided to go down the mountain and travel. To practice the science that we

learn from him to help the weak. Unfortunately, one day we fought with Tanabasa group. They crippled and caught us.”

“Some gentlemen already know. We were made slaves of lust. Caught underground. Sometimes

taken into people's rooms, after we finished wearing we put in the cage again. There are many lustful slaves there. It's not just the five of us. There may be 20 people.”

“When we stayed there, we found out that this gathering was all about honorable people.

They are quite prominent warriors, have a fragrant name in the martial world. That's what my (me) man heard. Although we do not know them, we can feel that they are indeed honorable people.”

“Abdi (me) sometimes steals hear what they're planning. Unfortunately, only a few glimpses. Not getting the big picture of what they are planning. All we know is that they are planning to rule the martial world. First by collecting as much money as possible from the business as a hitman. Then if it's collected funds, I don't know what else they will do.”

“Genesis on Sepingkan island!” exciting Antasena.

“Tell me about the big tall black-robed figure you met there,” pinta Sukma Harum.

“Iya only appears once in a while. His face is always closed. Sometimes by a veil, sometimes by a hat

the wide bamboo. No one can see his face. Oh yes, so that the gentlemen all understand, all these members always wear masks. Even if they meet each other. Only when they are in their room and satisfy their lusts do they just unmask. Abdi knows their faces one-on-one. Just don't know their names.”

“That big tall figure is always in black robes. Everywhere he carried the weapon he sounded behind

his cape. Abdi did not know what weapon he was hiding. Maybe a sword, maybe a machete.”

“Or spear,” muttered Antasena.

Maya continued, “It seems that he is the leader of this group. Even Tanabasa was subservient to all

his words...”.

“His circumstances on the island of Sepingan, his hasty passing, as well as his presence in the valley of demons all matched this incident!” antasena hatch.

“Very early in the morning he came, talking to Tanabasa. He ordered Tanabasa to seek the lord Sukma Harum.

That's the glimpse you heard. After that the servant heard nothing because they entered a special closed room.”

“At that time then the servant fell asleep. Waking up because of shortness of breath and feeling hot. It turned out that the entire place was already filled with blazing flames. Next story, gentlemen already understand the continuation.”

Raka thought for a while, then nodded. “Indeed you were right, Antasena. Fits great. From now on, will you go look for him and follow him? I need you to keep an eye on his movements. Don't get into a fight with him because it will mess up the whole plan to dismantle all these events.”

“You have a plan?” ask Antasena.

“Plan and small ideas only. But I think it's worth a try.”

He then turned to Maya, “Maya, I want you to stare at this ship. Be part of this ship. Probably in

here you'll be safer.”

“Then the master himself will go to where?” tanyanya is attentive.

“I will visit some places just convince the idea that is in my head.”

“Can't the servant come with you? On the road the servant can serve all the needs of mr.”

“You stare here first, learn from your other brothers. Later if it's smart, I'll have an adventure. Agree?” raka asked softly while stroking the head of this beautiful girl.

Bad experiences have hurt his soul and body enough.

“Later night all move. I will order this ship to be in the middle of the sea for 7 days

you can feel the experience of living and surviving in the middle of the sea. Want?”

“Mau!” answered Maya with passion.

***

By nightfall, they were all moving according to plan. Raden Raty Ayu and Amara return to their home. Antasena went to find Candramawa to follow him. Nindira's ship sailed the sea for 7 days. Sukma Harum went to investigate some things.

Where he goes, only he knows. Because the little idea in his head made his heart

so curious, yet also filled his soul with high spirit. He has not faced such a big challenge for a long time.