The Musafir
Private Room in Tuak Shop
The MAN then called the other servants to deliver Mantingan and Dara as well as a join of white wine to the room they ordered. Meanwhile, Dara seemed to speak half-whispering to two servants, Mantingan did not try to listen because he felt disrespectful even though he could use the Science of Hearing Dew Drops.
Moments after the white wine finished being poured into the jug, Mantingan and Dara were asked to follow the maid.
They move more into the store where the atmosphere is not too crowded. Moving inward, they began to encounter several private rooms that were closed doors, indicating that they had been filled.
They were carried on until they arrived in a dark room with the door open. The waiter turned on the lantern lights in every corner of the room and then put the wine jug on the table.
“Do not make it hard if you want to make a sound,” the person said in a flat tone, “if we receive an unsightly report from you, then you two will be directly kicked out of this store.”
Mantingan nodded his head, then said that he would be more distracted if other guests were noisy. For the sake of his disguise, Mantingan was willing to talk more than usual. The waiter simply stared at Mantingan flat stuff for a moment before finally stepping away.
Manten exhaled a long breath while looking into the room. As expected, this was not the kind of place he liked. In the room there was a bed surrounded by lacy mosquito nets with reddish colors, several long benches, and a large marble table in the corner of the room.
Seeing also from the reddish feel of the room, Mantingan knew that a place like this was so bad and should not exist in the Port of White Wind.
But whatever the power, maybe this is the safest place to have a very secret conversation.
The mantel closed the door after Dara entered. He took out an Undercover Magic Throw from inside the pocket behind his clothes before sticking it on the wall of the room. That Magic Throw would prevent most of the sounds from within the room from coming out.
Dara unmasked her with a long sigh, the young woman then said, “I never expected to enter a room like this with you.”
Mantingan smiled nervously before replying, “Pardon me, Nyai. I think our conversation this time will be very important, so it does require a closed room like this.”
“Of course I understand it, Mantingan. Just still, I never expected anything like this before.” Dara smiled thinly. “If I were you, a place like this would have been my choice.”
The mantle nodded its head. “Nyai, ada—”
“Stop calling me that, Mantingan, then after that I want to listen to you.”
Mantingan coughed once before continuing his words that had been held back, “Dara, there are some things I want to ask you.”
“Of course, it's our goal to go to this place, isn't it? But why not while sitting there?” Dara pointed at the long bench on the side of the room.
Mantingan. They sat on two different sides of the bench.
Mantingan continued his question, “Dara, how do you know where I am at this port? I thought your arrival here was more than just wanting to hold an auction.”
“How do you know where I am, Dara?”
Facing Mantingan's question, Dara's countenance turned more earnest than before. Then came as he said it slowly, “I bought news of your whereabouts from a news collector. The siegeer met me in private and said he had information about where you were. That guy asked me to auction it off and share the results.
“But of course I refused it. I'd alibi that it would be more profitable if I bought that information from him unilaterally. I promised him a high price if he promised not to spread this information after giving it to me. She agrees.”
“How much did you spend to buy that caption, Dara?” Mantingan forced to cut with an unpleasant facial look.
“Only ten Stones. It is not a large sum, and you should not think of it.”
Mantingan wanted to refute and said that the girl's actions were excessive. However, then he realized that Dara's actions were very correct by having the news unilaterally, for however he brought the North River Angel, which however would be the key to the successful ambush on the sea rogues that Tarumanagara and White Wind College had planned.
So Mantingan held back his one words, and smiled gently. “I sincerely express my deep gratitude to you, Dara. Countless of your kindnesses I have not been able to repay.”
“It doesn't need to be like that. Didn't you ever say that all good is not something that must be answered directly?”
The mantle doesn't know what to say. Clearly, he felt a warmth inside his chest. Dara's kindness had touched the depths of her mind.
“But, Mantingan, I doubt the promise of a moving news monger without that group. From the way he bargained, I found out that he was a very greedy person. So, with great force, I told the mercenary to kill him. Luckily, the murder was successful.”
The atmosphere of the room changed instantly. It was as if the air had turned colder. The warm smile turned into a stiff smile. Except for Dara's smile that didn't fade in the least. How very lightly did the girl say that she had ordered the mercenary to kill the innocent messenger!
Dara noticed Mantingan's facial expression change. “I did this for your safety and that of the North River Angel, Mantingan. You are a very important person to Javadvipa; and the Angel of the North River is also a very important person to Champa. The greedy pitcher I think has committed many depraved sins during his life, his death was nothing.”
The mantel still smiled awkwardly. It is still difficult to understand the mind of Dara. Why did the girl consider herself and the Angel of the North River so important to each of their countries?
Has the Angel of the North River carved a new history as the most important comfort woman for a kingdom?
“Ten of the stones that became payment in the end I donated to the farmers and refugees victims of war. The impact is pretty good.”
Back Mantingan was silent for a while before nodding his head. Ten Stones worth 10,000 pieces of gold will certainly have an impact that is not small for the underprivileged.
“But, Mantingan, I am still worried that the news of your existence and the North River Angel has spread widely in the underground network of the martial world. That's my basic reason for holding an auction at this port. At least, it can distract people persilatan.”
