The Musafir
First Negotiation in the Dorm
However, the government has provided stables and care for the animals of foreign migrants who are undergoing quarantine. Officers at the shelter gate had said that Mundingan would be taken care of by experts, so Mantingan did not have to worry.
Now the two entered a dormitory building and showed a sheet of throwback to the officers who were there. A sheet of throwers contains information about the room they will live in. The officers nodded their heads and let them in.
The rooms that Mantingan and Chitra Anggini will be staying in for the next three days are located on the top floor, which in other words is the third floor.
With its size, it has a bathroom and a library. It's really incredible. Equipped with dim glowing torches, some alive and some dead. There are paintings and other wall hangings. And a window facing exactly north, sat in a blue sea that had no end.
From this room, they could see the activities in the harbor, and it was a pretty interesting sight for Mantingan. Doesn't this feel like being in the Night Bunian Inn when he was still with the North River Angel?
“This room is amazing,” Mantingan said while looking at the surroundings. “Bathroom in it, it is already very extraordinary, and coupled with the library, then it is even more extraordinary. The Koying government really knows how to pamper foreign visitors.”
Chitra Anggini smiled in return. His eyes could not escape reading the scroll in his hand. Those ejection sheets contain the rules of this temporary shelter.
“We will get three meals per day, but the food is not too delicious, only three potatoes. If we want vegetables and other side dishes, then we have to buy them with our own money.”
The mantle nodded its head. That's not a big deal.
Chitra Anggini read back the contents of the scroll. “Here it is stated that we can shorten the quarantine time by paying five hundred gold pieces for one person, so it will only be quarantined for one day only.”
“Duhai, what kind of rule is that?” The mantle shook slowly while smiling incantly. “But that means, we can get out faster from this place by paying more money.”
“I really don't recommend you do that, Mantingan. From the beginning, we have looked like a small trader who is obviously impossible to spend 500 gold pieces just to shorten the quarantine time. Do not think that the government of Kotaraja does not have a spy network to be aware of suspicious people.”
“So you think?”
“We stay here. Run quarantine for three full days.”
“But what if we both arrive late to save Tapa Balian?”
Really, that's what Mantingan was worried about. He could not dispute the bad thoughts concerning the current state of Tapa Balian. It could be too late to save the old man who has been so meritorious in his life!
“Do not rush. At least we misstep, then the death of Tapa Balian will come faster.”
“You don't just talk!” The mantle snapped loudly. But Chitra Anggini was unmoved in his place, staring boldly at Mantingan.
“You will realize how true my words are, Mantingan. Calm yourself and let your head stay cool.”
...****************...
MANTAN turned his face. Looking out the window. Take a short breath. Realizing how much Chitra Anggini said a lot of truth. A rash action would only threaten the life safety of Tapa Balian.
“Three days in this shelter will not be wasted, Mantingan. We have not devised any plan to enter the palace and then remove Tapa Balian from the place. You know exactly, doing both things is not an easy thing.”
The mantan nodded his head slowly. Without turning his head, he replied, “After coming out of this shelter, the first thing we have to do is look for the network of Darkness. Suffice us to take a walk in the center of the crowd, it is possible that one of the members of the Darkness Lady does not see us.”
“As you search for lodging anyway.” Chitra Anggini let out a tone of agreement. “In addition, I have to find my network that is here.”
Mantingan frowned and turned towards Chitra Anggini. “'I'?”
“Yes. Just me alone. You do not need to come, because all underground networks in the city are very secret. Even I myself am not sure if it is acceptable to them or not, let alone you?”
“Kartika still does not trust me fully, yes?” The thin smiling mantle.
“Can be said like that. You're not the one who belongs in his network. You're not his foster son, and you don't work under him. It's impossible if my brother trusts you just like that.”
The mantan nodded slowly. It was no big deal to him. He truly knew that everything in the underground society was always secretive and secret. Of course secrets wouldn't be secrets anymore if they were known, would they?
Wouldn't if you look around again, establishing a relationship with Mrs Darkness would be much more profitable than establishing it with Kartika?
Doesn't that mean, he could have left Chitra Anggini now as a sign of having decided to cooperate with the Fallen Leaves Group?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Chitra Anggini frowned, unable to understand the hidden meaning behind the young man's gaze at him.
The mantan turned his gaze while shaking slowly. He has decided to keep Chitra Anggini with him to help him save Tapa Balian. If listened to deeply, Chitra Anggini has a treasurer of knowledge that should not be underestimated. The woman also has a mature mind treasury, understands the ins and outs of kotaraja with all the activities in it, and many other things that will make Mantingan regret if he leaves it.
“I'm very hungry. Since last night, where you had to face the challenge of fighting from the Noiseless Swordsman, I have not touched food at all. You also want to eat, Mantingan?”
“I'm not hungry.” The mantel pulled out a few gold pieces from inside the pocket of his robe before throwing them at Chitra Anggini. “You wouldn't want to eat just three potatoes, would you?”
“You really know it.” Chitra Anggini showed a wide smile before passing away. “I'll bring you food later.”
***
THAT NIGHT. On a wide table, a map unfolds filling it. A large sheet of paper that mapped the underground building right on top of it was Koyingan Palace, which Mantingan got from thieves disguised as merchants in Pesawahan Village after successfully defeating him. So began the negotiations for the night.
“Everything is clearly illustrated, like no one is lacking.” Chitra Anggini half muttered while looking at the map. “However, isn't this too obvious for a map-sized undisclosed part of the palace exactly?”
“That's also what I'm worried about.” The mantang nodded his head. “But the material of this map is paper. This only exists in the Sky Roof Country. So we can also conclude that this map comes from the Land of the Roof of Heaven.”
“It could be just the paper that comes from the Land of the Roof of the Sky, but the map painting is made here.”
“I don't think any ink can be this black in Javadvipa or Suvarnadvipa. And it is clear, the ink on this map does not spill any goods, indicating that the liquid ink dries immediately after being painted, or indeed this mapmaker is a skilled painter.”
Chitra Anggini lifted one end of the map paper and observed the bottom. “The ink does not penetrate to the back of the paper. You're right, the ink liquid dried immediately after it was painted. That means ...”
“Air is too cold when this map is made,” concluded Mantingan. “Loof Sky News ...”
“That means, this map is not official from the kingdom. In other words, this map was not stolen at all.”
“But who can map all the intricacies of the underground buildings of Koying Palace while there has never been an official map of the kingdom to be used as a reference?”
“That means, there are people in the palace who betrayed the outside.” Chitra Anggini stroking chin. Not too sure what he just said.
“If that is the case, this map we got is just a mere copy.”
“And if any other copy ...”
“Then we are not the only ones who are planning an intrusion into the palace.”
“And all plan to enter through the palace underground building.” Chitra Anggini touched the trunk of his nose. His eyebrows look wrinkled. “This is a mere coincidence? Or is there something in the palace that makes enemies simultaneously want to infiltrate?”
“Trust there.” The mantle folded his hands forward while closing his eyes. “Koying has forcibly seized many heirlooms to obtain the remaining Sky Stakeholder authority. It clearly brought in intruders from among those who were forcibly taken his remains, or from among those who simply wanted to steal the precious treasures.”
“That means, the fate of both of us is the same as the others?”
The mantle nodded slowly. His eyes are still closed. “The Fate of Miss Darkness is also like us.”
Now Chitra Anggini looked at Mantingan. His eyes were still flinched as usual, but his gaze was very deep. “Are we going to think of them as friends or even enemies?”
“The answer to your question is still dimly lit. They can be enemies, friends, or not even both.” The mantel smiled wryly.
