The Musafir

The Kotaraja Slum Settlement

WALKING without carrying sheets of his travel books a little bit makes Mantingan feel a feeling of haru. To leave an old friend who has been together for a long time, without any mercy at all.

He recalled when he started writing the first sheet in his travel script. It was a time where he was in the heart of the jungle, away from the crowds and civilization, inversely proportional to the streets of Kotaraja that he was passing through at this time.

The script was faithful to accompany him everywhere. As if to be a friend to spill all the outpouring of heart. Both in a safe and dangerous place; in a state of serenity and confusion; pleasure and sorrow. The sheets are always with it.

Can it not be said that the manuscript is even more faithful than all his friends?

And now, Mantingan almost does not believe that he has handed over his loyal friend to someone else. Leaving it for granted without knowing whether to meet again or part forever. It feels so stifling.

“Mantingan,” reprimand Chitra Anggini who immediately disperse all reverie Mantingan. “Tetap alert.”

“Ongng ...” Munding next to him seemed to approve the words of Chitra Anggini, even the buffalo was much more understanding of what Mantingan was thinking at this time than the girl.

Mantingan smiled thinly as he rubbed Munding's back, saying that he remained vigilant even though he seemed to be daydreaming and careless. Chitra Anggini who saw that can only shake slowly. Is there a buffalo who can understand human language?

“How much longer do we get to Kotaraja Slum Settlement?” asked Mantingan half-whispered to Chitra Anggini next to him.

“Two more rice brewers if we maintain speed,” reply the girl. “One more feed if we walk a little faster. And less than ten eyes when we flashed. Which one will you choose?”

“Stay maintain speed,” break Mantingan, in consideration that stepping too hastily can lure other swordsmen to follow him.

Although in the city there is an unwritten rule not to kill fellow warriors carelessly, but there will always be some warriors who will recklessly violate the unwritten rules because they can not stem the curiosity.

If they were caught by the city guards, only death would they receive as a punishment. Isn't death at the hands of a stronger opponent the path of the entire martial world warrior to perfection?

Then it would be great if the Mantingan remained on guard. Assuming that an attack can occur at any time without ever being unexpected.

“Should say that Kotaraja Slum Settlement is not a really good place,” said Chitra Anggini who helped change the word poor to slum. “After arriving there, you will see the life of the community that is far from normal. I feel like it would be a waste if I told you about it, it would be nice if you saw it with your own eyes. I'm just warning you not to expect much.”

Mantingan nodded his head slowly.

“Including preparing to die ...” Chitra Anggini hissed, because it turns out his words have not been finished.

“I'm always ready to die anytime, Chitra.” Mantian spoke firmly.

“The settlement is much different from all the regularities in this city, Mantingan. There was no written or unwritten law in that place. You can be attacked at any time by a warrior whose origins are unclear.”

Then Chitra Anggini recounted that when he first visited Kotaraja Poor Settlement, he was attacked ten times in just one day. The attack he faced was clearly very dangerous, because the enemy used cunning methods that should be considered very despicable in the martial world.

Hearing that, Mantingan so remembered when he visited the underground Malaya Market to look for the whereabouts of Uncle Bala's daughter who was kidnapped lontar seller. It was there where all the madness that Mantingan had never imagined before. Until now, the memory is still imprinted into a bitter memory that seems never to be forgotten.

Could such a place exist in the Kotaraja Slum? Or the settlement itself as a whole? The mantan does not know, but he will know it soon.

“The warriors assigned to guard the city do not take part in the Kotaraja Slum Settlement. Too many government warriors have gone missing without a trace in the settlement. When found, just know it has sided with the underground network that is there.”

Chitra Anggini's words feel right. The underground network always had special ways of entangling warriors to join and be loyal to it. Their numbers are not many, but the understanding they spread is very dangerous. For this reason Kiai Guru Kedai gives a lot of advice that can help Mantingan if he gets entangled with the understanding of underground networks.

“Don't that way, all the secrets in the government can leak into the hands of the enemy?” ask Mantingan.

“Governments are on guard for that possibility,” said Chitra Anggini. “The soldiers of the kingdom no one can know the secrets in the government. They just need to run errands without needing to ask about the reason. While the one in charge of keeping the government secret is only special servants who have been ensured their loyalty.”

Chitra Anggini then explained that the special servants had been confirmed to be absolutely loyal. Betis not? Their tongues were cut to the base, paralyzing all their speech skills. They only rely on the ability to write to speak, it is also more often using characters and cipher languages.

These privileged servants were to be castrated, for they were more often employed in palaces full of the king's daughters. Every female descendant of the king treasured peace and trade with other kingdoms. Things like this also happened to the North River Angel who became a political tool of Champa.

Castration was also done to protect the pure bloodline of a king. It is not funny if the crown prince who will later become king turns out to be the fruit of an affair between the empress and the royal servant.

After being castrated, they are also prohibited from lifting children or giving love. They must leave all family relationships, including relationships with parents and siblings. This is done to prevent secret leaks due to hostage taking.

Not only was the tongue cut, neutered, and forbidden to have a family was very torturous, the servants of “istimu” also had to undergo training for three years that were very torturous. They will be taught the quickest way to kill themselves if they are threatened with being caught by the enemy. They are also trained to withstand all the grievous torture if they have been caught by the enemy.

“But for all that suffering, the kingdom retaliated with abundant wealth and high power,” Chitra Anggini said after a lengthy explanation. “Tiis ever they feel a shortage. Almost everything the king felt, they felt it too. It's just, they can't satisfy the lust at all. I don't know how torturing that kind of feeling is despite being held in treasure.”

In response to that, Mantingan only coughed softly.

____

note:

Sorry for the typo in the previous episode. The truth is the Star Line Inn, not the Night Line Inn. Hope you can still enjoy it.

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