The Thousand Mask Warrior

Dining Shop

The Sultanate of Cerbon was led by Pengeran Mas who was titled Panembahan Ratu I. A very unique country for Jayaseta. This bustling and culturally diverse place also has a special and unique language, a combination of Javanese and the language of the people of Pasundan. No wonder because Cerbon originally came from the word ‘Caruban’ which means ‘mixed’, because Jayaseta saw many people from the origin of religion, language, ethnicity, and ethnicity, and different livelihoods within the Cerbon community.

For a moment Jayaseta felt a little comfortable because he moved away to an area free from Mataram influence. His journey from Mataram through the northern coast of Java, makes it feel like sipping to the end of a variety of experiences and challenges. As a swordsman, it is very difficult not to interfere in the affairs of others, if the affairs of that person interfere with his sense of justice.

For months Jayaseta trained all-out with Grandpa Keling. Practice the body by practicing the moves, fighting, strengthening every part of the body by hitting hard objects and increasing internal energy and breathing. After Giri in Gresik, Jayaseta has spent a lot of time and experience in Mataram in the center of Java island.

After passing through the forests, rice fields and mountains in Mataram, he then went down the coastal area, feeling the sea water and the distinctive smell of the ports. Likewise in the Sultanate of Cerbon, financial activities and the welfare of the community are centered at sea. The community mostly works as fishermen, and the port became one of the bustling ports and became a trading center with other areas in the archipelago.

Jayaseta is very happy to be in the port of Cerbon. The port area reminds him of his hometown, Giri di Gresik, where Gresik itself is also known as a bustling port city. In the port of Cerbon these ships with wide hulls, tall and sturdy poles and strong and large sails side by side lined up in the harbor.

Javanese ships with two or three poles for sails, the hull is made by connecting the boards on the keel with pegs, bow and stern are equally prominent, the twin steering is paddle-like and the shape of a particular rectangular screen is angled at the port of Cerbon.

Large ships or so-called jung are usually used to transport rice to various places in the archipelago and abroad. In the past when the kingdom of Demak ruled in Java, giant jung-jung filled the ocean. The jung was used for fighting and transporting troops. It is said that Jung-jung Demak reportedly defeated the large ships of the Pranggi people.

This was evident when the kingdom of Demak fought the Pranggi ships in Malacca in 1511. Thirty-five Javan giant jungles were destroyed in the sea when Patih Yunus or Pati Unus of Jepara attacked the Pranggis in Malacca in 1513 AD.

Over time the Javanese realized that the giant jung-jung used for war is not so smart to be driven in a round avoiding the attack of foreign cannons or speeding to attack the enemy. That is why the ships today are a little smaller than in the past, except maybe for the junks of merchandise in the port of Cerbon.

In addition to the Javanese themselves who make ships with teak wood from the Rembang or Lasem area on the North coast of Java and wood from Sukadana or Banjar, the, jung-jung is also famous for being made by the skilled hands of the Pegu people who use teak wood from Burma and Siam.

The giant jung-jung used to transport merchandise today mostly belong to the Chinese or Pranggi people, the United Kingdom or Walanda. The Chinese Jung that Jayaseta saw at this time had a taper bow while the stern was flat with the hull with a tighter, closed build.

Jayaseta stops at a market crowded with sellers. Shrimp is one of the merchandise that is so heavily traded. His stomach suddenly sounded indicating he was hungry enough. Seeing the fresh shrimp sold, he was eager to try to taste the seafood with shrimp as his main food. His eyes looking around turned out to be still around the harbor he saw a diner.

Before long he immediately went into it and ordered food with shrimp as his hunger gratifier. It was actually approaching the afternoon, he forgot to eat all day because he was busy enjoying the trip and the view of the bustling port of Cerbon. Hungry is already unbearable again, especially when entering the shop whose building is made of bamboo, the fragrant smell of food as fragrant as invite his taste.

It seems that the diner is almost closed because Jayaseta saw only two visitors, three with himself in the stall, and some windows have begun to close. Sure enough, the sensitivity said that Jayaseta is the last visitor, and this shop will be closed soon, “But the children do not need to rush. Please enjoy our meal at will. It is our duty to serve special guests who come to enjoy our flagship meal,” With so friendly, the waiter calms Jayaseta down.

Well, this must be my lucky day, Jayaseta thought. If this stall closes, I can cancel to eat the shrimp that I had imagined so far. Sure enough, her grilled shrimp food was so sweet and delicious. It looks fresh from the sea. Hot rice on a plate of clay with fresh vegetables that are also set on a plate that is also made of clay is certainly perfecting the hunger. While the drinking water directly from the jug is so cool and relaxing. He remembered Grandpa Keling when he saw the clay dishes and furniture. If the grandfather went along on his journey and were both eating in this tavern, they would surely both enjoy their togetherness.

While eating voraciously, Jayaseta looked around. This simple restaurant is made almost entirely of bamboo. The poles, walls, roof frame, all made of bamboo but so it feels very comfortable and shady. It could almost be said that this stall magically covered the noise of the port out there. The design of the building is so special and so well calculated, Jayaseta thought again.

There are three people who serve the buyers. One person as a waiter, one person who went back and forth from the kitchen who seemed to be a cook, and the other stood behind a wide table to serve the payment. If many of these stores also seem to still be able to serve the buyers, because the place is simple and not so large, so that the visitors of this restaurant will be limited.

On the other side of the floor, two other visitors were seated. From the clothes or clothes they wore, it was seen that they were probably two wealthy merchants. From the language they use to talk to each other, they must have come from the land of Pasundan, maybe also Pakuan.

Jayaseta continued to devour the food before him until it was completely depleted. A satisfied and relieved face appeared on his face. He plans to give more money to this shop because of the service they provide and the food is amazingly delicious.

BRACKET! BRACKET!

Suddenly, a double impact sound like an object falling onto a wooden floor surprised Jayaseta. In front of Jayaseta, the two merchants who were eating were now lying on the floor with food scattered around. Jayaseta gets up to approach them and find out what happened and how they are doing. It seems like they are unconscious, like suddenly having a disease ….

As soon as Jayseta stood up, suddenly his eyes became blurred and twitched. The world seemed to rotate and both legs weakened so quickly and without warning, as if both pairs of legs were not willing to support his body anymore. Although astonished by this feeling Jayaseta still continues to force close to the two lying merchants.

Jayaseta managed to approach the two lying merchants with a staggering step. He looked a little fuzzy, but he realized what he saw. The two merchants were lying with their eyes wide, glaring, with blood coming out of their mouths and noses.

The poison! Thought Jayaseta then.

But too late, Jayaseta fell to his knees. His clumsy gaze managed to make him submit. His body weakened and both his legs had already given up on helping him survive. From the corner of his eyes he saw three people approaching and surrounding him. They then Jayaseta knew as the waiter, the cook, and the store's payment manager.

Consciousness seemed to be being knocked out of his head. Jayaseta's eyes closed, unconscious. He fell face down with his head hitting the floor.

“Heh Nata,” said a person named Sena, the waiter suddenly after seeing the state of Jayaseta. Sena is a man of medium stature yet full of. His face is smooth without a mustache and sideburns but it is seen from the lines of his face that he likely has the oldest age compared to his three colleagues.

“You sure you have inserted poison with the dose as usual in this one person's food?” tanyanya.

The person who was asked, Nata the cook who was slightly fattened with a childish face, immediately replied in surprise, “Already Sena. What's up?”

“Don't you see that he's alive? This person just fainted, like just given sleeping poison or shingle science,” replied Sena.

Nata and one more friend, Pallawa the finance manager also then hurriedly noticed the situation Jayaseta, “Iya, right. Why is he just unconscious? You sure you're not mistaken to poison?” pallawa said this time. Pallawa himself was confirmed to be the youngest of the two, but he kept a mustache and beard that was not so thick. It is possible to show a fierce and mature impression in the eyes of people.

“Ah, no. I'm sure I put in the poison we used to use. Same with the two merchants,” replied Nata confidently but also no less surprised with his two friends.

Of course these three people were greatly astonished by the final victim. He's not dead! Though according to Nata, he was sure that he had entered the same level of poison that he gave to the two Sundanese merchants.

“Ah, stop. Obviously this guy is still alive. Maybe you're wrong to insert poison. But we better finish everything as usual,” said Sena trying wisely and not want to discuss further.

Both Pallawa and Nata finally nodded and did not discuss further, although Nata was very upset and astonished and instead was very sure when he cooked earlier, he put the right poison.

Those three people then ‘work’. They closed the doors and windows of the stalls tightly, because indeed their plan was to trap the last person who entered their stalls. Luckily, two wealthy-looking merchants entered their trap. Only one person, whose appearance was ordinary, was forced to become one part with the two merchants. The fate of them thought.

Of the two merchants' bodies, they obtained expensive silk cloths, precious stone jewelry, silver and gold coins, and Chinese money. In Cerbon is indeed one of the places to make Chinese money-picis made of tin in addition to Banten and Jepara. The British and Walanda Company in Betawi used the Chinese money as a medium of exchange for buying and selling. This shortsighted money was rare, especially in the country of Banten and made its value had increased even above silver money precisely in 1613 and 1618 AD.

In addition to valuables and silver, gold and chips were found in the bodies of the wealthy merchant, the three partners also took agarwood and even their clothes were stripped and taken because it was from the best quality materials.

Pallawa approaches Jayaseta. Shaking his head, “Aih, young man. What can I take from you? At most Chinese money for you to pay for food. Your clothes are not interesting for me to take,” Pallawa told the unconscious Jayaseta.

Suddenly he saw Jayaseta's leather puffer bag with his dining table. He approached it, and felt quite curious about its strange and unusual shape used by tourists. When opening it, Pallawa clucked his throat, “Ahhh .. mask, mask, mask. Who are you really? Travel dancers? Busker?”

Pallawa threw the bag away, but then picked it up again because when the bag hit the wooden floor he heard a metal clatter. He finally dismantled the bag thoroughly and found unexpected pieces of silver and gold.

“What is this boy? Ha ha ha .. hey, guys, we got lucky today. Apparently this strange kere child is not an ordinary person. I don't know where he got all this money?”

Both of his friends immediately approached Pallawa and both saw the pieces of money that were indeed a surprising amount.

“Ha ha ha .. ugly things like this, you can match those two dead merchants,” Pallawa told the unconscious Jayaseta.

“Hmmm .. I still have plans to get more money from him,” Sena said suddenly.

Nata and Pallawa look at Sena's face and try to guess the direction of her mind.

“What do you want to take again from this guy, Sena?” said Nata.

“The two merchants, as usual we throw it in the usual place, because the body is no longer useful. Fortunately, since this young man is still alive, we just sell him to a ship that is about to leave for China as slaves. I think the price will be very profitable,” replied Sena with a sly face but shining brightly, amazed at her own plan.

“Wah, you were right Sena,” said Pallawa.

“I can't imagine, tomorrow when he wakes up, he's already in the middle of the sea heading for a trip to China. He will shout for return to Cerbon, while the crew of a large and violent ship will beat him, ha ha ha ha ha ..” Continue Nata with excitement. The three agreed and laughed together.