The Thousand Mask Warrior

Second Shallow Sea Battle - Labussa and Makkawaru

Two ships strangkis Bugis sailors managed to hit the Minangkabau-Malay Bengkulu ship where the cannon attack on their ships came from. Two ships of the Bugis people of the four in total were apparently successfully buried. More than half of the sailors on the two ships were killed, floating at sea with their bodies intact or sinking with fragments of the ship. the rest swam to the other two boats and directly attacked the attack ship.

With foreseeable flexibility, Bugis sailors in red shirts and headbands climbed onto the deck of a ship filled with dead bodies and pools of blood.

Labussa, the Bugis warrior who is most likely the leader and the strongest champion of this group clenched both hands. Sea water dripped from both fists.

Makkawaru, the second person, Labussa the swordsman's right hand, stood beside him a little backwards. The rest of the Bugis sailors have also stood on standby aboard the ship.

The cannon still vaporized the strong-smelling white smoke of the fire powder. The pirates who had hijacked the ship's cannons and fired at the Minangkabau warriors and Bengkulu Malays were already invisible to the nose, disappearing in an instant, leaving the rest of the warriors confused.

"Who's in charge on this ship? Why is it that with a presumptuous and unscrupulous attack on our ship, the Bugis sailors who are chasing after the pirates?" exclaim Labussa loud.

Mr. Rajo Intan, the Bengkulu Malay-blooded skipper came forward. He held his injured shoulder hit by a rifle shot from the pirates who appeared suddenly and disappeared also suddenly.

"My name is Mr. Rajo Intan, captain of this ship. I'm in charge of the ship, decisions and orders against all crew and passengers on deck. Welcome, Bugis sailors, whom we honor and honor. Forgive us for not giving a proper welcome to see the situation is also different and not fitting. This ship and the ship that was there ..," the skipper pointed towards one other ship that was slowly approaching with smoke rising on one side, "... it was a ship belonging to the Minangkabau and Bengkulu people, including some of us are Rejang warriors."

"What is your ship doing in these waters?" reply Labussa.

This attitude of hostility was disliked by the skipper, but he still tried to answer politely, "Sorry, sir. Perhaps that question could also be pinned on the master ships. What makes a master necessary in this ocean?" said Mr. Rajo Intan.

Labussa is indifferent. He looked around. "I don't know what game you're playing and what role you're playing. What is clear is that our ships were sunk by the continuous fire of the cannons from your ships."

"You mean, sir, you're going to accuse us of being the culprit? Didn't you see for yourself that the deck of this ship is full of the corpses of the pirates that we have killed because they boarded our ship running away from your ships, the Bugis people? Do you not also see on this floor scattered warriors Minangkabau and our Malays who were killed in such a way by the attack of bedil and powder fire? They also controlled the cannons of this ship to fire on the ships of gentlemen, including our other ships." replied Mr. Rajo Intan raised his tone.

Makkawaru felt bad at his waist. Apparently the reply of the skipper did not make his heart happy. Labussa touched and restrained his arm, as a hint not to rush into any action.

Indeed, in recent times, the pirates did a lot of violent actions and made various groups of people angry. The sailors, the people who lived on the coast, until the Sultanate felt the need to chase and give the pirates punishment and ask for calculations.

The problem, not a few parties: both the Bugis, Jambi, Johor-Riau and Minangkabau-Bengkulu, who understand that the Pranggi ruler of Malacca bulwarks participate in this matter. It is possible that Pranggi had devious plans to destabilize the kingdom and neighboring areas and around Malacca in order to fight between them and be divided. Even Walanda from Betawi may also play a role in supporting the Sultanate of Johor-Riau to become one of the great powers in the Malay area to be established and great so that later it can bring down Malacca and Pranggi.

Incidentally, this beautiful morning, the actions of the pirates were discovered by all the ships and the aggrieved parties. These parties, however suspicious and may have understood that there are Caucasians who play a big role behind the pirates, they do not really care. Even this opportunity can be used and used all at once to show their own greatness and grandeur.

"We think you haven't found the culprit of this problem, have you? Have you captured the intruders who attacked the crew and the ship's swordsmen with bedil and powder fire?" Labussa.

"good. We will go look for the intruders" Makkawaru said suddenly. Her wet red clothes were attached to her clay body.

Two advanced Minangkabau warriors mounted the body in front of Makkawaru to block it. Both of them were still clutching the claws and the kerambit in both hands.

The air of tension instantly felt thick overshadowing the ship. The Bugis sailors who stood behind Labussa and Makkawaru without further ado instantly pulled the badik from its sheath. So are the Minangkabau and Bengkulu Malay warriors who have even prepared their squeaky silat horses and tiger lizards.

The Minangkabau-Bengkulu warriors clearly could not let anyone get on their ship and act presumptuously and arbitrarily. Whatever happens, the ship is a sovereign kingdom for the skipper, the crew and whoever is on the deck.

Although Mr. Rajo Intan understood that the intruder had messed up and made both sides misunderstand, the actions of the Bugis people to interfere in the affairs of the ship let alone organize would be unacceptable. The intruders were the responsibility of this ship to be found, not someone else who got on board and acted recklessly.

This tense atmosphere almost became a bloody battle when the other Minangkabau and Bengkulu ships docked. Soon the boards were scattered and the warriors crossed nimbly on the wooden boards.

"Sorry, sir. You cannot interfere in the affairs of this ship. We ourselves will seek out the rioters and punish them. You can wait and later when we find them, you will get a chance to give them the punishment they deserve. We are as furious as the gentlemen, much less that many of our warriors perished at their hands. However, for the above-deck business, only we have the right to do so" said Mr Rajo Intan no longer holding his injured shoulder. In fact, he now looks perfect again, although blood splashes are seen from the wounds caused by fragments of explosives.

"We just want to help you. But with this excessive rejection, it feels like there is something you are hiding. I hope it's not like that, Mr Rajo Intan?" makkawaru Pantang. His harshness plus the anger from the cannon attack hid his intention to fight.

Mr. Rajo Intan shook his head slowly back. "We understand the big name of the Bugis as a sailor and a master swordsman, the king of the ocean. It should be, gentlemen as well understand the rules of honor and doulas on board. It's just that, maybe we heard wrong about the other nature of the Bugis sailors who are said to be stubborn and do not want to lose. So, can it be concluded that the greatness of the gentlemen in navigating the sea is as hard as your wishes and intentions?"

Makkawaru looked at Labussa. Both snorted and laughed a little. Makkawaru then looked around the ship which had now become crowded with warriors who were ready to fight. He then focused on Mr. Rajo Intan. "What do you mean, sir?"

"We know that we cannot stop your intention to search our ship, even though for us it is a sass. But if we refuse, then the intruders will rejoice to see more and more victims among us" explained Mr. Rajo Intan. "We're making a deal. One of you will fight me. A one-on-one fight with quick, bare hands, no weapons. Our heart's intent is not to have us sacrifice one more life. However, if in this one-on-one fight one of us has to die, instead of getting injured or unconscious, it must still be accepted and agreed upon together."

Makkawaru, Labussa even the other Bugis warriors smiled wider and wider.

"If I lose, gentlemen can search the ship with us, and decide what can be done later if they succeed in finding or not finding the intruders. If I am the victor, gentlemen must remain motionless where the gentlemen stand now. We also reserve the right to expel the gentlemen from the deck if we find the gentlemen behaving in an unpleasant manner to us" continued Mr Rajo Intan.

The crew and swordsmen of Minang-Bengkulu, including the one who just arrived on the deck of another ship looks not so happy with the decision of the skipper to see the wound he got on his shoulder. But on the other hand, they understand who Mr. Rajo Intan is so they have to believe him.

"Makkawaru, you look so excited. Then, I allow you to move forward," Labussa said slowly. Makkawaru laughed broadly, nodding and releasing his badik and keris. He left the two blades of the dagger to one of the Bugis warriors behind him.

"We agree. Let's start without wasting any time" Makkawaru told Mr Rajo Intan as he tied the wet sarong back to his waist.