The Thousand Mask Warrior

The Gold Currency

The yacht that Jayaseta's entourage boarded swayed over the shallow sea but cruised smoothly towards the indigenous-style ship that actually hid the warriors of various nations on deck and in the hull ship.

The sun had slowly crept up to the top of the head. Its splashing rays ricocheted above the water and broke into silvery dots.

Jayaseta crouched tightly holding the edge of the sailing ship. He fought fear over these waters with all his soul. Fortunately, Jayaseta always learns from experience. He did not want to lose against his fear of this one.

Narendra crouched down beside him, "Don't worry, Jayaseta. I'm sure they won't attack us while we're over the sea. Because it was too flashy and attention-grabbing. I dare guarantee they even deliberately invite us aboard their ship and plan to finish us off on the deck of the ship" said Narendra.

"Yes. Obviously they have warriors and weaponry there. Whatever it is, we have to hold the ship accountable for making a massive crash from this morning" Katilapan continued, standing straight behind Jayaseta and Narendra.

"You still have to protect me, you guys," Jayaseta said softly behind his Mah Meri mask.

Narendra and Katilapan couldn't bear to not smile. However, both are still astonished and cannot believe that a warrior as great as Jayaseta has a weakness this trivial. But they still convince the warrior.

Datuk Mas Kuning, with its old-looking body look, actually managed to deceive others. He is actually in a very good physical condition. The old wounds seemed to be no longer felt, replaced with a burning fighting spirit. This again reminds the Datuk of his prime. Being old and wise doesn't mean you can't fight for loved ones anymore, right? Thought the Grandfather. He stood against the wind, looking towards the ship in front of him sharply with one of his hands upstream.

There were a few crew members who were busy arranging the sails and rigging, with Ireng and Siam also looking straight ahead, looking at any suspicious movements from aboard. Either at gunpoint, cannon alerted, archers or softeners. The crew worked like hell, but some black copper men pulled their beds.

***

King Nio looked towards the pirates who were already in a bound state and could be said to be helpless and harmless anymore. Some of them were seriously injured, unable to even be tied up in a sitting state.

"Open their masks!" the captain's orders to his armed guards. This order was immediately executed. Mah Meri's wooden masks were placed in one place on the deck.

"Who are you guys? You do not deserve to wear those Mah Meri masks. Your attempts to deceive us will not succeed. We know that there must be a certain person or group who set you up behind the scenes" said the skipper, crouching in front of the captives.

"They may not speak, Lord King Nio. Obviously they've been trained for this task. They were even ready to sacrifice themselves," explained one of the bodyguards.

"I know that. I still want to ask them directly, while thinking of a cruel way to force them to speak" King Nio replied. He's not kidding. Cruelty must be familiar with the lives of people on the sea. To kill or be killed is the law. Torture also often occurs for many events and matters. Although King Nio hated slavery enough, the problem of violence and cruelty that often occurred he could not avoid or deny.

"Our pay is great. But not for ourselves, but for family and relatives" said one of the prisoners suddenly.

"We are from different nations. Our goal is only one, making the fear of the troops of various nations also for chaos to occur. Life is no longer important to us. After all, the average of us comes from slaves, or people whose families are slaves. Our job is done. You're free to do anything to us" the man continued on the sidelines of the huge explosions behind their conversation. The ships of Jambi and Johor were still firing at each other, including the ships of the Minangkabau and Bugis people. The second part of the battle has just begun.

Apparently, the currency competition is what Pranggi played in the dispute of the nations in the Malay world. To rival the Chinese money-making picis from mixed tin arranged by the Walanda people in Banten, Jepara, Jambi, Palembang, Mangkasara and Martapura or Tanjung Pura, the British tried to cut Walanda's way. Hearing Jambi is a producer of Chinese picis from this tin, Johor certainly does not want to lose. They also made and circulated a mixed currency of black and white tin, as well as bronze, with the imprint of their name or title of ruler at the time.

While Aceh, the largest Islamic state in the archipelago, was once large with a gold currency called deureuham taken from the Arabic dirham, from the time of Sultan Muhammad who ruled from 1297 to 1326 AD to the next eight rulers to the king Abdallah Malik az-Zahir who ruled until 1513 AD. Now Aceh has more tahil currency with a weight of silver that is comparable to 16 gold currencies.

The Johor gold currency weighs four times more than the Acehnese currency. Mangkasara, has a gold currency called dinara which although similar to the Aceh gold currency, weighs four times compared to the Aceh gold currency.

It is clear that this competition for the use of which currency is stronger is being played by Pranggi.

"They paid us with gold, the best of all nations. The gold currency was mixed to destroy the market, making countries suspicious of each other and thinking that their opponents were deliberately conspiring or deceiving in trade" the captive continued.

"For a man who is not afraid of death, you are very intelligent, brother," continued King Nio.

The prisoner snorted, "I'm not afraid to die, it's not stupid. After all, weren't the rulers and their minions intelligent yet wicked, vile and cruel people? The slaves were treated like animals, they were riding treasures and playing dirty games that sacrificed their own society."

"You dare speak like that as if you were not a traitor to the nation. Aren't you working for a bule, the lord of Pranggi, are you?"

"Which nation do you mean, sir? The nation that allowed slavery? Who fought for the lust of power? I am from Nias, whose family is enslaved by the rulers of Nias, those of my own people who do not see me as equal. How is it different from the Pranggis? Who is really betraying? Me, a slave who was tortured and sold by nobles of my own people, or foreigners who used me for their own benefit? Doesn't it make any difference?" answer the prisoner. His face that was full of sweat and sadness loomed over it hardened. Both of his eyes looked intently at the skipper.

***

The yacht that Jayaseta boarded was right next to the ship that de Paula led. One of the crew exclaimed loudly, "Consideration, we will throw the rope and get on the boat! Give us a way!" abugn.

De Paula nodded to the various national warriors who hid all kinds of daggers on their waists. Upper mashed pepper, keris, piso, badik and rencong poking out of the belts of the warriors, including the Ambonians and Flores who put their bedils on the side.

Babiat Sibolang ordered his colleagues to place their slender singiris longitude trunks on the edge of the ship. Jala Jangkung the skipper could not bear to not smile widely. He rubbed his palms together, waiting impatiently for the guest who sent his life.