Meeting the Translator

The neighboring village was called Sanggala. Being close to the port, the village was bustling with newcomers and ship workers looking to unwind. It was far from the bustling activity of the port.

Jagat Wengi and Gendis arrived in front of a relatively quiet drink stall with a plan in mind—to render the man from the brothel unconscious.

"Why are we at this stall?" the man asked, his gaze scanning the surroundings outside the stall.

The stall was located near the village square, with a large teak tree in the center. It was surrounded by lush grass and flowers.

"We're waiting for my friend at this stall. Just sit down and relax. We'll be done soon," Jagat replied. "But I need to go to the translator's house. Do you know where it is?"

The man looked at Jagat suspiciously. "Why do you seem so eager to meet that translator? Are you planning to go to the Mongols?"

"Whether I need to or not is my own business. Why are you getting worked up?"

"Just focus on handling this woman properly. Lady Nanta doesn't want damaged goods."

Gendis, hearing this, tried to remain calm. Was she really so lowly that she was considered a mere object? What had become of a woman's dignity?

In her bewilderment, a portly waiter approached, his gaze fixated on Gendis. He asked for their order before returning inside. He whispered something to another waiter in the stall.

And of course, Jagat Wengi didn't miss a single detail of their behavior. His newfound abilities allowed him to observe the situation with precision.

He noticed the arrival of someone different from the other waiters. This person looked cleaner and wore more expensive clothes. He seemed to be the owner of the stall.

He warmly greeted the guests, and once again, Gendis became the target of his gaze.

"Does this beautiful lady want to order a special menu from our stall?"

"No, just make sure the stitching on your pants is right."

"I apologize, sir. I don't understand what you mean."

"Look down."

Jagat gestured with his eyes, and the protruding thread from his pants caught their attention. Gendis wanted to smile at the sight, but she restrained herself and covered her mouth with her hand.

The neatly dressed man became embarrassed. His face turned red, and without saying a word, he left abruptly.

From this situation, Jagat realized even more the degradation of society. Women were treated as commodities, and to make matters worse, it was a woman herself who was involved in such activities.

Lady Nanta. A renowned name among sailors and certain black martial arts circles. She managed her business with the support of several palace officials, from Singosari and Kediri to the current Majapahit. She always managed to slip away with her endeavors.

And now, in front of Jagat, Lady Nanta's subordinates were at work, keeping an eye on their target. After the order was delivered, Jagat planned to poison the man's drink. Ki Wardiman had provided him with the necessary substances to use when needed.

The opportunity soon presented itself. A tray arrived, carrying three glasses of drinks and a medium-sized jug, placed on their table.

Jagat needed a distraction so that the man in front of him wouldn't notice the drink being tampered with. He needed Gendis to do it.

Jagat signaled through his eyes, and Gendis responded with a gaze of her own. Her raised eyebrows asked about the meaning of Jagat's eye movement towards the jug of drink.

Swiftly, Gendis grabbed the jug and poured the drink into two glasses on the table.

The man was impressed by Gendis' actions. Perhaps he thought Lady Nanta would be pleased to receive a woman who had already proven her worth through her service.

"Now I understand."

"What do you understand?"

Suddenly, the man smiled and looked at Gendis with a mysterious gaze, causing her to feel a bit uncomfortable, and immediately averted her face.

"So, you want to test this woman in front of me, don't you?" He laughed at his own peculiar question.

Jagat repeated his command with the same gesture. He remained silent as if he couldn't speak. In addition to using his eyes, Jagat nudged Gendis's leg to repeat the same command. But once again, Gendis didn't understand what Jagat wanted from her.

So this is how Gendis is, Jagat thought. The woman who mistakenly gave him the medicine and activated his hidden abilities had a slow way of thinking.

"Sir!" Jagat suddenly vented his emotions by calling the man in front of him loudly. He had another plan. "You can test her by taking her around outside. See how people will praise this woman from Lady Nanta."

"Aren't you afraid she'll run away?"

"Go ahead. I'm more afraid that Lady Nanta will reject this woman because of you."

"Why is that?"

"Because Lady Nanta will surely ask about her background, her family. Do you know that?"

"I can make up a story."

"Would I allow that?"

The man couldn't argue. He eventually complied with Jagat's request. This time, Gendis followed suit after seeing Jagat's reassuring nod and gaze.

However, Jagat only needed a distraction. Quickly, as Lady Nanta's subordinates turned their backs and left with Gendis, Jagat swiftly sprinkled poison powders into the man's glass.

"Sir! Wait!"

"What now?" The man turned around with an annoyed expression.

"I almost forgot. Don't showcase this woman's face in crowded places for now. I want her to appear at the musical event in Lady's house later. How about that?"

"So, there's no need to test her now?"

"No need, sir. Please sit back down. My friend will arrive soon."

Unsuspecting, the man sat back down and immediately picked up the glass, taking a sip. His gaze momentarily shifted when a waiter passed by their table. However, his eyes gradually lost focus and began to dart around until his head and chest collapsed onto the table.

The loud sound he made drew the attention of the waiter, and Jagat quickly shouted.

"I told you not to drink alcohol when you're sick. Wait a moment, I'll call someone to carry you."

Without waiting for a response from the waiter, Jagat immediately pulled Gendis's hand and left the stall. They mounted their horses and rode away, carrying out Ki Wardiman's mission.

Finding the house of the translator was not a difficult task. His name was surely well-known in this village. That's what Jagat did when he encountered an elderly woman passing by on her horse.

Jagat intentionally chose an elderly person like her to facilitate his search. Elders usually spoke honestly and were never suspicious. Her wrinkled hands pointed confidently towards the east from the village square. She mentioned a large house with a red brick gate.

Jagat and Gendis rode their horses swiftly towards the destination. He didn't know how long the effects of Ki Wardiman's medicine would last. What mattered was that he needed to be quick and return to his training.

"Brother Jagat, how are we going to kidnap the translator?"

Jagat felt like telling Gendis to stay silent and not ask too many questions because he was currently contemplating a quick way to complete his mission.

The only way was to ensure that he entered the house, which seemed to have minimal security compared to the residences of wealthy merchants, despite being of a similar size.

The gate without a door was entered smoothly by Jagat and Gendis without any obstacles. Wild plants grew in the courtyard, and scattered pieces of wood were strewn around. They had ventured far inside, passing by two wooden pillars that seemed ready to collapse.

"What's the name of the translator, Brother?"

"I don't know. Just be quiet, Gendis. We don't know the situation in this house yet."

Approaching the front door, Jagat gently knocked on it for the first time. When he didn't receive a response, the knocks became louder.

"Who is it?"

A loud and harsh voice suddenly echoed from inside. It sounded more like a yell, as the question was accompanied by the sound of wood being thrown towards the door where Jagat was standing.

*Braak!

"Aaah!" Gendis screamed in surprise, a shriek that Jagat perceived as closer to a moan.

"Why are you screaming like that?"

"I was startled, Brother."

"But why does your startle sound like a moan?"

"Aah, is that so?"

"Ah, never mind."

Jagat stepped forward again after taking a few steps back. His left hand reached behind as Gendis tried to match his steps. He instructed Gendis to stay in her place.

"Excuse me! I'm Jagat Wengi. Can I enter the house? We need to talk for a moment!"

There was no response from inside. The partially opened door, caused by the impact, was slowly pushed by Jagat.

"Stop right there!"

Just as he had taken half a step and his foot had already entered the floor of the house, Jagat Wengi received another loud yell and the throw of a wooden chair.

*Braak!

"Aaah!"

Gendis's scream once again disturbed Jagat's ears, but this time it was the owner of the house who asked.

"Who is that?"

"I'm Gendis!"

"Why did you answer?" Jagat was surprised by Gendis's thought process.

"There has never been a woman here before."

Slowly, in the darkness, a face appeared with a menacing expression, his face covered in a thick beard. His hair was long and disheveled, with patches of gray dominating the black strands.

"What business do you have here?" the old man asked.

"I'm looking for the Mongol translator. Are you–"

"I am the one. What's the matter? Why are you looking for me?"

"I want to bring you to our hut to learn Mongolian," Jagat Wengi replied straightforwardly and honestly.

"Leave! I have nothing to do with Mongols anymore."

"But aren't you a translator for Lady Nanta?"

"Who told you that?"

Jagat didn't immediately answer because he knew this negotiation would lead to a dead end. He tried using a name he might know, as he had once served in the same palace.

"I come on the orders of Ki Wardiman."

"Ki Wardiman? What's your connection to that herbalist?"

"Ki Wardiman wants to seek revenge against the Mongols."

Jagat Wengi reluctantly used Ki Wardiman's story to appeal to the old man's emotions. However, it didn't seem to have much effect on him.

"Go away. I can't leave this house. Take care of my wife and grandchildren. No one is watching over them."

"Let's bring them along, Ki."

His smile suddenly turned cynical. "Come with me."

In the dimly lit environment, the elderly translator led Jagat and Gendis further into his house. He opened the door to a room and took a torch hanging in front of the chamber.

The sound of the creaking door echoed somberly as a figure lay sprawled on the floor.

"That's my wife and grandchildren."

Once again, Gendis screamed in fear, her voice piercing louder than before. But this time, Jagat didn't protest because he was also shocked to see three dried-up corpses lying on the floor.