Stubborn Marini

"Get out, you whore!"

Gawuh's loud shout echoed through the morning air, reaching Jagat's resting hut. Before leaving the hut, Jagat double-checked his disguise, applying black soot around his eyes.

He was very careful in his disguise this time. There was only a little bit left until success could be achieved later. He didn't want any mistakes.

As planned, they were supposed to depart this morning to a location suspected to be Ulagan's relay post. As a fugitive from the Majapahit kingdom, he couldn't risk revealing their hideout to anyone.

It's possible that there are posts spread around Kediri.

The killer of Sangkih was finally identified as Bengal. Jagat stepped out to join the commotion, meeting Marini's piercing gaze. He hadn't had a chance to explain his plan yet, so he was worried that she might ruin everything.

To his surprise, the interpreter was still present. The terrified expression on his face showed the threats he had received earlier.

"Hey, interpreter. Tell the Mongol not to forget my share of gold. Hurry up," Gawuh whispered, fearing Bengal, their leader, might overhear him.

Jagat caught a glimpse of the whisper, but he was too busy keeping an eye on Marini to ensure she wouldn't do anything rash. His only chance was when Bengal reported to their leader and Gawuh prepared the horses for the journey. Marini's hands were still bound, with two Poison Kala members guarding her.

"The Javanese women are indeed beautiful. I'd love to savor her body," Jagat said in Mongolian, directing his words at the interpreter.

"Uh...Singosari also rose to power because of a woman named Ken Dedes," the interpreter replied.

Everyone in Java knew the name of the ancestor of the founder of the Singosari kingdom, but Jagat pretended to ask.

"Who is Ken Dedes?"

"She was a beautiful woman who captivated a bandit named Ken Arok. He killed her husband and took the throne to establish the Singosari kingdom."

Jagat Wengi nodded subtly, but the question wasn't meant to inquire about historical figures. He asked that way to let the interpreter know his intentions.

Approaching Marini calmly, under the watchful eyes of the two guards, Jagat felt the burning desire in their gazes.

"What do you want, Mongol? Don't you dare mess around!" one of the guards yelled. Jagat brushed him aside.

"I want to enjoy her, get out of my way."

The interpreter immediately conveyed the message to the two guards. Before they could react, Marini, who had figured out Jagat's disguise, also reacted. She stepped back, looking puzzled.

"Why are you doing this?"

Jagat winked, signaling that he had something to say to her. He embraced Marini and whispered his plans to her.

"Release her, damn Mongol!"

Jagat chuckled happily at the commotion. His grip tightened, and Marini accidentally slipped and fell. He resumed his act, whispering again.

"Don't you dare steal the opportunity, thief!" Marini whispered back, but she desperately wanted to kick Jagat's stomach, and she tried to do so.

Jagat rolled to the side, bearing the pain. Gawuh, who had arrived with the horses, ran over in panic, witnessing the situation. Bengal was amused by the sight.

"Hahahaa... This Mongol can't resist his lust. Go ahead, Cuwong, but it's for your commander. Does he want a woman from his leftovers?"

Jagat cursed in Mongolian, pretending to retaliate by approaching Marini again, only to be stopped by the two guards.

"Cuwong!"

The leader finally intervened to mediate the situation. He shouted loudly from his hut and leaped far, landing in front of Jagat.

"Don't you have any manners as a guest in my place?"

"Forgive me, sir. On a cold morning like this, I couldn't resist the sight of that girl."

The leader of Poison Kala smiled upon hearing the interpreter relay Jagat's response. "Come back here after our business is done. I'll give you any woman you like, Cuwong."

Jagat winced, nodding without paying attention to the invitation. His mind was solely focused on his plan.

The leader immediately ordered all the guards involved in the transaction to depart. A horse-drawn cart was prepared to transport Marini. Jagat carefully observed their every move, including his target—the horse cart driver himself.

Five horseback riders were positioned at the front, and another five at the back. Jagat, without being asked, sat beside the cart driver, who led the two horses pulling the cart. The interpreter was also included among them.

The departure formation seemed solid. Bengal was leading the way, while Jagat's "new friend" was positioned at the rear to monitor the situation.

Poison Kala had previously met with Ulagan when requested to cooperate. Mandana's information about the Mongol's closeness to the black sects turned out to be true. However, they didn't yet know the purpose behind it.

The group proceeded calmly. Marini's specially-made cell shook violently as the horse cart passed over rocky roads. Bengal maintained a moderate speed, as they weren't in a hurry—their destination was merely a post used by Ulagan for his operations.

Jagat had to resolve everything before reaching that post. As a skilled thief, he had secured the key to Marini's cell. He did so during the jolt, pretending to accidentally fall and using that moment to slip the key to her. He had whispered to Marini beforehand that he would initiate their plan during the first rest. He would ask for the book to re-read it, then hand it over to Marini, and at that moment, she should escape. Jagat would handle the rest.

It was a straightforward plan. Jagat would act as bait to divert anyone from chasing her, and Marini didn't object when she heard it through Jagat's swift whispers.

The rest time was announced by Bengal's orders from the front.

This was it.

Marini's heart pounded faster than usual—not out of fear of getting caught, but because she saw it as her chance for revenge.

"Hey, interpreter. Tell Bengal I want to see the book again to make sure. Maybe I can negotiate a higher price with Ulagan," Jagat said, feigning indifference to the importance of his request. He remained on the driver's seat to facilitate the book's exchange.

The interpreter immediately conveyed Jagat's request. Bengal didn't suspect anything and asked Gawuh to bring the book himself.

Jagat then stepped down from his seat, pretending to read the book with a serious expression, as if inspecting its contents thoroughly. Under Bengal's watchful eyes, Jagat refrained from taking any action for now—it wasn't the right time.

He just needed a little more time, once all the members of Poison Kala had diverted their attention from him.

Marini saw it all. The plan was going as Jagat wanted. In silence, she felt a slight admiration for this man's intelligence, but the book thief wouldn't kill Bengal for her. He was solely focused on the Sawung Bumi book. If there was even one chance to end Bengal's life here, she would take it.

Marini also began devising plans within the plan. She wouldn't escape after obtaining the book; instead, she would join forces with Jagat to eliminate all the members of Poison Kala here.

In a narrow opportunity, Jagat's hand holding the book reached out to Marini. "Get out quickly. I'll slow them down."

The book had changed hands. Marini quickly concealed it under her clothes, covered by the dodot fabric.

"Can you hold them off here for long?" Marini asked, her eyes filled with enthusiasm. Jagat suspected that Marini might have something beyond the original plan in mind.

"Don't do anything rash, Marini. The most important thing is to secure the book first."

"This book belongs to my mentor, but mine was lost forever, taken by that scoundrel, Jagat."

Jagat immediately understood Marini's intention, but he had no time to argue now. His body was still partially covered by Marini's within the cell. Bengal wouldn't see that his hand was no longer holding any book.

"Vengeance can wait, but this book—"

"Cuwong, what are you doing? Come eat here!" Bengal shouted through the interpreter, continuing his invitation.

Jagat's head peeked slightly from the cell and smiled, waving his hand, then quickly hiding again.

"Don't mess around, Marini. Your vendetta can wait. You already know where his base is. Now go, quickly." Jagat couldn't contain his emotions. This is what happened when he didn't work alone—it always got complicated.

"I'll walk in front of your cell door now. Then you charge at me and run from here immediately. Understood?"

Marini nodded slowly, although her face still showed hesitation. Her heart beat faster as Jagat took steps toward the front of her cell door.

"Now!" Jagat whispered loudly.

*Bruaak!

The cell door forcefully opened simultaneously as Marini lunged at Jagat, causing them to fall together to the ground. But after that, Marini whispered softly in his ear, surprising and somewhat disappointing Jagat.

"Sorry, Jagat. You won't know what it's like to lose someone you love."

Marini immediately ran towards the Poison Kala gang with a clear target in mind—Bengal, the murderer of her lover.