22-1 Giono's Rage – Nieces Targeted by Mariana
Giono: "Weladalah…! Weladalah…! Wedus…! Wedus…!"
Karto: "Broto isn't looking for trouble with us, Boss."
Turiman: "But he's targeting the twins."
Karto: "Did the twins cause some problem with the Big Madam?"
Under the dim glow of the parking lot's neon lights, Giono sighed, pulling out a yellow-pack kretek cigarette marked with the number 234. He took one out.
Turiman: "Impossible, To! They're just students, they wouldn't cause trouble."
Karto: "Right, Man. More likely, they're the ones picking a fight with the twins."
Giono sat at the table of Yu Karmi's street stall. It was already 11:00 p.m.
He lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply.
Giono: "Hey, girls…"
He studied Rani and Rina's faces for a long moment. They looked strangely familiar.
Faces he knew all too well.
Giono: "You two look just like Karsiyah, my younger sister."
Rani and Rina exchanged glances, a little surprised.
***
22-2 An Unexpected Meeting – Giono, Rani, and Rina
Rani: "Karsiyah is our mother's name."
Rina: "Yes, she's our mother."
Giono's eyes lit up and his mouth broke into a broad grin.
Giono: "Hahaha… weladalah! That means you're my nieces…"
Rani and Rina glanced at each other again.
Giono: "Is your father Ngatmo Wijaya, the flying-knife master?"
Again, the twins exchanged glances.
Rani: "Yes, Uncle. That's our father."
Rina: "How do you know him, Uncle?"
Giono: "Haha… how are your parents doing in Ponorogo?"
Rani: "They're doing well, Uncle."
Rina: "Father is still teaching silat in Ponorogo."
***
22-3 Giono's Human Side
Giono: "If I remember right, your names are Rani Kasiyati and Rina Kasiyati."
Rani: "I'm Rani, Uncle."
Rina: "And I'm Rina, Uncle."
Giono: "No wonder you've mastered the flying-knife technique so well."
Rani: "Uncle, don't flatter us."
Rina: "Your inner power is still greater than ours."
Giono: "Weladalah… haha…"
Karto and Turiman glanced at each other. The boss, usually fierce, clearly had a softer side.
Karto sat in one of Tarmin the ketoprak vendor's plastic chairs. Turiman kept watching Giono talk with the twins.
Karto: "Look, Man. I've never seen the Boss this happy before."
Turiman: "Anyone would be, meeting such adorable nieces."
***
22-4 The Four Thugs' Fear
Meanwhile, the four young thugs were still groaning, each clutching a plastic cup of Aqua mineral water.
Panjul had three big lumps on his head. Eko was missing two teeth. Sopian's head was partly bald and his cheek had a long scratch from the twins' knives. Only Pendi was still in one piece.
Pendi eyed Turiman and Karto nervously.
Pendi: "Can we go home now?"
Sopian: "Pendi's got a wife and kid waiting, Boss."
Panjul: "Yeah, Boss. His family's waiting for him safe at home."
Eko: "Awuh…"
Karto and Turiman grinned at their chatter.
Karto: "Not yet! You can't leave."
Turiman: "We still have a lot of questions for you."
***
22-5 Meeting the Twin Grandpas – Durgono & Durgani
Meanwhile, Burhan was driving his car with Nagini in the passenger seat.
Burhan: "After I drop you at your apartment, I won't stop by, Nagini."
Nagini didn't reply, just listened.
Burhan: "I'll head straight home. I have to report for duty tomorrow."
He glanced at his watch. It was already 10:00 p.m.
Nagini: "Alright, Burhan."
Burhan slowed down as they neared her building.
Dim neon streetlights illuminated the passing cars and pedestrians.
Street vendors and late-night workers sat by their parked motorbikes, sipping coffee.
Suddenly—
Nagini: "Careful, Burhan! Two people crossing!"
Burhan hit the brakes.
Two old men, identical twins, smiled at them.
Burhan waved at them.
Burhan: "Nagini, did you see that? Two identical grandpas."
Nagini: "Yes. Just like Rani and Rina."
The old men walked off.
Nagini: "Alright, Burhan. Let me out here. My apartment's right ahead."
Burhan nodded and stopped the car. Nagini stepped out.
***
22-6 Giono's Style of Interrogation
Giono: "Rani… and you, Rina…"
Rani: "Yes, Uncle."
Rina: "Yes, Uncle."
Giono: "Go home and rest. Let Uncle take care of these four cockroaches."
Rani checked her phone. It was already 11:00 p.m.
Rani: "Alright, Uncle."
Rina: "We live in this apartment, Uncle."
Giono glanced at the large sign where Rina pointed:
Pondok Gede Indah Apartments
The twins walked into the gate, Giono's eyes following them.
Giono turned his gaze to the four thugs.
Karto: "What should we do with them, Boss?"
Turiman: "Turn them into perkedel, Boss?"
He twirled his belt.
The four thugs exchanged uneasy glances. Pendi, the coward, looked ready to cry.
Pendi: "Please, sir! Don't hit us…!"
Eko: "Awuh! I already lost two teeth, Pen…"
Panjul stayed silent, rubbing the three lumps on his head.
Sopian just groaned, rubbing the bald spot on his skull.
***
22-7 Mariana Targets Rani and Rina
Giono: "Why did Broto send you to harm my nieces, you goat?"
Pendi: "We don't know, sir…"
Pendi answered, trembling.
Panjul, realizing the situation wasn't in their favor, decided to speak honestly.
Panjul: "Because the twins have something to do with Nagini and Officer Burhan."
Karto: "Nagini — the one who beat up Tarno, Boss."
Turiman: "And Burhan — an honest cop, Boss."
Giono nodded slowly, trying to piece things together.
Karto: "Maybe Nagini and Officer Burhan interfered with the Big Madam's business."
Turiman: "That's one of the reasons they're on her hit list."
Giono: "Goat! Dare to mess with my nieces? You'll learn the consequences!"
***
22-8 Giono is a Military Captain
Karto and Turiman exchanged glances. Even though they had once been defeated by Madam Mariana at the Kembang Setaman Nightclub, they knew Giono was a former member of a military special unit.
Karto: "Boss Giono could strike back — target the Big Madam herself."
Turiman: "Even though he's retired, Giono still has sharp teeth in the military."
Giono took a deep drag from his cigarette, his voice firm.
Giono: "Alright. You can go. Don't cause trouble in Green Gang territory."
Karto and Turiman chimed in.
Karto: "Left hand — hospital!"
Turiman: "Right hand — cemetery!"
Karto clenched his left fist.
Turiman clenched his right.
The four of them locked eyes, then stood. Pendi and Panjul helped Sopian to his feet. Eko held his swollen cheek, two teeth missing.
Pendi: "Please, sir. We won't dare again…"
The four of them walked away from the parking lot under the dim neon light.
***
22-9 Burhan Ambushed
Burhan had just parked his car. His steps were light as he walked toward his house — but stopped at the door.
The door was slightly ajar. The lock had been broken. His eyes narrowed.
His police instincts kicked in immediately — someone had broken in.
He recalled the time he and Nagini were targeted by Bimo's sniper rifle, under someone's orders.
Perhaps this was the second attempt — to finish him off. He grew alert.
He stepped quietly inside, body low.
The living room was empty.
Burhan's eyes swept every corner.
Suddenly—
A night-watchman's club came swinging toward his head.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Already alert, Burhan dodged the strike.
Not just once — the club came at him again and again.
Whoosh! Crash! Bang!
The blows shattered a cabinet glass and smashed a cupboard door — but never touched Burhan.
In front of him stood a tall man, face hidden behind a mask, wielding the wooden club.
Burhan: "Who are you?"
The masked man didn't answer. He lunged.
A fierce fight broke out.
Burhan was unarmed but evaded every swing of the club.
From time to time, he countered with punches and kicks.
Defeating Burhan was no easy task — he held a 4th Black Belt in Taekwondo.
***
22-10 Burhan, 4th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo
The fight between Burhan and the masked man raged on.
Burhan kept dodging — unarmed — while his opponent swung the club wildly.
Though he was evading, Burhan never looked pressured. He searched for an opening.
Then—
Thud!
Burhan's kick landed squarely on the attacker's right hand.
Clang!
The club flew from his grip and smashed into the window glass.
Followed by a spinning back kick—
Bam!
The blow struck the attacker's stomach, folding him forward before he was thrown back.
Crash!
His back slammed into the coffee table.
Burhan glared at him, feet firmly in a fighting stance.
***
22-11 Nagini vs. Durgono & Durgani
Meanwhile, Nagini walked slowly toward the apartment basement elevator.
Ahead of her stood two elderly twins — the same ones almost hit earlier by Burhan's car.
Nagini studied them. Their hair was white, hidden under black caps. Short white beards.
They wore yellow vests with many front pockets, black trousers, and white sneakers.
These were Durgono and Durgani.
They glanced at each other, then grinned sinisterly at Nagini, showing blackened, gapped teeth.
Nagini halted, eyes narrowing.
Slowly, both reached into the lower pockets of their vests — and each drew a small sickle-like blade, a karambit.
Under the dim basement light, Nagini knew these twins had no good intentions.
She dropped into a strong stance. Her hands trembled slightly, the air around her growing colder…
***
22-12 Karambit vs. Poisoned Needles
Nagini: "Who are you two?"
The twins exchanged a glance, approaching in low stances, karambits in each right hand.
Durgono: "Shall we tell her our names?"
Durgani: "Tell her. She won't be breathing soon anyway."
Durgono: "You're right, Durgani."
They stepped closer, heavy and steady.
Durgono: "I am Durgono."
Durgani: "And I am Durgani."
Seeing them advance, Nagini didn't back down. She dropped lower into her stance.
Her hands shook subtly, a faint blue glow forming around her wrists. The air grew colder still.
Durgono: "This woman knows some technique."
Durgani just chuckled dismissively.
-
***
22-13: Old Thugs Who Never Reformed
Nagini observed their movements — steady, agile, full of power.
Even at 50 years old, they were far from harmless.
Nagini: "Grandpa Durgono, Grandpa Durgani… shouldn't you be at home spoiling your grandchildren?"
Durgono: "You mean sitting quietly enjoying our twilight years?"
Durgani: "Living peacefully with the neighbors?"
Both burst into loud laughter.
Durgono: "That's not in our dictionary."
Durgani: "When duty calls, we answer."
Nagini: "And your mission is?"
Durgono: "To end you."
Durgani: "To tear your soul from your body."
They laughed boisterously again.
Nagini only smirked.
Then they moved fast — karambits glinting under the basement light — attacking from both sides.
***
22-14 Capturing the Masked Man
Meanwhile, Burhan faced the masked man, now slumped against the wall from two powerful Taekwondo kicks.
Burhan: "Who are you? Who sent you?"
Burhan stepped forward, ready to kick again.
Masked Man: "I surrender!"
Burhan stopped.
Burhan: "Who are you?"
The man removed his mask.
Anton: "I'm Anton."
Burhan: "Who sent you?"
Anton: "Broto."
Burhan: "Who's Broto?"
Anton: "Head of security at the Kembang Setaman Nightclub."
Burhan frowned.
His police instincts pieced things together — the nightclub, Madam Mariana… Sawitri rumored to be there.
Burhan: "Why would the head of security there want me dead?"
Anton: "I don't know!"
***
22-15 Wardoyo, a Military Major
In the apartment parking lot near the UI campus, under the dim glow of neon lights…
Giono: "Well now, goat… mess with my business, I won't be mad…"
He took a deep drag of his clove cigarette, smoke curling into the night air.
Karto and Turiman sat at Yu Karmi's snack table, chewing roasted peanuts.
Giono: "But if you dare touch my niece, that's a different matter."
Karto and Turiman exchanged glances.
Giono pulled out his phone, pressed a button, and held it to his ear.
Giono: "Hello, Wardoyo. You still keeping my sniper rifle?"
End of Chapter 22
To be continued chapter 23