Night in Pasar Baru was a symphony of organized chaos. The scent of Chinese incense mingled with the smell of sweat, dried spices, and frying oil from street food vendors. Julian walked with his hat pulled low, trying to hide his overly European face amidst the crowd of Arab, Chinese, and Malay merchants.
Every corner of the market offered a sight both mesmerizing and menacing. Vendors selling bright red Kue Ku shouted their wares, while elsewhere, clouds of smoke from lamb satay obscured the view. Julian was looking for one thing: the dragon mark.
He found it in a narrow, dark alley. A small dragon carved from teak wood was mounted above a textile shop door that appeared closed. When he knocked, the door creaked open, but it wasn't an old merchant he met.
A cold sliver of steel pressed against his neck.
"I told you, don't come back to my territory, Londo," hissed a familiar voice.
Elena. She stood there with a thin smirk, holding the same small dagger Julian had seen in Penjaringan. This time, however, she wore a deep red Kebaya Encim that stood in stark contrast to her rough demeanor.
"Kartika sent me," Julian said, his voice strained.
Elena lowered her blade but not her guard. "Kartika trusts foreigners too much. Get in, before Friedrich's soldiers spot that high nose of yours."
Inside the shop, the air was cool and filled with rolls of silk and cotton. Elena lit a small oil lamp, its light reflecting off the Batik Megamendung hanging on the wall—a cloud pattern that looked like a calm storm.
"You're looking for Adrian, right?" Elena sat on a large wooden table, her legs swinging casually. "Everyone is looking for him. Friedrich wants his head, Kartika wants to protect him, and you... I don't know what you want."
"He is my brother," Julian whispered.
Elena fell silent for a moment, her sharp eyes searching Julian's as if looking for honesty behind his blue eyes. "In this place, blood relations mean nothing, Julian. Adrian isn't just a person; he's a secret that could set all of Batavia on fire. If you want to meet him, you have to prove you're not just the Governor's pet dog."
Elena then grabbed a small package of Kerupuk and tossed it to Julian. "Eat. You look like you're about to faint. We have a long journey tonight, and I don't want to be dragging a prince's corpse along the canal."
Culture & Language Notes
Kue Ku: A traditional tortoise-shaped Chinese-Indonesian pastry made of sticky rice flour with a sweet filling, symbolizing longevity.
Kebaya Encim: A style of kebaya influenced by Peranakan (Chinese-Indonesian) culture, usually featuring bright colors and floral embroidery.
Batik Megamendung: A famous batik motif from Cirebon, shaped like clouds; it symbolizes patience and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
Kerupuk: Deep-fried crackers, a ubiquitous snack in Indonesia. Used here to show Elena's casual, "street-style" hospitality.
"Hidung Mancung" (High Nose): A common local observation about Europeans, often used as a descriptive or mocking term in historical settings.