The flight from Sydney to Cirebon took approximately six hours. Normally, planes would need to transit in Jakarta since Cirebon lacked an international airport. However, with special privileges, the private jet carrying Ren flew directly to Cirebon without a stopover.
In the eyes of the Indonesian government, Ren's arrival was the top priority. Every second wasted meant incalculable financial losses due to the Heretic God's rampage.
The pilot's voice broke the oppressive silence in the cabin.
"Dear passengers, we will be landing at Cakrabhuwana Airport, Cirebon, in fifteen minutes. Please upright your seatbacks and fasten your seatbelts."
"Almost there? Time flies when you're having fun, huh…"
Half-naked, Ren stopped the motion of his hips, which had been rhythmically pressing against a blonde girl's backside. He loosened the tie binding her wrists.
"Alright, let's call it quits for now. Hey, Rita, you hear me?"
"…"
There was no response. Rita lay face-down on the floor, her body motionless.
"She's not actually broken, is she?" Ren muttered to himself, pulling on his pants.
He observed the girl, sprawled like a frog, her body occasionally twitching.
For six hours straight, the two had been engaged in relentless intimacy—or rather, Ren had ravaged Rita without pause. Even after she fainted, he didn't stop.
The flood of endorphins from their sexual activity had overwhelmed Rita's brain, equivalent to the effects of a high-dose narcotic. There was no way Rita could return to a normal life.
"After all this, I wouldn't be surprised if Rita turned into a nympho. No, I'm certain of it. Other than with me, I can't imagine her having normal sex with another man. Unfortunately, if that scenario happens, I won't accept her."
"I don't like used goods."
Ren didn't care whether Rita heard his cruel words or not. He pressed the intercom button, summoning the flight attendants to clean up the mess, including Rita's unconscious body. Then, he moved to another cabin.
The flight attendants, three young women, entered the cabin with pale faces. Fear mixed with deep fascination was evident in their eyes.
They had heard—and even peeked at—the depravity that unfolded over the past six hours. The adjacent cabin had been filled with strange sounds that sent their imaginations running wild. They felt chills but were also captivated.
They never imagined a man could sustain such stamina. Some felt awestruck and fearful, while others, unconsciously, grew curious.
What would it be like to be with a man of such endurance?
The thought alone made them tremble.
But seeing Rita's state, lying like a broken porcelain doll, fear dominated once more.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The private jet landed smoothly on the runway of Cakrabhuwana Airport, Cirebon.
As Ren descended the steps, a red carpet had already been laid out. At its end stood a line of high-ranking officials, greeting his arrival with respect.
Among them, the most prominent figure was Indonesia's ninth president, Fajar, son of the seventh president who served two terms.
Fajar's position as president earned him respect worldwide, but to a Campione, such a title was no more than a piece of paper. Ren himself disliked politicians. He offered no courtesy or pleasantries.
Sensing Ren's disdain, Fajar found an excuse to leave, assigning Cirebon's regent, Budi, as his guide.
Sitting in the presidential state car, Garuda, Ren propped his face with his hand, glancing out the window.
"Boring. Trying to tie me to this country? That man's ambition is grand, but his ability doesn't match."
Recalling Fajar's flattery, Ren sneered.
"He thinks inviting me personally and providing all these amenities will make me owe him? Tch. Ambition without the capability to back it up."
Agus, the leader of the Indonesian Mage Association sitting across from him, broke out in a cold sweat. His face was tense, worried that the Campione before him might lash out due to provocation.
(I hope King Ren doesn't do something as reckless as Marquis Voban did) Budi prayed silently.
He was referring to the 1854 incident when Marquis Voban used his Divine Authority Sturm und Drang to push the Dalmatian port city of Zadar to the brink of destruction.
That event was one of the most terrifying proofs of how dangerous a provoked Campione could be.
Fifteen minutes after the car sped along the highway, Ren's gaze shifted outside the window.
"Hm? What's that?"
In the city square, a sight caught his attention. Piles of bottled mineral water, sacks of crackers, and baskets full of fresh fruit filled the area, neatly arranged as if prepared for a major event.
"Those are donations from the public for participants of a demonstration planned in three days." Budi answered cautiously.
"A demonstration? Why are they holding it?" Ren asked, his tone casual, as if inquiring about the weather.
"Haaa… The public is demonstrating because Cirebon's regent raised land and building taxes by 1000%."
"1000%? Can a mentally deficient person become a regent in Indonesia? Doesn't he realize such a policy will only provoke opposition from his own people? Even rulers of ancient great civilizations like Roman Emperors or Egyptian Pharaohs wouldn't do something so foolish."
"…"
Budi didn't refute Ren's mockery. He himself thought the tax hike was absurd.
"I bet among the demands of the protesters, besides canceling the tax increase, they also want that idiot regent to resign, right?" Ren concluded with a condescending tone.
Budi felt awkward. He nodded slightly. "Your Majesty is correct. The people want to oust the regent. However, the regent claims he was elected through democracy and the constitution, so he refuses to step down."
Ren's eyes glinted, a cynical smile curling his lips. "Democracy and the constitution, huh…"
"It wasn't actually the regent's own decision." Budi said, his voice lowering. He bowed his head, hesitant to continue but aware of Ren's lofty status. "The tax hike was an order from the central government, used as a distraction to cover up a major event."
"As I suspected. There's a catch. Spill the truth."
Ren, who in his previous life hailed from Indonesia, was curious whether this world's Indonesia differed from the one he knew. The country's dark underbelly, often hidden, was now laid bare before him.
"The central government didn't just order the tax hike in Cirebon." Budi whispered, as if afraid of being overheard. "The same is happening in other cities. In Semarang, taxes rose by 441%, in Pati 250%, in Jombang 1000%, and in Bone 65%."
Budi continued, his voice laced with disgust. "It's a dirty game. If it succeeds, corrupt officials pocket most of the money. If it fails… well, it's just a distraction."
"A distraction? For what issue so big that they need to provoke public anger?" Ren asked, intrigued.
"They're trying to cover up so many things. There's a law that would turn the police into a superbody that further oppresses the people. They're evicting locals from Komodo Island to build luxury resorts. The government is also chasing taxes down to integrated ID cards, while the wealthy get tax amnesty."
"It gets worse. Bank Indonesia and the House of Representatives are embezzling CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funds. Education budgets are drained for government-run schools and a nutritious lunch program. There's also the issue of building new battalions that burden the state budget, and the most horrific… the murder of a young diplomat who tried to expose a human trafficking syndicate linked to high-ranking officials."
Budi sighed, lowering his head. He felt ashamed and humiliated to reveal his country's dark side to a Campione. But he knew, in front of someone with Ren's power, honesty was the only option.
"Wow, this country is rotten to the core. If this happened in Japan, I bet Japan would've collapsed long ago. With so much corruption yet Indonesia still stands, it shows how rich this country's natural resources are. The funniest part? The country's biggest revenue comes from taxes!"
"Your Majesty is very knowledgeable. There's actually a prophecy that Indonesia will collapse by 2030. That's why officials are racing to amass as much wealth as possible. They drain natural resources, then convert their assets into U.S. dollars and gold bars."
Praising Ren's insight into domestic affairs, Budi revealed another truth.
"Indonesia is a great nation, but its people's wages are tiny. How absurd."
As a member of the nine dragons family, Ren felt no guilt exploiting the masses.
Otherwise, where would all his wealth come from?
To him, the strong exploit the weak, and he stood at the top of the food chain!
[T/N: The Indonesian situation in this chapter is real.]