Father gazed deeply at me. His expression softened, a mixture of surprise, understanding, and relief. I could see faint tears in the corners of his eyes. He knew I wasn't lying. This part, about his spiritual partner, was the strongest evidence I could present. It was a secret known only to him.
Father stared intently at me, as if searching for the truth behind every word. The furrow in his brow loosened slightly, replaced by an expression of deep curiosity. "Where did you learn this spiritual knowledge, Son?" he asked softly. "Was it from my nephew... he's also a spiritual expert, isn't he?"
Father must have been referring to one of his cousins who indeed had a reputation in spiritual circles. However, in my previous life, I hadn't met them directly to learn.
"Not from him, Father," I replied. "I learned from teachers and colleagues from Banten when I was working on projects there." I explained how the harsh and challenging work environment on projects, especially those outside Java, often brought me into contact with illogical things.
"I once talked to that cousin of yours," I continued. "I was curious and wanted to learn from him. But he said, Father didn't want me to learn spiritual things. He said it wasn't the right time anymore." My cousin probably thought Father wanted me to focus on a "normal" and modern professional path, untainted by mystical things. My father indeed wanted me to have a better life, not like him, who was considered "strange" by some.
"But it turned out that when I worked on projects, I finally truly came into contact with supernatural things that I hadn't understood before," I recounted. "I was often disturbed, even attacked. Because of that, I started learning on my own from whatever sources I could find. From old books, from people I met in the field, anything. I learned to protect myself and understand all of this."
I saw a flash of regret in Father's eyes. Perhaps he felt guilty for indirectly preventing me from learning in my previous life, which ironically made me struggle harder and face more danger. He must have realized that his good intentions back then had caused me to face danger alone.
I continued my story, moving into a deeper part, something that perhaps even Father himself had forgotten, or at least had never discussed so clearly.
"Father," I said, "I also know about the origins of Father's family." I saw Father raise his eyebrows slightly, surprised. "We, from the lineage of the Talaga Manggung Kingdom in Majalengka. And not just that, there's also a lineage from Pangeran Santri from Sumedang."
I knew this from various sources I gathered when seeking spiritual knowledge in my previous life, and also from vague whispers I heard in the extended family. It was a great heritage, a connection to history and past spiritual power.
"But, Father," I continued, "I've never been there directly." There was a tone of regret in my voice. "The spiritual calling was already there; I felt it. But at that time, I didn't have the ability to make changes there. I felt I wasn't strong enough, didn't understand enough, and didn't have enough economic power. That's why I didn't go there."
I saw a glint in Father's eyes. There was pride, but also sadness. Proud that I knew our ancestral roots, sad that I hadn't been able to fully embrace it. He must have understood what I meant. Visiting sacred places or ancestral sites with the intention of "making changes" required serious preparation and strength.
Father was silent for a moment, processing all the information I had just given him. Stories about a dark future, my mistakes in a previous life, his unseen protection, and now, about our noble lineage. When he spoke again, his voice was calmer, but full of affirmation. "So now, what do you want to do, Son?"
That question was a gateway. A gateway to the grand plan I had meticulously formulated in my adult mind.
I looked at Father; his questioning gaze gave me strength. This was the moment to reveal my entire plan.
"Father," I said with a steady voice, although I knew it was a child's voice, "I want to bring about change." I paused for a moment, letting the words hang in the air. "I don't want the bad things that happened in the future, that I experienced, and also that befell you and our family, to happen again." I could see the tension on Father's face, his full attention on every word that came out of my small mouth. This was a real determination.
"I want to build three pillars of strength, Father," I explained. "The first is physical strength. Then, there's spiritual strength. And equally important, economic strength."
I knew Father would understand the importance of the last two pillars. The spiritual world was his expertise, and the future's economic chaos was the core of the suffering I had described.
"For physical strength," I continued, "I have found a way that suits my own body. So, I can do that myself." I already had an idea of what kind of exercises would be effective for a child's body that could continue into adulthood, without causing suspicion or injury.
"But Father," I looked at him directly, "I want you to help me. I need your help to gather 'money seed,' initial capital for our economic strength. And most importantly, I want you to train my spiritual abilities."
My request was clear. I no longer wanted to struggle alone as in my previous life, learning from scratch with high risks. I had the best teacher in front of me, who knew everything about the unseen world. This was an opportunity to learn directly from the source, while preparing a strong economic foundation.
Father was silent for a moment, his face showing a mixture of awe and confusion. The idea of the future, spiritual protection, and now, a grand plan coming from the mouth of a five-year-old, must have astonished him. Especially when I mentioned economics.
"Marlon..." Father began, his voice slightly hesitant. "Father... I'm just an ordinary employee at your Grandfather's company. How can I help prepare such a large economy for your future changes?" He was right. In the eyes of the world, my Father was not a shrewd businessman or a big investor. He was just a hard worker who lived a quiet life. He knew his spiritual abilities, but large-scale money matters were clearly beyond his expertise.
"For spiritual matters," Father continued, "I will definitely teach you everything I know, Son. That's easy." There was sincerity and pride in his eyes as he said that.
I knew Father would agree to train me spiritually. That was the part he mastered best. But for the capital, I had another ace up my sleeve.
"Father," I said, trying to convince him. "It's better if we also talk to Grandfather. For economic matters, I have a way. Believe me, I have the fastest way now to raise the initial capital for our change."
I didn't explain the details, just emphasized that I had the most efficient method. My Father, with all his spiritual sensitivity, must have felt the conviction radiating from me. He must have known this wasn't nonsense. By involving Grandfather, a major media shareholder, it would be much easier to gain trust and massive initial capital.
I knew Grandfather would understand. He was indeed a descendant of past kings, blue blood that carried high spiritual abilities. But he chose a different path. Grandfather left all that behind, left his homeland, and came to Bandung to start a newspaper business. He built his own media empire from scratch. Even so, I was sure, deep down, he never truly left all those spiritual things behind. He just kept them deeply hidden.
Hearing my suggestion to involve Grandfather and my claim about the "fastest way" to raise capital, Father looked at me deeply. There was hesitation, but also a glimmer of hope in his eyes. He knew I wasn't kidding.
"Alright, Son," Father finally sighed, a decision made. "Tomorrow, I will take you to see Grandfather."
I smiled faintly, relieved. This was a big step. "But," Father continued, looking at me seriously, "you have to explain everything to Grandfather again. From beginning to end. So we can make a plan together." I nodded firmly. Of course. I was ready. Facing Grandfather, who had sharp spiritual and business experience, would be a challenge, but also the best opportunity to start this change. Everything was in my hands, in the hands of a five-year-old child carrying memories from the future.
That serious conversation finally ended. I could feel Father was still surprised, but there was also a glimmer of hope growing. The next morning, the atmosphere of the house felt different. I, little Marlon, prepared myself with mixed feelings of nervousness and determination. Today was the decisive day.
Father brought me along to his office. The journey there felt long, although it wasn't actually too far from home. The office was a magnificent building that I had always regarded as a symbol of Grandfather's power. As soon as we arrived, we went directly to the commissioner's room, where Grandfather usually worked.
The door opened. Grandfather sat behind his large desk, his aura of authority very palpable. He looked at me and Father, his expression showing a slight surprise at my presence. Father gently patted my shoulder, as if encouraging me.
I began to tell my story. At first, Grandfather just listened calmly, occasionally frowning. I told him about the chaotic future, the hit-and-run accident, and how I returned to this small body. Then, I delved into the more sensitive core issues, things I would never have known if I hadn't returned from the future. I told him about the conflicts among Grandfather's children—my uncles and aunts—who in the future would fight for power and destroy the family's unity.
Not only that, but I also detailed how the newspaper Grandfather had painstakingly built eventually collapsed because it failed to adapt to changing times and technology. I mentioned many other details that only insiders would know, concrete proof that my knowledge wasn't mere nonsense. I explained how they were too focused on old methods, refused innovation, and ultimately lost out in the competition.
I saw Grandfather's expression change. From calm, slowly appeared surprise, then deep disappointment, and finally, a glimmer of sharp understanding. He listened to me without interruption, his old eyes now filled with both admiration and bitterness. He knew I wasn't making things up. Every word that came out of my small mouth was a coming truth.
Grandfather sat frozen in his chair, his face paling as he listened to every word that came out of my mouth. There was a mixture of extraordinary surprise and profound sadness seeing such a dark future, especially regarding the destruction of his newspaper business and the conflicts among his own children. His old jaw hardened, holding back surging emotions. However, slowly, there was a change in his eyes. The sadness turned into something else, something brighter. A faint, meaningful smile began to bloom. "This..." he murmured softly, more to himself. "This must be the ancestors' way of reminding me." He looked at me, his eyes now gleaming with determination. "They don't want the destruction in the future to happen again and destroy our lineage."
There was immense relief on Grandfather's face. He not only believed me, but also saw this as divine intervention, a clear sign from our ancestors. This was a second chance, not just for me, but for their entire lineage.
Grandfather turned his gaze to me, his eyes sharp and calculating, returning to the instincts of a businessman and leader. "So," he said, his voice now firmer and full of authority, "what will you do to raise the first money? The initial capital to execute all your grand plans?"
This was it. The key question I had anticipated. The question that would be the initial gateway to my long-term plan.
I took a deep breath, ready to explain a plan that might sound crazy to them, yet was perfectly logical to me, coming from the future. This was the fastest and easiest way to obtain substantial initial capital.
"Grandfather, Father," I said, my voice serious and full of conviction. "Our country is indeed very chaotic right now. Actually, it's not just us. Wall Street and America are 'harvesting' the economies of Asia and Europe, where they had previously invested heavily."
I saw Grandfather nod. As a media businessman, he must have had a premonition or at least read these signs in international economic news, though not as clearly as I knew them.
"There will be a major monetary crisis in Indonesia, Father, Grandfather," I continued, "in June 1997, the dollar exchange rate against the rupiah was only around Rp2,380." I remembered that figure clearly. "But, just wait, in June 1998, the dollar price will skyrocket insanely, to more than Rp16,000 per dollar!" Grandfather's and Father's faces immediately changed. Shock and concern were clearly visible. Such a surge would cripple the country's economy.
"So, the fastest way I can think of right now," I explained the core idea, "is for us to try to borrow as much rupiah as Grandfather and Father can get. We exchange all that rupiah for US dollars now. After that, we wait."
"No need to wait until the maximum increase," I emphasized. "When the dollar price reaches Rp16,000, we can sell most of it. Then, later, when B.J. Habibie temporarily replaces Suharto, the dollar will drop to around Rp7,000 to Rp8,000. That's where we can buy dollars again."
I looked at them, seeing quick calculations in Grandfather's eyes. "Because after that, when the reform truly takes hold, the dollar will be around Rp10,000 and tend to stabilize there for quite a long time. We can play that cycle to maximize our profits."
This strategy was simple, leveraging the extreme fluctuations that were coming. A strategy that could only be carried out by someone with knowledge of the future.
Father and Grandfather both fell silent, processing every word of the plan I had just laid out. Their eyes widened, looking at me with a mixture of surprise and awe. They surely hadn't expected that the idea of "fastest capital accumulation" from a five-year-old would lead to the world of foreign exchange (forex), a high-risk financial battleground. This was clearly not the usual business scheme they had imagined.
"And also, Father, Grandfather," I added, trying to convince them further, "it's better if we do this from Singapore." I explained my reasoning. "The forex market there is enormous, far bigger than in Indonesia. Besides that, security can also be more guaranteed." In the future, I knew very well how the legal and financial systems in Singapore were much more stable and transparent, with minimal political intervention and corruption rampant in Indonesia.
I continued, detailing the next steps of this grand plan. "After we have enough capital from forex, it's better to also create a property company to circulate and grow this economy." I knew the property sector would be a safe and profitable long-term investment. "This company must be separate from the others, Father, Grandfather. And it's better if it's also built in Singapore." This was to protect assets and avoid Indonesia's political turmoil.
Then, I looked at both of them seriously, emphasizing the most crucial point. "And this must be our secret, just the three of us. No one else should know." I knew from past experience that the fewer people who knew, the safer this plan would be from external interference or internal conflicts that could destroy it.
After I finished outlining the entire plan, Grandfather didn't immediately make a decision. He looked at me in silence, his gaze sharp, thinking about everything he had just heard. Father, perhaps feeling the need to give us space, excused himself and returned to his work. Now, in that grand commissioner's room, only I, Marlon—or more familiarly called Bolon by Grandfather (a Sundanese term for a child who doesn't yet understand right and wrong)—remained with Grandfather.
Grandfather leaned forward, his gaze fixed on me. "Bolon," he called, his voice soft but emphatic. "If Grandfather agrees to all your plans, there are two things Grandfather asks as a promise." I nodded, ready to listen.
"First," he said, "Grandfather wants you to promise to keep this family whole, even if my children will have conflicts in the future. You must embrace all of them." His words held deep sorrow, remembering my prediction about the feuds among my uncles and aunts. Grandfather wanted me to be the glue of this family.
"And second," he continued, his eyes now radiating long-held hope, "Grandfather wants you to please return to Majalengka and create something there." He sighed. "So that Grandfather won't be called someone who forgets his purwadaksi." That Sundanese term means origin, roots, or identity. Grandfather, who had left his spiritual heritage for business in the city, now wanted me to be the bridge that reconnected him with his ancestors and homeland.
Now it was Grandfather's turn to ask for a promise from me. His request wasn't just about money, but about family and heritage. I knew that if I agreed, the door to my grand plan would open wide.
I looked into Grandfather's eyes, fully understanding the weight of his requests. Keeping a family that would be torn apart together and returning to ancestral roots—that was no light promise. But I knew this was the key to unlocking the success of my plan. "Grandfather," I said with a steady voice, "if this economic asset can run well, according to my plan, I will do the two things you ask."
Grandfather nodded slowly, his expression filled with hope. "And to execute all my plans well," I continued, "I want us to create a trust fund in Singapore." I emphasized the importance of this. "I will not want to be involved with Grandfather's company in Indonesia, which is already known by the rest of the family." That was important to keep the secret and avoid future conflicts. "I want the company I manage later to be 100% controlled by me. And this will also be a way out for the family in the future if problems arise."
I looked straight at Grandfather, trying to convey how serious my intention was. This wasn't just personal ambition, but a long-term strategy to protect and save the family from the destruction I had already heard about. Grandfather listened to every detail. He saw the determination in my eyes, and also the logic behind each of my requests. A trust fund in Singapore would provide financial flexibility and security that couldn't be obtained in a turbulent Indonesia. Not being involved with the old business would protect Marlon from family intrigues.
After a moment of silence, Grandfather let out a long sigh. A faint smile, full of understanding and trust, formed on his face. "All right, Marlon," he said. "Grandfather agrees."
Those words were like a key opening the gates to the future. The grand plan had received its blessing. Now, only execution remained.