After putting their bags in the room, they both left to go to Brian and Riana's house, intending to express their intentions and stick to their escape plan. Upon arriving, Irwan and Nadia recounted what they had seen and experienced at their house.
"Hmm, is that true, Wan?" Brian asked.
"Yes, Nadia and I saw it ourselves," Irwan replied.
"So those two doctors assisted with the delivery, right?" Riana asked.
"It seems so. We briefly heard a baby crying, though only for a moment," Nadia replied.
"And then when you went inside, all their belongings were gone, and new people arrived?" Riana asked.
"That's right. The soldiers put the new couple's marriage certificate in the room, right in front of me, because Nadia and I were hiding under the bed," Irwan explained.
"That clearly means the two people who were taken, and their baby, won't be coming back here. The question is, what happened to them? Were they really freed to meet their families, as the competition claimed?" Brian murmured.
"No way. If they were freed, they wouldn't come back. Besides, Andi once said he was kicked out, and so was Rika, so it feels impossible for them to return to their families," Irwan replied.
"This is terrifying. If Rahman were here, we could ask him," Riana said.
"Hmm, yeah, he's still not back until next week, right?" Nadia asked.
"Yeah, that's what he said, right, Bri?" Riana confirmed.
"Yeah, that's right. Yesterday, when I saw you two in line, I had just come from his place," Brian added.
"Alright then. Nadia and I will stay at my house, it's fine. The mist is gone too. We're being watched, so to be safe, it's better if we're not together," Irwan suggested.
"I understand. We'll just go back and forth. But you two are still on the same page as us, right?" Brian asked.
"Yes, why? Do you doubt Nadia and me?" Irwan questioned.
"It's not that. I just don't want you two to change your minds," Brian responded.
"I understand. Don't worry, I won't change my mind (at least not until I meet Rahman; after that, I'll decide whether to continue or find my own way)," Irwan said.
"Alright then, you head back now," Brian instructed.
"Got it. Staying too long might make them suspicious again," Irwan replied.
"Let's make sure to meet every day at this time, don't miss it," Riana emphasized.
"Don't worry, Ri. (Turning to Nadia) Let's go home, Nad," Irwan replied.
"Yeah, let's go, Wan," Nadia echoed.
Irwan and Nadia left Brian and Riana's house. After the door closed, Brian led Riana into the bedroom.
"Do you think they're still with us, Bri?" Riana asked anxiously.
"Right now, Irwan seems a bit suspicious of Rahman. His behavior is very obvious, plus he just saw something we haven't known about. But as far as I can tell, he's fine with us," Brian replied.
"I feel that way too. I really want to get out of here. I don't want to stay here long," Riana said, hugging Brian.
"Yes, we'll definitely get out of here, believe me," Brian reassured her, hugging Riana back.
Meanwhile, Irwan and Nadia didn't go home. They walked around until they found the Japanese man still attempting to commit suicide. Both emerged from the bushes and approached him. After getting back up, the man turned to look at Irwan and Nadia with tears streaming down his face and a confused expression. He stood up and held both of Irwan's shoulders, his face clearly showing he had been crying. Irwan noticed that the Japanese man was probably still around 20 years old.
"Koroshite, hayaku ie ni kaeritai (Kill me quickly, I want to go home)," he pleaded with tears.
"Waruikedo, ie ni wa kaerenai yo (Sorry, but you can't go home)," Irwan replied.
"Nande, shindemo koko kara detai no (Why? I just want to leave here, even if I have to die)," the Japanese man cried and shouted.
"Mōshiwakearimasenga, dōsureba shinu koto ga dekiru no ka wakarimasen, gomen'nasai (I'm sorry, but I don't know how you can die, forgive me)," Irwan said, bowing his head.
"Naze, naze kō naru no ka (Why? Why is it like this?) Hu... hu... hu," the man wailed, bowing his head and hugging Irwan.
Irwan could only pat his back, letting the Japanese man pour out all his emotions. Nadia stared at Irwan, then brought her face closer to him.
"You can speak Japanese?" Nadia asked.
"Yes, I can. I can also speak French, Mandarin, and English," Irwan replied.
"Wow... you're really smart," Nadia said.
"It's not that. I was always alone everywhere, whether at school, locked in a warehouse, until finally living in an empty house. Because of that, I read anything, and if I didn't understand, I'd look up the meaning, and over time, I eventually understood it myself," Irwan explained.
After the Japanese man calmed down, he stepped back and bowed before Irwan, then walked off into the forest. Irwan and Nadia followed the man from a distance. They saw the man enter the forest as if heading towards Rahman's hut. But before emerging to where Rahman's hut was located, he turned and walked through dense forest, going deeper and deeper.
"Wh-where is he going, Wan?" Nadia asked, starting to get scared and tightly gripping Irwan's arm.
"I don't know. Let's just follow him to see where he goes home," Irwan replied.
They went deeper into the forest until they finally saw a tall cliff in front of them and a fairly large cave. The Japanese man entered the cave. Irwan stood, about to follow him into the cave, but suddenly Nadia pulled his hand.
"Wan, let's just go back. I'm scared," Nadia urged.
"It's too far to turn back now, Nad. Let's just be careful," Irwan replied.
"But you remember the way back, right?" Nadia asked.
"Um (turning to look back at the dense forest) I think so," Irwan replied.
"Ugh, why is that so unconvincing? Let's just go back," Nadia retorted.
"We should try to follow him first, Nad. We've come too far to stop now," Irwan insisted.
"Alright," Nadia said, a little sulkily.
Irwan held Nadia's hand, and they emerged from the bushes then entered the cave. They slowly made their way through the dark cave passage. Then they saw the light of a torch in front of them. When they reached the cave chamber illuminated by the torch, both their eyes widened because in front of them was a small, truncated temple that looked like an altar, and on top of it was a statue of a princess wearing traditional Pajajaran royal princess attire (like Javanese bridal attire, complete with jewelry including a crown, necklace, upper armbands, and wrist bracelets).
They also saw a tent inside the cave, and the Japanese man was sleeping inside the tent. Irwan approached the temple-shaped altar and looked at the statue. His eyes widened because in the middle of the princess statue's hands, clasped in front of her chest, there was a brightly glittering blue stone bracelet nestled between her clasped fingers.
"Nad, that bracelet is the heirloom, right?" Irwan asked.
"Y-yes, it could be," Nadia replied.
"Oh, hello, we have guests," a woman's voice said from behind them.
Slowly, both turned around. After seeing the beautiful woman standing with her hands raised, they immediately backed away, hugging each other and trembling, because the woman's eyes had two red circles in her pupils, even though her face was beautiful and she smiled kindly.