5-1 Encounters with the Green Gang
The Green Gang's base was located in the Tanah Abang area. This gang was one tier stronger than the Red Gang.
Inside the base, Giono—the Green Gang leader—sat in his chair. He was tall, burly, bearded, and had a habit of swearing:
"Weladalah!" and "Wedus!"
whenever he got angry. Understandable, he was from Ponorogo.
On the table sat a cup of hot coffee, a plate of fried bananas, a pack of yellow-wrapped Djarum kretek cigarettes, and a large ashtray full of cigarette butts.
That afternoon, the atmosphere in the Green Gang's base was stuffy.
The base was crowded with about fifty of his men, including some trusted lieutenants.
Giono: "Word has spread from mouth to mouth among the gangs in Jakarta…"
He paused, picked up a Djarum kretek cigarette, and lit it. Smoke started to curl slowly.
Giono: "Tarno's base was raided by a woman in red. Does anyone know who she is?"
A thug stepped forward. His name was Turiman, tall and with a thick mustache.
Turiman: "Her name is Nagini, Boss."
Another thug, slightly thinner than Turiman, named Karto, added:
Karto: "She moves fast, like lightning. Her punches are strong too."
Giono scratched his head, puffed his pipe for a moment, then sipped his coffee.
Giono: "Weladalah! A woman capable of taking out Tarno and his men?"
Turiman: "Since then, Tarno has disappeared, Boss."
Karto: "The territory is now empty."
Giono remained silent for a moment, tapping his cigarette into the ashtray several times.
Giono: "Hmm… Wedus tenan! Should we go into Kampung Rambutan and take over Tarno's territory?"
Turiman: "If so, we'll have to face Nagini."
Karto: "And the police there are hard to bribe."
Giono: "Weladalah! Wedus!"
He cursed again.
Turiman: "The local police are led by Iptu Burhan."
Karto: "He's honest, Boss. Can't be bribed."
Giono huffed in frustration.
Giono: "Damn! Expanding our business territory is hard! Stupid wedus!"
Giono's gaze swept across the room. Fifty men stood with heads bowed.
Giono: "Does anyone know who raided the Cobra Gang?"
Turiman: "According to rumors, the Cobra Gang was beaten by two twin girls."
Giono paused, sipping his coffee and puffing his cigarette.
Giono: "Twin girls?"
Turiman: "Yes, Boss!"
Karto: "The Cobra Gang was defeated in front of Seroja Indah Apartment."
Turiman: "That's our territory, Boss!"
Giono: "Outrageous!"
Giono's eyes widened.
Giono: "How dare the Cobra Gang disturb the Green Gang's security…"
Karto: "They must be taught a lesson."
Turiman: "We'll beat them up!"
Karto: "Turn them into nasi padang (Nasi Padang is an Indonesian rice meal with various spicy dishes)."
Some members tried to suppress their smiles at Karto's words.
Turiman nudged Karto and whispered in his ear:
Turiman: "Hungry, Karto?"
Karto grinned like a horse.
Giono looked over all his men again.
Giono: "Anyone know who the two twin girls were that beat the Cobra Gang?"
Karto: "The information is unclear, Boss!"
Turiman: "They defeated the Cobra Gang with throwing knives."
Giono: "Throwing knives?"
Turiman: "Yes, Boss! Flying knives."
Giono paused, recalling where he had seen flying knives before.
Giono: "Ah, I forget."
***
5-2 Giono, Green Gang Leader
Giono inhaled deeply from his cigarette, exhaled slowly, and then sipped his coffee.
He looked clearly worried and anxious.
Not because of Nagini, who beat Tarno, or the twin girls who attacked the Cobra Gang with knives,
But because of rumors about The Big Lady who was conquering gangs in Jakarta.
Territories already under The Big Lady had to pay tribute.
Giono: "Weladalah… Wedus…"
Turiman: "What's wrong, Boss?"
Karto: "You look worried…"
Giono extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and looked back at his men.
Giono: "Does anyone here know who The Big Lady is?"
Turiman frowned, while Karto shook his head.
A man stepped forward. He was thin, almost scrawny, with sharp eyes and prominent cheekbones. His name was Tikno.
Tikno: "Who The Big Lady is, is unclear, Boss."
Giono stared at Tikno, then scanned the room. Fifty men bowed respectfully.
Turiman: "Anything else, Tikno?"
Tikno puffed out his chest to appear imposing, but most of his colleagues tried to suppress laughter.
Instead of looking impressive, Tikno's protruding bones made him look comical.
Tikno: "Her bodyguards are ruthless. They won't hesitate to cripple someone, break arms, jontor lips, even bump heads!"
Karto: "Anyone killed yet?"
Tikno: "No information about killings."
Turiman: "Why not?"
Tikno looked at Karto and Turiman.
Tikno: "Because they're afraid."
Karto: "Afraid of what?"
Tikno glanced around and whispered softly:
Tikno: "They're afraid of murder charges."
All Green Gang members laughed uproariously.
Giono smiled, amused by his men's silliness.
***
5-3 Tikno
Giono: "Weladalah… What do The Big Lady's bodyguards look like?"
Tikno patted his chest after being laughed at.
Tikno: "Like military. Crew cut hair and armed."
Bang!
Giono slammed the table. The men flinched.
Giono: "Wedus… Wedus…"
Tikno: "Many gangs have surrendered without resistance."
Turiman: "Afraid to fight!"
Karto: "If they fight, they'll twist something and strain themselves!"
The Green Gang members laughed again.
Giono took a deep breath and lit another cigarette.
Giono: "Weladalah! Only the Green Gang has not been raided by The Big Lady."
Turiman: "Sooner or later, they will come here."
Karto: "We will fight!"
Tikno looked fired up.
Tikno: "If they dare come here, we'll turn them into tahu Sumedang (tofu from Sumedang West Java)"
The Green Gang couldn't stop laughing at Tikno's words.
Giono felt slightly relieved to see the patriotism of his men.
Finally, Giono said slowly:
Giono: "Night is approaching. Anyone hungry?"
Fifty Green Gang members responded noisily:
"Are you hungry?"
Some laughed happily, some clenched fists, some cheered.
"Fried rice with catfish!"
"Omelette rice!"
"Fried chicken with green chili!"
Their shouts echoed in the room.
Giono: "Alright! Karto! Tikno! Quickly order 50 packed meals from Kang Sukardi's warteg."
Karto: "Yes, Boss!"
Tikno nodded, puffing out his chest.
Giono: "Karto, count carefully so no one misses their portion."
Karto started counting the 50 members.
Giono: "Good, order 50 meals from Kang Sukardi."
The room erupted in chatter.
"Don't forget sweet tea!"
"Mixed orange juice with ice is good too!"
The orders were delivered, and everyone received their portion.
They ate together while joking and chatting.
Giono sipped his coffee, looking fondly at his men.
***
5-4 Kembang Setaman Discotheque
Jakarta was a busy and bustling city. In the Tanah Abang area stood a luxurious and elegant discotheque—one of the largest in Jakarta.
From the outside, neon lights blinked on the building. Dangdut music echoed inside, playing "Kopi Dangdut," making anyone hearing it sway their body.
At the entrance, two tall, burly security guards stood watch.
Inside, the main hall was packed with people dancing to the rhythm. Neon lights kept flashing, creating a dazzling atmosphere.
The place was called:
"Kembang Setaman Discotheque."
Its owner and manager: Pak Handoyo (Pak is an honorific, like "Mr." in Indonesian).
***
5-5 Kembang Setaman CCTV
Inside the disco, there was a luxurious upper floor for VIP customers.
On the same floor, there was an exclusive manager's office for Pak Handoyo, equipped with a biometric security door, reflecting elegance.
Not far from there, there was a CCTV operator room. It was small but filled with monitors displaying footage from every corner of the disco, ensuring all activities were monitored closely.
End of Chapter 5
To be continued in Chapter 6