18-1 Mariana Starts to Feel the Pressure
Broto: "Madam, many of our assets in Jakarta have been frozen by the government."
Mariana: "Yes, Broto. Not just our assets—many of our people have also been arrested."
Mariana shook her head anxiously. Her paper fan closed, tapping on the table in front of her. The glass of her favorite cocktail remained untouched.
Broto: "Madam, we should lay low for a while."
Mariana: "I'm no coward, Broto."
Broto took a clove cigarette with a "234" label.
Broto: "But Madam, we're up against the government."
Mariana: "I know, Broto..."
Broto fell silent for a moment. He struck a match, lit his cigarette, and inhaled deeply.
Broto: "We really should lay low for now, Madam..."
Mariana took a sip of her cocktail and opened her paper fan.
Mariana: "Before laying low, we will strike back, Broto."
Broto gasped, eyes wide, exhaling smoke.
Broto: "Strike back, Madam?"
Mariana nodded, swirling the cocktail in her glass, the ice clinking inside.
Mariana: "We will fight back, Broto."
Broto inhaled again, his face showing hesitation. Fighting the government? Yet in front of the Madam, he dared not resist.
Broto: "Yes, Madam. We will strike back."
Mariana smiled, pleased with Broto's loyalty.
Mariana: "Is the cyber team ready?"
Broto glanced at Mariana, avoiding direct eye contact.
Broto: "They're ready, Madam."
Mariana: "Assault drones?"
Broto: "Ready, Madam."
Mariana smiled sinisterly. The paper fan opened in her right hand, while her left index finger tapped lightly on the table.
Mariana: "Are our snipers in position on the surrounding buildings?"
Broto: "They're ready, Madam."
Mariana looked satisfied.
Mariana: "What about the helicopter? Is it ready?"
Broto: "All ready, Madam. The helicopter is on the roof of the tallest building."
Mariana smiled faintly, taking a sip of her cold, condensation-covered cocktail.
---
18-2 Mariana Strikes Back
Mariana: "Broto, they've targeted us, frozen our assets, and tightened the squeeze on our business."
Broto: "That's right, Madam."
Mariana: "We will punish those who make things difficult for us."
Broto inhaled his clove cigarette again.
Broto: "What do you mean, Madam?"
Mariana: "We'll target them in return—freeze their assets, freeze their accounts."
Broto exhaled smoke and tapped his cigarette on the ashtray several times.
Mariana: "Can you do it, Broto?"
Broto: "Of course, Madam! We have a cyber team, don't we?"
Mariana: "Do you know which top police and KPK officials are leading the operation against us?"
Broto: "Of course, Madam. We'll find out..."
Mariana: "Investigate whether they've been involved in corruption or bribery."
Broto wiped cold sweat from his forehead, his face uneasy about Mariana's plan. His voice trembled.
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
Mariana: "Check major companies, like Pertamina and the mining sector, for links to them."
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
Mariana played with her paper fan, then sipped her cold cocktail.
Mariana: "Can you do it without linking it back to us?"
Broto took a deep breath.
Broto: "Of course, Madam. Isn't that how Arizal and Diono came under KPK investigation?"
Mariana: "Exactly."
Broto: "Our cyber team provided information on Arizal and Diono's fake accounts—without exposing us."
Mariana nodded, satisfied.
***
18-3 Bimo, the Deserted Kopassus Sniper
Mariana looked exhausted. Her beautiful face showed anxiety. The paper fan opened wide.
Mariana: "I need to rest in my private room."
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
Mariana: "The problems we've faced lately are exhausting."
Broto: "True, Madam. Government officials are starting to suspect our business."
Mariana didn't react. The fan moved slowly in her hand, her face calm.
Broto: "They've frozen part of our assets. The raids keep coming."
Mariana stood up.
Broto: "And most recently, they blocked our shipment of female workers to Thailand and arrested Captain Kuntadi!"
Mariana: "According to our informant, did that involve Nagini and Officer Burhan?"
Broto nodded.
Broto: "Yes, Madam. That was their doing."
Mariana frowned in annoyance.
Mariana: "Nagini, the man in the red jacket—the one we met in the Ramayana Mall basement?"
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
Mariana: "Nagini was strong enough to block my fan strike on the twins, Rani and Rina."
Broto nodded again, inhaling deeply.
Mariana: "Can you deal with them, Broto?"
Broto: "Of course, Madam. We'll deploy our best sniper."
Mariana: "You mean Bimo?"
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
Mariana: "The former Kopassus marksman who deserted?"
Broto: "Yes, Madam. He works for us now."
Mariana smiled faintly, then turned toward her private room.
Mariana: "Broto, make it as clean as possible..."
Broto nodded.
Mariana: "And remember, Broto—take them both out! Nagini and Burhan!"
***
18-4 The Real Mariana
Mariana opened her private room with a fingerprint scan. Once inside, the door closed and locked automatically.
She walked to a large vanity mirror and sat, staring at her reflection.
Mariana looked at her face—beautiful, calm, with a faint smile hinting at unshakable resolve.
Slowly, she removed her long-sleeved blouse, revealing muscular arms like a female bodybuilder.
The pronounced muscles contrasted sharply with her soft, golden-brown skin and delicate facial features.
Mariana took a tissue and wiped off her lipstick, revealing her natural lips.
She stared at herself in the mirror again, silent and still.
Then she rose from her seat. Her hands trembled faintly, a reddish glow surrounding them…
The room grew hot.
The paper fan in Mariana's hand hardened into steel.
Mariana had unleashed her inner energy.
**"
18-5 The Capture of Arizal and Diono
Broto: "I have good news, Madam."
Mariana picked up her cold cocktail from the table and took a sip.
Mariana: "Oh?"
Broto: "Yes, Madam."
Mariana: "What is it, Broto?"
Broto inhaled deeply, then exhaled smoke slowly.
Broto: "Arizal and Diono have been arrested by the KPK on suspicion of bribery and embezzlement of police funds."
Mariana smiled faintly. Her fan opened and moved slowly.
Mariana: "Good, Broto."
Broto: "That was our cyber team's work. They set up Arizal and Diono."
Rifai appeared briefly, whispered something to Broto, then left.
Broto: "Madam, several senior police and military officers working with us—besides Arizal and Diono—have also been arrested."
Mariana gave a thin smile, her eyes shining brightly.
Broto: "And there's even better news, Madam..."
Mariana: "What is it, Broto?"
Broto: "The senior officials in the police and KPK who lead the operation against us are now under investigation for bribery involving Pertamina and the mining sector."
Mariana smiled faintly again, her fan waving over her calm face.
Broto: "Our cyber team is doing an excellent job, Madam."
Mariana: "Good, Broto."
Her eyes flashed sharply, jaw tightening, voice trembling slightly.
Mariana: "Those who go against us must face their punishment!"
End of Chapter 16
To be continued Chapter 17