Right now, all he could do was wait for the two of them to arrive. But if the sun rose high overhead and his two warriors had still not returned, he had already decided to leave Kotaraja rather than suffer great humiliation. Especially since Commander Bayu Aji had already returned to the palace.However, his decision came with consequences—he would no longer be able to participate in the tournament, and his ambition to win the competition held by the Jaya Buana royal palace would be completely shattered.To this day, his anger toward Arya had not faded. If only he had never met that young man during registration, none of this would have happened, he thought bitterly.One thing he regretted was that he was currently in the capital of the Jaya Buana Kingdom. If he were in his father’s kingdom, he could punish that handsome young man as he pleased.But in his uncle’s kingdom, his power was limited. King Wijaya Kusuma was known as a wise ruler, and naturally, every decision had to go thro

Bayu Aji was also eager to know Arya's true reasons. His sharp gaze was fixed on the young man who had greatly impressed him."I was destined to be someone who must be useful to others. There are still many out there who need my help, Your Majesty." Arya paused to take a breath, then exhaled slowly to steady his lungs."And the position of Grand Commander will not remain vacant, Your Majesty. I have an acquaintance who seems fit for the role. He possesses exceptional martial skills and a sharp mind," he continued."Who?" King Wijaya Kusuma straightened his posture, intrigued by the person Arya was referring to."Rengga, Your Majesty. He is the leader of the Sacred Staff Sect. However, he is currently deepening his martial arts training in a secluded place. Based on my estimate, his training will be complete in one or two months."King Wijaya Kusuma smiled broadly. His hope of reinstating the position of Grand Chancellor in his kingdom was reignited."I trust that the person you recomm

"Why did I choose Arya for the position of Grand Commander? Because he has a pure heart and always wants to be useful to others. Arya also has intelligence far above your average minds. And third, Arya's martial arts skills surpass all of you—even me and Bayu Aji!" King Wijaya Kusuma's voice thundered through the hall.The room fell into complete silence. No one dared to make a sound, not even the faintest breath, for fear of disturbing the king’s presence."Do you think I made this decision without careful consideration? For those who question my judgment, I now give you the chance to challenge Arya. If you can surpass him in all three aspects, I will appoint whoever defeats him as the Grand Commander!"Kertapati and his like-minded officials fell silent, unable to utter a single word. This was the first time they had heard King Wijaya Kusuma speak with such firmness and authority."I never expected my subordinates to be so narrow-minded. It turns out that all this time, you have onl

Four soldiers guarding the gate watched their arrival with sharp eyes. Even when the two dismounted their horses, the scrutinizing and suspicious gazes from the soldiers became even more intense.From head to toe, the two young men were thoroughly examined, fueling the soldiers’ suspicion.Arya was slightly surprised by the soldiers' reaction to their arrival. Based on his quick analysis, something must have happened inside the Jayakerta duchy."What is your purpose for coming here?" one soldier asked suspiciously."We are visiting a relative, sir," Sanjaya quickly replied. Following Arya’s instructions, since he was more familiar with the people of the duchy, he was given the freedom to answer any questions from the soldiers."Who are you visiting?""Mister Kartosuro. His house is in the alley near the duchy’s palace." Sanjaya answered calmly and firmly.One of the soldiers narrowed his eyes at Sanjaya’s face. He found it strangely familiar, but he couldn’t recall where or when he ha

Suddenly, the index finger of the Kartosuro house guard pointed at Arya after confirming his identity. Six soldiers and another guard immediately shifted their gaze in the direction of the pointing finger.“Damn it!” Arya muttered under his breath before quickening his pace as the six soldiers moved toward him.His suspicion that Sanjaya’s arrival had been discovered turned out to be true. Moreover, Caraka’s statement that the search for Sanjaya had resumed was also proven correct. Now, he needed to return to the eatery as quickly as possible to inform Sanjaya.But something unexpected caught the handsome young man’s eyes. The eatery where Sanjaya had been hiding was now tightly shut. Even when he knocked on the door, there was no response.Arya’s suspicion toward Caraka grew. He suspected that the middle-aged man had betrayed them and informed Sidharta’s men that Sanjaya was hiding in his establishment.“Damn it!” Arya cursed in his heart again. He had no problem fighting off all of