2025-03-03 00:51:36Rizal stood behind the coffee counter, his fingers tapping lightly against his cup. Outside, the city of Medan was waking up—motorcycles weaved through the narrow streets, vendors shouted their morning deals, and life moved on as usual. But inside Kopi Hitam Rizal, the air was still heavy.
Ucok, still shaken by what had just happened, leaned against the counter. "Zal, be honest with me. Are you sure this won’t turn into a bigger problem?"
Rizal smirked slightly. "Ucok, if Bang Togar already sent people, that means the problem was big from the start."
Ucok scratched his head, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. "Are you sure you don’t just want to run? Like before?"
Rizal stared into his coffee. He had been running long enough. Five years of hiding, changing names, changing lives. But the thing about running was, you could change everything—except who you really were.
Before Rizal could answer, the shop’s bell rang. An old man in a worn-out jacket stepped in, bringing with him the unmistakable scent of clove cigarettes. He looked thinner than the last time Rizal had seen him, but his gaze was still sharp.
Rizal recognized him immediately. "Pak Haris."
Ucok frowned. "Who’s he?"
Pak Haris gave a small smile. "You used to call me Commander."
Ucok’s eyes widened. "You’re kidding, right? This guy’s a former cop?"
Rizal took a deep breath, then gestured for Pak Haris to sit. The man complied without a word, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket but not lighting one.
"Rizal," Pak Haris finally said, his voice deep and steady. "I heard you stirred up some trouble this morning."
Rizal shrugged. "Wasn’t me who started it."
Pak Haris chuckled. "That’s what you always said back in the day. But we both know, in this world, it’s not about who starts it. It’s about who finishes it first."
Ucok looked back and forth between them, then muttered, "I don’t like it when two ex-killers start reminiscing."
Rizal ignored him. "What do you really want, Pak?"
Pak Haris studied him. "I know Bang Togar won’t stop until you’re dead. And I know he has a damn good reason for hunting you down."
"I already told you—I’m retired," Rizal said flatly.
Pak Haris smirked. "And you think they care? You’re not an ordinary man, Rizal. You’re not just some coffee brewer. You’re a legend in the underworld. And unfortunately, legends rarely get to die peacefully."
Ucok swallowed hard. "Okay, this is starting to sound like a bad mafia movie."
Pak Haris ignored him and leaned back in his chair. "I’m not here to scare you. I’m here to offer you a choice."
Rizal narrowed his eyes. "What choice?"
Pak Haris pulled something out of his jacket—a thick brown envelope—and placed it on the table.
"There’s someone who needs to die," he said. "Someone whose death will make Bang Togar think twice before coming after you."
Ucok nearly choked on his coffee. "Wait! He just said he’s retired! You can’t just come in here and—"
"I can," Pak Haris interrupted firmly. "And I know Rizal will listen."
Rizal stared at the envelope, then back at Pak Haris.
"Five years ago, I chose to walk away," he said quietly. "And now you’re here, trying to pull me back in?"
Pak Haris met his gaze without hesitation. "It’s not me pulling you back, Rizal. It’s the world refusing to let you go."
The coffee shop fell silent again. Rizal could hear his own heartbeat slowing down, as if the world itself was giving him time to think.
Outside, the city of Medan contin
ued as usual.
Inside, a long-delayed war was just beginning.
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Rizal stared at the thick brown envelope on the table, his fingers drumming lightly against the wooden surface. He didn’t need to open it to know what was inside—details, photos, and probably a large sum of money to finish the job.Ucok’s voice broke the silence. "Zal, don’t even think about it."Pak Haris exhaled a slow stream of smoke. "You know this is your best option."Rizal leaned back, arms crossed. "Best option for who? You? Bang Togar?"Pak Haris smirked. "For you, Rizal. If you take this job, you control the game. If you don’t, you’ll just be a hunted man waiting for the bullet with your name on it."Ucok scoffed. "Or he could just disappear again."Pak Haris turned to him. "Disappearing worked once. It won’t work twice. Togar’s power is different now. He has more eyes, more men, more reach. Wherever Rizal runs, they’ll find him."Rizal exhaled slowly. "Who’s the target?"Pak Haris smiled, knowing he had hooked him in. He tapped the envelope. "Open it."Rizal sighed, picked
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Ucok kept pacing inside the coffee shop, the soles of his sneakers screeching against the wooden floor. His breathing was heavy, and every now and then, he exhaled fuuuuh, as if hoping to blow away the problem in front of them.At the table, Rizal sat still. His fingers tapped the wooden surface with a tick-tick-tick rhythm, staring at the envelope as if it might explode at any moment."Zal, if you take this job, you’ll be stepping back into your old world," Ucok finally said, his voice tense.Rizal raised an eyebrow. "You think I don’t know that?"Ucok let out a long sigh and sat across from Rizal. His chair creaked creeaak under his weight. "You fought so hard to get out. Now, Pak Haris comes with one offer, and you waver just like that?"Rizal smirked slightly. "Waver? I never said I was taking the job.""But you also didn’t say no right away," Ucok shot back.Rizal picked up one of the photos from the envelope. Adi Sutrisno. The man in the picture was laughing, dressed in a black
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The Maharaja Hotel towered over Medan’s skyline, its golden lights gleaming like a beacon for the rich and the dangerous. As Rizal and Ucok approached the entrance, the vroom of luxury cars filled the air, their engines growling like beasts ready to be unleashed.Ucok adjusted his jacket nervously. “Are you sure about this? That place is full of security.”Rizal smirked. “That’s what makes it fun.”Ucok groaned. “Great. Now you sound like a lunatic.”A valet’s shoes squeaked against the marble floor as he hurried to open the door for a guest. Inside, the lobby was filled with the scent of expensive perfume and polished wood. The click-clack of high heels echoed as elegant women walked by, their laughter mixing with the soft jazz playing in the background.Rizal walked confidently toward the elevator, Ucok trailing behind. “How do we get to the VIP floor? We don’t have an access card,” Ucok whispered.Rizal spotted a wealthy businessman chatting with a hotel staff member. His access ca
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The cool night air brushed against Rizal’s face as he and Ucok sped away from the Maharaja Hotel on a motorbike. The vroom of the engine echoed through the empty streets of Medan, blending with the distant hum of the city that never truly slept.Ucok clung to Rizal’s waist. “Next time, bro, can we just take a Grab? I swear my ass is gonna fall off.”Rizal chuckled but kept his focus on the road. “Where’s the thrill in that?”They pulled up at a small coffee stall tucked in a quiet alley. The neon sign flickered bzzzt, casting a dim glow over the wooden benches. It was one of Rizal’s usual hideouts—safe, quiet, and most importantly, serving the best black coffee in town.Inside, an old man behind the counter greeted them with a nod. “Your usual black coffee, Rizal?”“Two, please, Pak.”Ucok groaned as he plopped onto a bench. “It’s not coffee I need, bro. I need a vacation.”Rizal smirked. “You complain a lot, but you still follow me everywhere.”Ucok let out a long sigh. “Because if I
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Rizal stood at the edge of the dock, gazing at the dark waters. The smell of salt mixed with the faint scent of blood still lingering in the air. The fight with Johan was over, but the real war was just beginning.Ucok lit a cigarette beside him. “So, what’s the next step, Zal? We know Adi won’t let this slide.”Damar, leaning against a crate, loaded his gun. “Yeah. Johan was just a pawn. The real boss is still out there.”Rizal smirked, his hands still in his jacket pockets. “We don’t go to Adi. We make him come to us.”Ucok raised an eyebrow. “How exactly do we do that? Send him a coffee invitation?”Damar chuckled. “Yeah, with a ‘special blend’ of gunpowder and revenge.”Rizal turned to them. “We take over Johan’s operations. His men, his warehouses, his contacts. Adi will be forced to respond.”Ucok whistled. “Damn, that’s bold. But what if his response is a bullet to our heads?”Rizal took a deep breath. “Then we make sure we fire first.”Johan’s men who survived had two choices—
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The trio pulled into a rundown apartment complex on the outskirts of the city. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was secure. Rizal parked the car and exhaled slowly. The adrenaline rush was wearing off, leaving behind exhaustion and the stench of smoke.Fikri tossed his bag onto the couch. “Well, that went well.”Maya shot him a glare. “We almost died.”Fikri grinned. “Keyword: almost.”Rizal ignored their bickering and plugged the flash drive into his laptop. Lines of encrypted data scrolled across the screen. “Johan’s entire financial operation is on here,” he muttered.Maya peered over his shoulder. “Can you crack it?”Rizal smirked. “Who do you think you’re talking to?” He began typing furiously, bypassing layers of security. Within minutes, a spreadsheet appeared, revealing names, bank accounts, and offshore transactions.Fikri whistled. “That’s a lot of zeroes.”Maya frowned. “So what’s the plan? Leak this to the authorities?”Rizal shook his head. “No. We use it to bring Johan down o
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The motorcycle weaved through the dimly lit streets, dodging traffic as Rizal held on tightly. Maya sat behind him, gripping his waist, her breath still ragged from the adrenaline. The masked rider maneuvered with precision, cutting through alleyways and side streets until they finally stopped at an abandoned warehouse by the docks.VROOOOM… The engine died down.Rizal jumped off first, scanning their surroundings. “You gonna tell me who the hell you are?” he asked, turning toward the rider.The masked figure pulled off the helmet—revealing a familiar smirk.“Miss me, bro?”Rizal’s eyes widened. “Fikri?”Maya let out a breath of disbelief. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”Fikri, Rizal’s old partner-in-crime, grinned. “Relax. I’m not a ghost. But I did just save your ass.”Rizal shook his head. “I thought you were in Singapore.”Fikri leaned against the bike, arms crossed. “Was. Until I heard Johan was making a move on you.” His expression darkened. “Figured you could use some backup.”Ma
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BANG! BANG!Rizal flipped the bar table and ducked as bullets tore through the polished wood, sending splinters flying. Johan’s guards were quick, but Rizal was quicker. He reached for the gun tucked behind his waistband and—BLAM!One shot, clean to the shoulder of the nearest thug. The man spun back, groaning in pain.Rizal didn’t wait. He grabbed a bottle of vodka from the counter and hurled it—CRASH!It shattered against another guard’s face, sending him stumbling. In the chaos, Rizal bolted for the exit.Johan, still gripping his phone, barked orders. “DON’T LET HIM GET AWAY!”Maya yanked out the flash drive the moment the upload hit 100%. She stuffed it into her pocket, turned—and froze.A shadow loomed over her.The guard she had knocked out earlier was stirring, his fingers curling around his gun.Shit.Maya lunged forward. She kicked the gun out of his hand and swung a server panel like a baseball bat.WHAM!The man hit the ground again, this time for good.With no time to w
Crashing the Party
The safe house was tucked away in a quiet corner of Jakarta, hidden behind an old auto repair shop. From the outside, it looked abandoned—just another forgotten piece of the city’s underbelly. Inside, however, it was a fully stocked operations center.Rizal flicked on the lights, revealing a cluttered room filled with maps, weapons, and surveillance monitors. Maya let out a low whistle."Not bad," she said, tossing her wet jacket onto a chair. "You always have a place like this ready?"Rizal smirked. "Occupational hazard."He moved to the main table, plugging the flash drive into a laptop. The screen flickered, revealing encrypted files.Maya leaned in. "What exactly are we looking at?"Rizal typed rapidly, bypassing the security. A list of names, locations, and financial transactions appeared."This is Johan’s operation," Rizal said. "Money laundering, smuggling, political bribes—you name it. Everything he’s done is in here."Maya frowned. "And you think this is enough to take him do
Firefight in the Warehouse
The dust hadn't even settled when Rizal burst through the ruined doorway, twin pistols blazing.BANG! BANG! BANG!The first thug dropped before he could even react, his body hitting the concrete floor with a dull thud. The others scrambled for cover, overturning crates and barrels, but Rizal was already moving, weaving between shadows like a phantom.Maya clenched her fists, still bound to the chair. The moment she saw Rizal, a mix of relief and adrenaline surged through her veins."You're late," she muttered.Rizal smirked, ducking behind a stack of wooden pallets. "Traffic."The remaining thugs opened fire. Bullets tore through crates, sending splinters flying. Rizal rolled forward, firing mid-movement—BANG! BANG!Another thug collapsed.The last man standing grabbed Maya, pressing the gun harder against her head."Enough!" he shouted. "Drop your weapons, or I swear I'll—"THWIP!A blade whizzed through the air.The thug froze, eyes wide. He let out a choked gasp as blood dripped f
The Devil’s Gambit
The gunshot rang through the room like a thunderclap.Rizal dove sideways, flipping the table as cover just as Johan’s shot barely missed his head. Glass shattered, whiskey spilled, and the room exploded into chaos.BANG! BANG!Rizal fired twice, forcing Johan to duck behind a cabinet. The smell of gunpowder filled the air."You really wanna do this, Riz?!" Johan shouted, his voice laced with amusement.Rizal reloaded. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”A chuckle. “Then come and get me.”Rizal knew Johan wasn’t stupid. He was playing for time. Reinforcements were probably already on their way. If Rizal didn’t finish this fast, he’d be walking into a death trap.His eyes flicked to the chandelier above Johan’s hiding spot. One clean shot, and it would come crashing down.CRACK!Rizal pulled the trigger. The bullet ripped through the chain.CRASH!The massive chandelier plummeted, shattering into a thousand glass shards. Johan barely rolled away in time, cursing as he staggered t
The Aftermath
The sun had barely begun to rise, casting a dull orange glow over the city. Rizal and Maya stood on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse, watching the smoke billow from Viktor’s burning villa in the distance. The smell of gasoline and gunpowder still clung to their clothes.Maya took a deep breath. “That was intense.”Rizal exhaled slowly. “It’s not over.”Maya gave him a sideways glance. “Viktor’s dead. His men are wiped out. What else is there?”Rizal clenched his fists. “Power vacuums don’t stay empty for long. His rivals will move in. And then there’s—” He stopped himself.Maya frowned. “What?”Rizal hesitated, then turned to her. “You should leave the city.”Maya laughed. “That’s funny. You think I’m just gonna walk away after all this?”“It’s not about that,” Rizal said. “Whoever comes next… they’ll be worse. More ruthless. And if they find out you were involved in Viktor’s downfall, they’ll come after you.”Maya’s smirk faded. “And what about you?”“I still have unfinished bus
The Lion's Den
The front gate lay open, blood pooling around the fallen guards. Rizal and Maya moved swiftly, their boots barely making a sound on the gravel pathway leading to the main house.Inside, chaos erupted. The gunfire at the gate had set off alarms. More guards poured into the corridors, their rifles raised.BANG! BANG! BANG!Maya ducked behind a marble pillar, firing with deadly precision. Rizal rolled across the floor, avoiding a burst of automatic fire before landing a clean headshot on a charging enemy.The villa was a maze of luxury and violence. Crystal chandeliers hung above blood-stained floors. Expensive paintings lined walls riddled with bullet holes.“Where’s Viktor?” Maya shouted over the gunfire.Rizal reloaded his weapon. “Top floor. His office.”More guards approached. Rizal grabbed a flashbang, pulled the pin, and tossed it down the hallway.BOOM!The explosion of light and sound disoriented the enemies. Rizal and Maya advanced, taking them down before they could recover.A
Setting the Trap
The cold night air seeped through the cracks of the warehouse, mixing with the scent of blood and gunpowder. Rizal sat on an old crate, methodically reloading his gun. Across from him, Maya lay on a makeshift bed of torn blankets, her wound wrapped tightly with bandages. Her breathing was steady but weak.“You need rest,” Rizal said without looking up.Maya smirked. “And you need a plan.”Rizal didn’t argue. Viktor’s retaliation had come fast and brutal. Their safehouse was gone. Sergei was dead, but that was just a start. The real threat—Viktor—was still out there, and he wouldn’t stop until Rizal and Maya were both buried six feet under.Maya shifted slightly, wincing at the pain. “We hit his docks. He hit us back. What’s next?”Rizal leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “We take the fight to him.”She raised an eyebrow. “You mean walk straight into Viktor’s den?”Rizal smirked. “Not walk. Burn it to the ground.”The Ivory Club was one of the most exclusive spots in Jakarta. A front
