2025-03-03 01:22:51Damar was still unconscious on the warehouse floor, his breathing shallow. Rizal pressed a rag against the wound in the man's stomach while Ucok paced back and forth, biting the tip of an unlit cigarette.
"We need a doctor," Ucok said.
Rizal nodded, but his mind was racing for a solution. They couldn't take Damar to a hospital—it was too risky. The police were likely looking for them, and even worse, Adi's men were probably already hunting them down.
"Do you know a trustworthy doctor?" Rizal asked.
Ucok scratched his head. "I know one. But you won't like it."
Rizal frowned. "Who?"
Ucok sighed heavily. "Dr. Sinta."
Rizal raised an eyebrow. "Your ex?"
Ucok winced. "My ex who swore she'd shoot me in the head if I ever asked for her help again."
Rizal smirked. "Great. Let's go see her."
They stopped at a small building on the outskirts of town, nestled between a closed grocery store and a still-busy coffee stall. The clinic looked modest, with a flickering neon sign above the door that read "Dr. Sinta’s Practice."
Ucok knocked on the back door in a specific pattern. Knock-knock... knock-knock-knock.
The door cracked open, revealing a short-haired woman with a bored expression. As soon as she saw Ucok, her eyes narrowed.
"Ucok."
Ucok chuckled nervously. "Hey, Sin."
Sinta crossed her arms. "You promised never to come back here."
Ucok pointed at Damar, still unconscious on Rizal’s shoulder. "But this time, it's serious. Can you help?"
Sinta glanced between them, then let out a long sigh. "Bring him in before I change my mind."
Sinta worked quickly, her hands skillfully removing the bullet from Damar's body. She sighed or muttered complaints now and then, but she stayed focused.
Ucok stood in the corner, fidgeting. "You're not gonna shoot me, right?"
Sinta glanced at him briefly. "Let me finish first, then we'll talk."
Ucok swallowed hard.
After half an hour, Sinta finally wiped the sweat off her forehead. "He'll live, but he needs a few days to rest."
Rizal nodded. "Thanks, Sin."
Ucok grinned. "You're a lifesaver. Like an angel."
Sinta immediately threw a surgical tool at Ucok. Swish! He ducked just in time.
"Get out before I change my mind," she snapped.
Rizal stifled a laugh and pulled Ucok out before his friend became the next patient.
Back at the warehouse, Damar had regained consciousness. His face was pale, but his eyes were sharp.
"Who set us up?" Rizal asked bluntly.
Damar swallowed hard, then whispered, "Johan."
Ucok cursed. "Johan? Adi's right-hand man?"
Damar gave a weak nod. "He knows you’re after him. He also knows you're working for Mr. Haris."
Rizal leaned against the wall, thinking fast. Johan wasn't just a lieutenant—he was Adi's executioner. If Johan knew they were hunting Adi, then they had two big problems:
Adi was probably already planning his counterattack.
Johan would make sure they didn’t live long enough to see it.
Ucok glanced at Rizal. "We have to strike first."
Rizal nodded. "But not yet. We need more intel."
Ucok sighed. "So, what's the next step?"
Rizal smirked. "We let Johan think we don’t know he's after us."
Ucok groaned. "I hate psychological games."
The next day, Rizal returned to his café as usual. He poured an espresso into a cup, carefully crafting the latte art. From the outside, everything seemed normal. Just a barista doing his job.
But in his mind, the plan was already in motion.
Ucok sat in the corner, pretending to enjoy his coffee while keeping an eye on the customers.
Then, right around noon, a large man walked in. His hair was slicked back, his suit neat, but there was something about the way he moved—too confident, too casual for someone who was supposedly just there for coffee.
Ucok whispered, "Johan."
Rizal stayed calm, greeting Johan with a friendly smile. "Good afternoon. What can I get you?"
Johan smirked. "A cappuccino. And a little chat."
Rizal nodded, starting to make the cappuccino with his usual precision. "Of course. What can I help you with?"
Johan leaned in, his voice low. "I hear you and your friend like to stick your noses where they don’t belong."
Rizal kept smiling. "I'm just a barista. My business is coffee."
Johan chuckled. "You can say that. But I know who you are, Rizal."
Ucok tightened his grip under the table.
Johan took a sip of his cappuccino, then locked eyes with Rizal. "My message is simple. Stop now, or you'll find your body floating in the river."
Ucok nearly stood up, but Rizal raised a hand, signaling him to stay put.
Casually, Rizal took off his barista apron and leaned against the counter. "And if I say no?"
Johan grinned. "Then I'll make sure you regret it."
Rizal chuckled softly. "You know, Johan… I make customers happy with my coffee."
Johan narrowed his eyes. "And?"
Rizal leaned closer, whispering in his ear. "But I'm even better at making people regret their choices."
Before Johan could react, Rizal "accidentally" knocked over his cup.
Splash!
Hot cappuccino spilled onto Johan's pants.
Johan cursed, jumping up as he tried to wipe the mess off his suit.
Rizal remained calm, his gaze steady. "You threatened me in my own café. I consider that rude."
Johan glared at Rizal before turning toward the door. But before leaving, he looked back. "This isn't over."
As the door closed, Ucok exhaled. "Damn, Zal. You just poured cappuccino on the most dangerous thug in town."
Rizal picked up a cloth and wiped the counter, unfazed. "Let him know we're not afraid."
Ucok grinned. "So, what's next?"
Rizal smirked. "We make them come to us. This time, we set the trap."
Ucok chuckled. "I like the way you play."
Rizal grabbed a new cup, poured an espresso, and drew a skull in the latte art.
The real fight had just begun.
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Rizal stood in front of the rundown building, its old sign barely hanging. The flickering neon light cast an eerie glow, making the place look even more desolate. This hotel used to be a luxurious spot for the rich, but now it was nothing more than a rat-infested hideout for shady dealings.Ucok and Damar stood behind him."I still don’t like this," Ucok muttered, crossing his arms."Yeah, this is obviously a trap," Damar added, his eyes scanning the surroundings.Rizal smirked. "If it's a trap, we just have to make sure we’re the ones walking out alive."He stepped inside. The scent of dust and rotting wood filled his nostrils. The empty lobby had only an old reception desk with a rusted bell on top.TING!Rizal pressed the bell, and its chime echoed through the empty hall.Footsteps echoed down the staircase. Maya appeared, wearing the same red dress as before. "Right on time. I like a man who’s punctual."Rizal narrowed his eyes. "Where’s Adi?"Maya nodded toward the old elevator i
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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
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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
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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
