Novels by Alfonzo Perez

Not long after, a young serving girl arrived carrying the dishes they had ordered. With careful steps, she arranged each plate on the wooden table, steam rising softly like delicate threads of mist.A warm smile blossomed on her lips as she looked toward Aji. “Please enjoy your meal while it’s still warm, sir,” she said with a gentle tone that matched the cozy atmosphere of the tavern.“Thank you,” Aji replied, offering a smile that was just as warm—perhaps even warmer.But that simple exchange, fleeting and harmless in the eyes of most, struck Ratih like a spark hitting dry leaves. Her heart throbbed with a mix of resentment and something she refused to name—jealousy. The moment Aji returned the serving girl’s smile, Ratih felt a sting sharper than she expected.Her beautiful face tightened, her lips pushing into a faint pout. The food that had appeared so delicious earlier suddenly lost its appeal. Even its aroma faded beneath the storm swirling in her chest.Aji, blissfully unaware

“Who are those two? And why do they move with such careful, deliberate caution?”A figure cloaked in pitch-black robes murmured the question through clenched teeth. His face was hidden beneath a dark hood, but his eyes—cold, narrow, and gleaming with menace—were fixed sharply on Aji and Ratih as the pair moved away into the night.Behind him, footsteps sounded softly.“Do you suspect them, Master?”The beggar who had earlier spoken with Aji and Ratih—Pranggolo—stood there, bowing slightly, his voice trembling with unease.“Do not appear behind me like a ghost unless you wish to be punished,” the hooded man snapped.Pranggolo flinched and lowered his head further. “Forgive me, Master.”“These days, suspicion is our greatest shield,” the man in black muttered, folding his arms beneath his cloak. “And those two… are strangers to this province. Unfamiliar faces wandering around at hours like this always warrant caution. I saw you speaking to them earlier. What did they ask of you?”“Nothi

Though both Aji and Ratih wore calm expressions—each with a polite smile gracing their lips—their gazes never lost their sharpness. Behind the mask of gentleness, their senses remained alert, dissecting every detail of the man before them.To Aji, the beggar standing a few steps away was anything but ordinary.The man’s posture was firm, his physique strong, his breathing steady—far too steady for someone who claimed to have spent months begging on the streets. His clothes were torn and deliberately dirtied, yet no amount of grime could conceal the truth. This man was no beggar. He was a soldier in disguise.“What is your name, good sir?” Ratih asked gently, holding a few bronze coins in her palm.The man hesitated before responding, as though weighing his words.“My name is Pranggolo, miss.”“And how long have you been begging like this?” Ratih continued.“For quite some time,” he replied. “Six, perhaps seven months.”Ratih frowned slightly. “How did it come to this? You look healthy

Duke Hanggareksa furrowed his brows, clearly intrigued by the words Aji had left hanging in the air.“What task is it that you must carry out?” he asked, his voice calm yet tinged with curiosity.Aji answered with a modest smile meant to hide the unease fluttering in his chest.“It is nothing of great importance, My Lord. Merely a small duty—one that can easily be postponed.”“Very well then. Let us head outside at once.”Duke Hanggareksa strode toward the door without waiting for Aji to respond.Aji gave a slow nod and followed the duke’s steps, matching his pace as they exited the great hall.Once they were outside, the duke resumed speaking, his tone filled with the firmness of a ruler who carried too many burdens on his shoulders.“Here is what I have planned. After the situation in Tanjung Rejo is settled, I will bring the three of you to meet His Majesty, King Wanajaya. However, to avoid drawing unnecessary attention from the court officials… you, Aji, and also you, Rangga, must

Duke Hanggareksa nodded with calm authority.“Go on.”Aji stepped away from the duke’s table and made his way toward the entrance of the grand hall. The echo of his footsteps bounced faintly against the polished stone walls. Once outside, he immediately spotted Bargowo—massive in frame, towering like a mountain—brandishing his enormous blade while facing the seven palace guards.“Bargowo, stop at once!” Aji shouted from afar.The former bandit leader, known for his frightening visage and thunderous presence, turned sharply. The moment his eyes found Aji approaching, the rage that had flared within him dissolved like steam in the cold air. Without a word, he lowered the giant blade and slid it back into its sheath with surprising gentleness.Aji approached him with measured steps.“Why are you losing control again, Bargowo? I told you before—learn to master your temper.”The giant man lowered his gaze instantly, shoulders slumping. His fury, moments ago raging like wildfire, now dimmed

Duke Hanggareksa furrowed his brow, a shadow of confusion passing across his sharp eyes. As far as he knew, the name of Prince Dananjaya—half-brother to King Wanajaya—was one of the best-guarded secrets within the royal court. The late King Suryajaya had deliberately concealed the prince’s lineage, for Dananjaya had been born of a concubine, a circumstance that could easily spark political friction. Only those with intimate ties to the inner chambers of Candipura Palace would ever have known the truth.His curiosity about Ratih’s parentage finally overcame his restraint. With a calm yet probing tone, he asked,“May I know the name of your father?”The question struck Ratih like a blow. Her eyes flicked toward Rangga, searching for guidance or perhaps courage. A knot tightened in her chest—a weight she feared would grow heavier if she spoke the truth. Revealing her father’s identity might entangle him in the dangerous turmoil unfolding around them.Before she could speak, Rangga answer

“But I will not accept being accused of belonging to that cursed sect! If they dare accuse me again, I’ll make sure everyone here dies!” A Long’s yellowish skin turned white as his anger flared.“Don’t be afraid, he’s only trying to scare us!” shouted A Fu, trying to sway the others.“If you accuse us one more time, I will let my brother here kill all of you!” Fang An barked, pointing his finger straight at A Fu’s face, which immediately froze in silence.“Watch your tongue, A Fu!” another man shouted, backing Fang An.Ying Sue and all the villagers in the dining house swallowed nervously. They didn’t know whether the young, sharp-eyed man’s words were true or just a bluff. But one thing was certain: the accusations A Fu hurled at the two young men were a mistake.“If you don’t want us in this village, we will leave. But only after we finish our meal. If I hear even one more accusation, I’ll hang the man’s head at the village ga

"Yu Wei, how are the preparations for the Grand Blood Moon Ritual? Is everything ready?""My apologies, Leader… Of the thirteen virgins required for the grand ritual, we are still short of two. Our members are already moving to find the remaining ones. I am certain that before the ritual begins, the number will be complete," replied the long-haired man named Yu Wei."For the success of this grand ritual, I entrust everything to you, Yu Wei. Do not fail me, for I have never known the word failure. You know very well what I will do to you if the ritual fails!" said the man who was, in fact, Ren Zhi, the leader of the Holy Blood Moon Sect.It should be known that the Grand Blood Moon Ritual was a mandatory ceremony for Ren Zhi. Besides strengthening his martial power, the ritual also served to keep the leader of the Holy Blood Moon Sect eternally youthful.If at present his face looked around thirty-five years old, then after the ritual he

Fang An gave a small smile and nodded."At the very least, we need some information from you, Sir, about the situation inside that sect."Duke Song Jian took a deep breath and released it slowly."As for the current situation, I do not know, Prince. It has been more than twenty years since I last joined them.""It’s all right, Sir. At least it can serve as a rough picture for the two of us about the situation there. But for now, we want to bathe first. Later, we will meet you again," Fang An said."Very well, Prince." Duke Song Jian bowed slightly to show respect. After that, he walked back to his chamber.Nearly two hours passed before Fang An and A Fu came out of their room. The two of them hurried toward Duke Song Jian’s private chamber to continue their discussion.Inside the chamber, Duke Song Jian still looked uneasy about the situation he was facing.On one hand, he feared that Fang An and A Fu might fail in their plan to attack the Holy Blood Moon Sect. If that happened, he to

Although it looked like a smile, to the four figures dressed in black, the smile on Fang An’s lips appeared terrifying and intimidating. The wide grin of the young man with white hair instantly drained their courage.“You must have thought we had already left this province, didn’t you?” Fang An chuckled softly, recalling how he and A Long had led their horses out of the palace gate earlier that morning.The four figures exchanged disbelieving glances. They, who were used to spying, had now been thwarted by two young men still younger than them in age.The exits were sealed tightly, leaving the black-clad figures confused about what decision to make. Their only hope of escape was to fight back, though they knew the chance of success was almost nonexistent.Unconsciously, cold sweat began to drip from their pores. The chill that gripped their bodies was nothing compared to the icy sweat brought on by fear.“Why do you look so confused? Relax, I won’t kill you. But on one condition—tell

“The Sacred Blood Moon Sect is a dark sect hidden in a valley beyond Mount Yuelu, Prince. They use the blood of virgins for their offerings,” explained Duke Song Jian.“Then why are they extorting you, Duke? What connection do you have with them?” Fang An pressed. He already sensed a breakthrough.The duke lowered his head, regret written across his face.“I was once part of them, Prince. I joined secretly before I was married.”“And after you married, you left them?”“Yes, Prince. I left without permission from Ren Zhi, the leader of the Sacred Blood Moon Sect.”Fang An nodded, understanding. He could see the duke’s regret was genuine.No matter how strong a man was, when the safety of his wife and children was threatened, he would become fragile—especially when he was powerless to act.“Very well. Now we know who the perpetrators are. What remains is to uncover which of their members is hiding inside this palace.” Fang An’s gaze lifted to the ceiling as he thought hard.“Do you have

Not long after, the two of them finally arrived in front of the palace of Province Sihan. The gates, which had been tightly closed, opened at once when the two young warriors arrived.From inside, a finely dressed man escorted by two guards hurried toward the gate.Fang An and A Long leapt down from their horses and handed the reins to a soldier.“Welcome to Province Sihan, Prince Fang An, Prince A Long. It is truly a great honor for me to receive the arrival of both Princes.” The finely dressed man, who turned out to be Duke Song Jian, bowed respectfully.“Do not be so formal, Duke. We just happened to pass by, so we decided to stop here. Besides, we also need a place to rest for the night,” replied Fang An with a smile, though his sharp eyes studied the finely dressed figure before him.From his experience dealing with officials, such respectful behavior often had two meanings. Some showed respect because of rank and position, while others used it to flatter or to cover up their wro