The thick steel door at the end of the high-security corridor slid open as the retinal scanner recognized Andini's eyes. The atmosphere in the room beyond was the polar opposite of the sterile laboratory she had just left. It smelled faintly of gunpowder, weapon lubricant, and dried sweat clinging to rubber mats. Inside, the three women who served as her frontline vanguard were killing time in their own ways.These three were no ordinary bodyguards. They were a special unit, lethal assets secretly prepared by her father. Chosen not only for their cold-blooded combat prowess, they possessed highly attuned senses specifically calibrated to interact with spiritual anomalies.In the corner of the room, Jeanne sat with perfect posture. Her blonde hair was tied up high, impeccably neat without a single strand out of place. Her long, nimble fingers were reassembling a semi-automatic pistol with surgical precision, letting the sharp metallic clicks pierce the silence.On the other side, leani

Jaka pressed the cold metal phone to his ear. The audio was crystal clear, the ringing from the other end piping through without a trace of static. High-end cellular networks really did make a difference."Hello?" Andini's voice abruptly cut through the speaker. Her tone was sharp and frantic, ringing loud and clear in Jaka's ear."Yeah, it's me," Jaka replied, leaning a shoulder against the rough wooden pillar in the living room. "First off, thank you so much for buying my sister and me new phones. She hasn't let hers out of her sight for a second."The rush of wind through a cracked car window and the harsh screech of tires on asphalt bled through the line. "Are you home?" she cut in quickly, completely ignoring his sincere gratitude.Jaka stood up straight, catching the sheer urgency in her voice. "Uh, yeah. I was just about to head back out to the field to check on some seedlings.""Don't leave!" Andini's voice shot up an octave, frantic and desperate. "I need to talk to you... an

The midday breeze drifted sluggishly, carrying a sharp, earthen blend of drying red soil and the sap of crops mingling in the open air.Stepping out of the cool, cement-floored living room, Jaka calmly led the small group down a rocky path cutting through the plantation. On either side, endless stretches of green fields unfurled toward the horizon.Vibrant tomatoes and fresh vegetables hung heavy on their stems, reflecting the scorching sunlight that beat down mercilessly, its radiating heat seemingly baking right into the skin.Andini stopped in her tracks. Her low heels ground softly against the gravel with a faint crunch. Bending down, she fixed her attention on a cluster of glossy red tomatoes. Her slender fingertips carefully traced the fruit's smooth skin, feeling the lingering heat of the sun before she slowly straightened back up."That's quite a harvest today," Andini murmured. Her voice broke the silence that had settled over their trek through the fields.A few paces ahead,

With the operational agreement settled, Andini reflexively raised her left arm. She checked the metal watch strapped tightly to her wrist. Her eyes widened. "Ah! We're almost out of time! We really need to head back to the city right this second!"At the mention of time, the warm smiles and gentle demeanors on Jeanne, Rosa, and Selia's faces vanished without a trace. Their expressions turned tense and deadly serious.After a brief, silent exchange of glances, Jeanne reached into her bag. She pulled out a premium, pitch-black business card and handed it to Jaka."Don't hesitate to call us the moment it's time for the daily harvest," Jeanne said, emphasizing every syllable with an undeniable, heavy urgency. "Or... if there's anything else you want to ask. We'll answer all your questions. We won't keep any secrets from you."Jaka looked down, running his thumb over the card's stiff edge. A faint chill seeped from the paper. "Okay. I'll call you tonight."His reassurance was met with sync

Hundreds of miles away from the scorching sun over the farmland, Andini walked down the vast, sweeping corridor of polished black marble inside her family’s main estate in Jakarta.The rhythmic click of her high heels echoed off the towering marble walls, which were lined with priceless classical paintings.The bite of the central air conditioning chilled the bare skin of her arms, standing in stark contrast to the clammy heat spreading across her cold, sweating palms.Her heart beat in an erratic, skipping rhythm. Every step she took through the deserted hallway felt impossibly heavy, as if anxiety were multiplying the pull of gravity beneath her feet.She finally came to a stop in front of a massive, five-meter-tall teak door. Intricate carvings spiraled across its entire surface, radiating the absolute authority of the man who resided behind it.Andini closed her eyes for a brief moment. She drew in a deep breath, letting the scent of aged wood and sterile antiseptic fill her lungs