The Divine Auditor : Settling the Ledger of Souls

Chapter 6 — The Awakening of the Auditor

"I hate people who speak in riddles."

Daniel Suryanata leaned back in his chair. 

The black card slid across the polished desk before stopping in front of Elias.

"You have five minutes."

"If, after five minutes, I still don't have a satisfying answer..."

"...you'll be escorted out of this building."

Silence settled over the office once again.

Elias didn't touch the card, His eyes remained fixed on Daniel, Calm, Unshaken. Several seconds passed before he finally spoke.

"You're mistaken."

One of Daniel's eyebrows rose "About what?"

"It's not me who has five minutes."

Elias glanced at the expensive watch wrapped around Daniel's wrist "You do."

Daniel let out a quiet chuckle "You're quite confident."

"No."

"I'm simply stating a fact."

The faint smile on Daniel's face slowly disappeared "I want answers." "Who exactly are you?"

Elias answered without hesitation.

"My name is Elias Pratama."

"An Auditor."

"I came here to deliver the results of your audit."

Daniel slowly shook his head.

"Interesting."

"I never hired an auditor."

"You never requested one."

"Then who sent you?"

"No one."

"That's impossible."

Elias didn't argue, He simply looked at Daniel for a moment before speaking again.

"We don't have much time."

"So I'll proceed directly to the audit results."

Daniel folded his arms across his chest "Go ahead."

"I'd like to hear how far your lies can go."

Elias gave a slight nod "Daniel Suryanata."

"Audit status active."

"You have an outstanding debt."

Daniel laughed immediately.

"Debt?"

"I owe nothing."

"I'm not referring to debts owed to banks."

"Nor to investors."

"Then to whom?"

Elias looked straight into Daniel's eyes.

"To the people whose rights you took."

The office fell into complete silence, Daniel was still smiling. But now the smile looked forced, Elias continued.

"First victim."

"Arman Hidayat."

Daniel's fingers, which had been rhythmically tapping the desk, suddenly stopped.

"Owner of a textile factory."

"His company was transferred into your possession through a shell corporation."

"Two months later..."

"...he was found dead inside his office."

Daniel leaned back "Old news."

"Everyone knows about that."

Elias ignored the remark.

"Second victim."

"Lina Prasetyo."

Daniel's eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Owner of land in Karawang."

"You manipulated the appraisal value, reducing the selling price by nearly eighty percent."

"Six months later..."

"...her entire family went bankrupt."

Daniel was no longer smiling, His expression had turned cold "Where did you get those names?"

Elias offered no answer

"Third victim."

"Yusuf Halim."

Daniel cut him off sharply "Enough." His voice was much louder than before.

"Where did you get that information?"

"That isn't important."

"Answer me!"

"What matters..."

"...is that they're recorded."

Daniel rose from his chair, Both hands pressed firmly against the desk, His eyes narrowed.

"I spent decades building this company."

"I worked while everyone else slept."

"I took risks no one else dared to take."

"Everything I own today..."

"...I built it with my own hands."

Elias remained seated, His expression never changed.

"That's true."

Daniel gave a thin smile, But before it could settle on his face, Elias continued.

"The problem is..."

"...not everything you built belonged to you."

Silence swallowed the room once more, Daniel stared at him without blinking.

For the first time he couldn't immediately think of a response. Meanwhile, Elias simply sat there in complete composure.

As though every argument Daniel had made had already been anticipated.

Daniel inhaled slowly, Several seconds passed before he sat back down. His gaze remained sharp, though now tinged with caution.

"Let's assume everything you've said is true."

"Then tell me."

"How much do I owe?"

Elias didn't answer immediately, The information had already merged into his consciousness the moment he entered the office, He didn't need to open The Book of Debts, and didn't need to consult any records. Everything had already become part of him.

"Your total debt..."

"...is eighty-six billion four hundred fifty million rupiah."

"The number of recorded victims..."

"...three hundred and twelve."

Daniel's face remained expressionless, But beneath the desk, his fists slowly clenched.

"Those are just numbers."

"Anyone can invent numbers."

"True." Elias nodded calmly "Which is why I didn't come here asking you to believe me."

"Then why are you here?"

"I came to give you an opportunity."

Daniel frowned "An opportunity?"

"To repay your debt."

Daniel burst into laughter, Louder than before "Repay it?"

"To whom?"

"To people who may already be dead?"

"Or to their families?"

"How exactly?"

"No."

Elias slowly shook his head "You'll discover the method yourself."

"I'm only informing you that the opportunity still exists."

Daniel narrowed his eyes "And if I refuse?"

"That is your right."

"And if I decide this entire thing is nonsense?"

"That is also your right."

Daniel smiled with satisfaction.

"There."

"At last, we agree."

"No." 

That single word erased the smile from his face.

"We do not." Elias rose from his chair, Every movement was calm Measured.

"I only said that you are free to choose."

"But..."

"...you are not free to choose the consequences of that choice."

Daniel's expression shifted "What do you mean?"

"The audit grants you seventy two hours."

"During that time..."

"...you still have the right to repay your debt."

"Once that time expires..."

Elias paused.

"...the right to choose will no longer belong to you."

Silence settled over the office again, Daniel looked directly into Elias's eyes.

"Then..."

"Who will force me?"

Elias returned the stare without the slightest change in expression "I will."

Daniel let out a mocking laugh "You?"

"No."

"I'm merely the Auditor."

"Then who?"

For the first time since the meeting had Something far deeper appeared in Elias's eyes. As though an unseen presence was looking through him.

"The Book of Debts."

He spoke the four words with perfect calm.

Yet for reasons Daniel couldn't explain A chill crept up his spine. He immediately dismissed the feeling.

"Then tell your book to come collect."

"I don't need to."

Elias straightened the cuff of his jacket.

"Collection always begins on time."

"Never early."

"And never late."

Daniel snorted. "A cheap threat."

"I'm not threatening you."

"I'm informing you."

Elias walked toward the door, His hand had already reached the handle when Daniel's voice stopped him "Wait."

Elias paused, Without turning around.

"If..."

Daniel hesitated for several seconds.

"...if someone wanted to repay their debt..."

"...could everything still be fixed?"

For the first time Daniel wasn't asking to argue. He was asking because he genuinely wanted the answer.

Elias replied simply "As long as the audit period has not ended..."

"...there is always a chance."

Then he opened the door, Before stepping outside, he spoke quietly.

"Use your remaining time wisely, Mr. Daniel."

"The door of opportunity never opens twice."

Click.

The door closed, Daniel remained seated without moving. The office that had once felt spacious now seemed strangely suffocating. His eyes slowly drifted toward the wall clock, this time in his life He was truly watching time pass. The office door closed softly.

Click.

Daniel remained frozen where he stood. Only moments ago, he had dismissed everything Elias said as nonsense.

But now the names echoed relentlessly inside his mind. Arman Hidayat, Lina Prasetyo, Yusuf Halim.

Names that should have been buried by time itselfn"How…”,"...does he know?"

Daniel rubbed his face roughly. "No."

"Impossible."

He immediately picked up the telephone on his desk.

"Surya." His trusted assistant answered instantly.

"Yes, sir."

"Come in."

Less than a minute later, the door opened. A man in his early forties entered with hurried steps "What can I do for you, sir?"

Daniel tossed Elias's black business card onto the desk. "Find this man."

"Now."

Surya picked up the card, His eyes scanned every word printed on it, Elias Pratama Below the name was nothing but a phone number, No company logo, No address, No title, Only a name.

"Understood, sir."

"Use every connection we have."

"Population records."

"Banking."

"Immigration."

"Employment history."

"Anything."

"I want to know who he is."

"Yes, sir." Surya turned and left the office.

Daniel sat back down, He pressed his fingers against his temples. He refused to believe it. Everything had to be a coincidence, No one could possibly know those secrets. His phone vibrated, A message from Surya.

Sir...

There's something strange, Daniel immediately opened it. Elias Pratama is indeed registered as an Indonesian citizen.

But that's all there is, Daniel frowned. Another message arrived, No employment history, No asset ownership, No active bank accounts, No tax records, No company affiliations. It's as if... he only appeared in this world recently. Daniel's expression froze.

"That's impossible..."

He immediately pressed the call button. Surya answered on the first ring.

"Sir."

"Don't rely only on the national database."

"Contact our people inside the ministries."

"Use every back channel."

"Yes, sir."

"And..."

Daniel paused.

"I also want every file concerning Arman Hidayat reopened."

Silence filled the other end of the line.

"Sir..."

"That case has been closed for over ten years."

"I know."

"Reopen it."

"...Understood."

The call ended, Daniel slowly lowered his phone. His gaze returned to the wall clock. The second hand continued its endless march.

Tick...

Tock…

Tick…

Tock…

For the first time, the sound seemed unbearably loud. As though it were reminding him that the time he had left Was truly running out.