The Midnight Shuttle

Chapter 12 : Inheritance

09:00 AM WIB

“I came here because Alya sent me,” Aditia said as he stepped into the presence of Mr. Harsawi, Alya's father.

“You've got guts coming here alone,” Harsawi replied from the opposite end of a long dining table.

Of course, Aditia had not come empty-handed.

He had brought Panglima and Raden with him.

“As you already know, I’m not alone,” Aditia said calmly. “On my right stands Panglima Erlangga. On my left stands Raden Ammardharma. You've been involved with the unseen world for a long time, so you recognize the owners of these Karuhun, don't you? And I also know that behind you stands the beast you worship. If you dare touch me or harm either of them, Ayi and her entire army will reduce your business empire to ashes.”

“I only want my daughter,” Harsawi replied, lowering his voice slightly.

“Then offer me something valuable enough to make me return Alya to you.” Aditia smiled, a dangerous smile.

“Oh? So that's your game? How much do you want?” Harsawi sounded like a father trying desperately to ransom his kidn*pped child.

But they both knew better.

“Transfer every cent of your liquid assets into my account right now, and I'll tell you where Alya is.”

“So you understand money after all?” Harsawi chuckled. “Fine. My cash becomes yours. Once I get Alya back, I can simply demand more from her.”

He pointed casually toward Begu Ganjang lurking behind him.

“I've already sent you the account information,” Aditia continued. “It's a VVIP Gold Exceptional Priority account. It can receive and transfer billions at once without being restricted by normal banking limits. You have one of those accounts too, don't you? Transfer everything. Now.”

“Interesting.” Harsawi leaned back. “A boy like you has access to an account with no transfer ceiling? There are only about twenty people in this country with that privilege. You continue to surprise me.”

“It doesn't belong to me.” Aditia smirked.

“But it will.”

“Very well,” Harsawi said. “I'll process it.”

...

Twenty minutes later, both men remained seated at the same table.

The table was absurdly long.

Ridiculously luxurious.

A dining table meant for a king.

Despite the fact that Harsawi ate alone.

Yes, he had dozens of subordinates and hundreds of spirit servants.

But meals?

Meals were still solitary.

So why did he need a table this large?

The distance between him and Aditia felt significant enough to fit another lifetime between them.

“I've completed the transfer,” Harsawi finally said. “Check the account.” Aditia opened the banking application.

His eyes widened.

Hundreds of billions.

The amount flashing on the screen was enough to change his family's future forever.

Enough to guarantee comfort for generations.

Enough to tempt almost anyone.

A faint smile curved his lips.

“Good,” Aditia said. “I'll show you where Alya is. Come alone. Bring Begu Ganjang if you want. He's more than enough, isn't he?”

“Fine.”

Harsawi rose from his chair.

“Let's go.”

And together, they headed toward the place where Alya was supposedly hidden.

...

Two Hours Earlier — 07:00 AM WIB

Morning sunlight streamed through the apartment windows as Aditia, Alya, and Ayi Mahogra sat down for breakfast.

“Alya, were you able to sleep well?” Ayi asked.

“Yes, Ayi,” Alya replied softly. “For the first time in a very long time, I slept peacefully.”

Under the table, Aditia gently squeezed her hand.

Only now was he beginning to understand how difficult Alya's life had truly been.

“Today we're going to carry out a plan,” Ayi said firmly. “And while I explain it, nobody asks questions. Nobody interrupts. You simply follow my instructions. Understood?”

Both of them nodded.

“After breakfast, Aditia, come to my study alone. There's something I need you to do first.”

“Understood, Ayi.”

Neither argued.

Neither hesitated.

At this point, they both knew there was no one else willing—or capable—of helping them.

And Aditia trusted Ayi Mahogra completely.

Breakfast continued quietly.

But curiosity lingered in the air.

Heavy.

Persistent.

“What we're about to do won't be easy,” Ayi said once they were alone.

They were sitting inside a private office, one usually belonging to Malik. Ayi often used the room whenever she needed to discuss serious matters or plan strategies with her allies.

“I know that, Ayi.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because of Father's stories. Because of his notes. According to everything he left behind, Ayi Mahogra is someone who always helps people facing situations like ours.”

“Only because of that?” Ayi asked quietly. “Not because you truly trust me?”

The question unsettled him.

A little.

“Adit... trusts everything Father taught him,” he admitted. “Beyond that... I don't know who else I should trust.”

“God.”

Ayi's voice softened.

“God is who you should trust.”

For a moment she fell silent.

Then she continued.

“I can't promise happiness for either you or Alya. But I'm helping because I care about you. You're the younger brother of a great man I've come to regard as family, even though we never met. That's my only reason. I'm not doing this for personal gain. So whatever I tell you today, follow it completely. Don't question it. Don't doubt it. Don't grow suspicious.”

Ayi shifted closer.

Her gaze sharpened.

“You're about to face a man who's lived for more than a hundred years. He's smarter than you. More experienced. More cautious. More manipulative.”

Aditia listened carefully.

“You must repeat every sentence exactly as I teach you. Every word. Every gesture. Every expression. No improvisation. No changes. No mistakes.”

Her tone grew increasingly serious.

“We can't use technology. We can't communicate remotely. Harsawi has already shielded his property from outside interference. So the only way to make you speak like me is for you to memorize everything perfectly.”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“Can you do that?”

“I'll do anything for Alya.”

“For goodness.”

Ayi immediately corrected him.

“Not for reward. Not for recognition. Not for love. For goodness. Understand?”

Aditia lowered his head.

“I understand.”

“Good.”

Ayi smiled faintly.

“Then repeat after me...”

...

Present Time — 10:00 AM WIB

Everything had unfolded exactly as Ayi planned.

Every sentence.

Every gesture.

Every calculated pause.

From demanding the money to convincing Harsawi to follow him here.

Aditia had repeated every instruction perfectly and it worked.

The money now rested inside the account Ayi wanted.

Meanwhile, he and Harsawi were driving toward their destination.

“We're here,” Aditia said as he opened the car door.

“Impressive,” Harsawi replied while stepping out. “You've hidden my daughter inside a clean zone. No wonder Begu couldn't find her despite sending every one of his demon offspring searching.”

The property before them had been abandoned for years.

Nearly a hectare in size.

Long ago, Aditia had once picked up Mbak Nona here.

Since then, Ayi had cleansed the entire area from supernatural detection. Neither humans nor spirits could trace Alya inside these grounds.

According to Ayi, she needed a large battlefield.

Aditia still didn't understand what battle she meant.

But he trusted her.

And this forgotten estate seemed perfect for whatever was about to happen.

“Inside,” Aditia said coldly.

He walked first.

Harsawi followed.

The moment Alya's father stepped completely into the main hall, someone moved.

Fast.

A figure seized Harsawi from behind and immediately plunged a syringe into his neck.

Within seconds, the older man collapsed.

Begu Ganjang roared.

Its master had fallen.

Rage erupted from the towering creature as it prepared to tear apart whoever had attacked him.

But then—

“He's dead. Your contract with him has ended.”

The man holding the syringe shouted the words loudly.

Raden, Panglima and another Karuhun resembling the stranger.

All immediately moved to protect both Aditia and the newcomer.

“Doctor Adi?” Aditia stared in confusion. “Why are you here?”

“Hey, Adit,” Doctor Adi replied casually before turning toward Begu Ganjang. “Check for yourself. Your master is dead.”

The towering spirit froze.

Confused.

Disoriented.

Ownerless.

For the first time in centuries.

“Alya, come out!” Doctor Adi called.

“Al...”

“Dit...” Alya emerged from hiding, her legs nearly giving out. “Father...”

She rushed toward the body.

No breathing.

No pulse.

Nothing.

Her father was truly dead.

“Al.”

Aditia caught her before she collapsed.

“Stay strong. Okay? Stay strong.” He helped her stand.

“Begu!” Doctor Adi shouted. “Your master is dead. His heir is here. Renew the contract with her—or remain masterless forever. Become nothing more than a worthless spirit!”

The provocation worked.

Begu Ganjang rose to its full height.

Then it called.

And they came.

Hundreds.

No.

Thousands.

Monstrous beings flooded into the building from every direction. Their footsteps echoed like an invading army. The air grew suffocating. Dark clouds gathered overhead, swallowing the sunlight that had illuminated the morning only moments before.

“Recite the oath, Alya!” Doctor Adi yelled.

Aditia supported her trembling body.

“Come on, Al. You can do this. I know you can." He guided her forward.

Closer.

Closer.

Toward the creature she had feared her entire life.

The creature responsible for every nightmare.

Every loss.

Every year of suffering.

“I don't want to say it.” Her voice cracked.

“I don't want to!”

Aditia understood.

How could he not?

She had spent her entire life running from this monster.

And now they were asking her to become its master.

“Say the oath exactly the way Ayi taught you!” Doctor Adi shouted. “You'll be fine! This is how you break free! Say it, Alya!”

The temperature continued to rise.

More demons poured into the abandoned building.

Every second mattered.

If Alya failed to claim ownership, Begu Ganjang would become completely free and once that happened ... Everyone here would die.

“I don't want to!” Alya screamed.

“I don't want to say it!”

Around them, the abandoned estate had become a sea of demons.

And only Alya's oath stood between salvation...

And catastrophe.