A heavy silence enveloped the ruins of the Segara family home. Before the grand banner of the Salakanagara Kingdom, Ranjana and Sinta bowed respectfully, hiding their shock behind masks of composure.
But Ramdan, in Melati's arms, could only stare bleakly. Before him stood Rian, the original protagonist. His QC-brain, accustomed to order, was now experiencing a critical error.
A surprise audit from fate? Why is he here?
Ranjana stepped forward.
"Our respects, Head Royal Guard Bima Sakti. Sampurasun, Prince Rian. It is an honor that the Prince would deign to visit our shack."
The boy only gave a small nod, but his eyes, as sharp as a young eagle's, never left Ramdan. Bima Sakti, the head guard, bowed deeply instead, followed by his entire retinue.
"Sampurasun. It is an honor for us to meet with you again, Ranjana Segara... the former Sang Hyang Widi Maruta, the God of Wind."
The revelation hit harder than a storm. Ramdan was aghast.
My father... a sang hyang widi?
[The data you read in the novel was incomplete,] the System whispered in his mind. [Sang Hyang Tunggal, the God of this universe, chose seven great beings as His representatives. Your father, Maruta the wind, is one of them. Their identities were kept secret after the great war against the demons.]
Then why is my class just QC Magician?! Ramdan protested.
[In time, you will understand,] the System replied enigmatically. [That controlling the quality of fate is far more complex than controlling the wind.]
In the midst of Ramdan's confusion, Bima Sakti explained their purpose.
"We tracked an extraordinary mana surge from this village. We are certain your son is the source. The Kingdom hopes he can be honed to serve Salakanagara."
Damn it! My completely failed attempt to woo Melati turned into a distress beacon! Ramdan grumbled.
Bima Sakti gave a signal, asking his troops to keep their distance. He then led Ranjana and Prince Rian slightly away for a private conversation.
"Mantra! Dome of Silence!"
A book decorated with musical scales appeared at Bima Sakti's side, emitting a purple light that formed a transparent shield, muffling all sound within a one-kilometer radius.
[Quickly, Ramdan! Use [Audit Eye] on that dome now!] the System urged.
Without hesitation, Ramdan focused all his mana into his eyes. His right eye shone with a golden light. He wasn't just seeing; he was scanning. He forcibly pulled the sound waves trapped within the dome, converting them into data he could read.
Dingg!![[Audit Eye] Lv.1 Active! Decrypting Encrypted Sound Waves...][Brief Audit Report Received]
There was no printer. The report was etched directly into his mind in luminous text.
• Main Topic: A secret mandate from King Dewawarman. Requesting Ranjana to train Prince Rian until the age of 11 in preparation for succession.• Cause: The King is suffering from a mysterious curse and his life has been deemed short.• Abnormality Detected: Traces of corrupt mana found on the agate ring worn by Prince Rian. Identified as an Ancient Seal of Darkness that absorbs life energy.• Recommended Solution: Level up to 7 to unlock the [Virtual Lab] skill and begin an in-depth analysis of the seal.
So that's the problem, Ramdan thought bitterly. The protagonist, it turns out, has a lethal 'product defect'. My chance to be a hero went up in smoke... along with my house.
As the dome vanished, Rian walked toward Melati and Ramdan. He crouched, staring intently at Ramdan.
"So, this baby is the son of a Sang Hyang Widi?"
His finger touched Ramdan's cheek. The touch felt like a meeting of two poles of destiny.
"From now on, I'll think of you as my little brother," Rian said, before turning to Melati with a charming smile.
"Sampurasun, what is the name of this beautiful big sister?"
Melati's face blushed. Ramdan's heart burned with jealousy.
Go away! Melati is mine! he screamed internally, which of course only came out as a louder baby babble.
Bima Sakti spoke again in his official capacity.
"Ranjana Segara, on behalf of the Kingdom, we wish to invite your son to be educated at the palace."
Ranjana was silent for a long time.
"I accept His Majesty the King's mandate," he answered heavily. "BUT," he continued, his gaze as sharp as a sword, "I have a condition. Prince Rian's training will be conducted here, at my home, far from the palace intrigue. He will live and train with us as family, until my son is seven years old."
"In this remote village? The Prince's security..." Bima Sakti countered.
Rian suddenly spoke up.
"I agree. I want to train with Uncle Ranjana. And... live near him." He pointed at Ramdan.
Cornered, Bima Sakti relented.
"Very well. Our condition: two elite guards will be posted as your new neighbors in disguise to watch over the Prince. This is non-negotiable."
"We agree," Ranjana replied.
"Just a moment," Sinta interjected suddenly. "With all due respect, our house was just destroyed. Is His Majesty the King providing a proper amount of gulden for a responsibility this large?"
GO FOR IT, MOM! SQUEEZE HIM DRY! Ramdan cheered internally.
"SINTA!" Ranjana chided.
"Aunty and Uncle need not worry," Rian chimed in wisely. "As long as I am here, I will help."
[See? A virtuous prince. An anomaly like you, on the other hand, is the opposite.]
Whose side are you on?!
An agreement was reached. Ramdan's mission was now clearer than ever: he had to ensure the main product—the protagonist—didn't suffer a fatal system failure when he was needed most.
Dingg!![Contract Accepted. Project "Protagonist Training v1.0" Has Begun. Beware of surveillance from the 'new neighbors'. Audits can occur at any time.]
Don't worry, Ramdan thought with a smirk. Auditing is my middle name.
(To be continued)