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Chapter 31: Closing in on Kembang Setaman

  25-1 Rani and Rina in Pink Jackets

  Meanwhile, at the University of Indonesia campus...

  Students bustled through the hallways toward their classrooms and bulletin boards.

  On a bench in the garden, a pair of twin girls in matching pink jackets were chatting.

  Rani: "How long has it been since we called Mom and Dad back home?"

  Rina: "About a month, Rani."

  Rani opened her course book while Rina flipped open her laptop.

  Rani: "Ever since we met Uncle Giono, I've felt… close to him."

  Rina: "Me too. Even though we just met, it feels like we've known him since we were kids."

  The twins giggled and smiled brightly.

  Rani: "Mom never told us she had a big, tall brother."

  Rina: "Exactly! If he's Mom's brother, no wonder Uncle Giono is so strong."

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  The girls stood up as their class was about to start, walking together toward the lecture hall.

  ***

  25-2 KPK Obtains Evidence of Mariana's Crimes

  On the third floor of the KPK headquarters…

  Tina, Satrio, and Rustam sat at a long table facing each other. At the far end, a huge monitor was mounted on the wall.

  They were holding a closed-door night meeting—9:00 p.m.

  The monitor displayed files and satellite images of Kembang Setaman Nightclub.

  Tina: "All leads point to this place."

  Rustam: "Do we know who owns it?"

  Tina: "Mariana."

  Satrio: "She's not just the owner—she's the mastermind behind illegal operations involving our own members."

  Rustam: "Gambling, drugs, human trafficking, prostitution…"

  Satrio: "And other criminal activities that threaten the nation."

  Rustam: "Weapons smuggling into Papua."

  Satrio: "We can't let this stand."

  Rustam: "We need solid evidence to take Mariana down."

  ***

  25-3 Tina's Data on the Monitor

  Tina: "Mariana is protected by corrupt high-ranking police officers."

  Rustam: "Arizal and Diono, for starters."

  Satrio: "Both of them are frequent visitors at Kembang Setaman."

  Rustam: "So far, we've already arrested insiders linked to Mariana's operations."

  Tina adjusted her glasses and looked at the laptop connected to the big monitor.

  Tina: "Take a look at the monitor."

  Satrio and Rustam turned toward the screen.

  Tina: "Here is the proof of Mariana's crimes."

  The footage showed Mariana bribing Arizal and Diono, a phone call with Kuntadi about human trafficking in Thailand, another with Bimo ordering the execution of Nagini and Burhan, and a conversation with a Myanmar arms dealer.

  Both men shook their heads grimly.

  ***

  25-4 Tina's Data is Solid

  Satrio: "Is this evidence solid, Tina?"

  Tina: "Absolutely, sir. It's from KPK and police intelligence."

  Satrio: "How did you get the CCTV footage?"

  Tina (smiling as she pushed her glasses back into place): "I hacked their CCTV system, sir."

  Satrio: "And the bank account records of Arizal and Diono?"

  Tina: "I hacked the banking system too, sir."

  Rustam shook his head in admiration.

  Rustam: "In an investigation, is hacking even legal?"

  Tina: "I got clearance from the Attorney General's Office."

  Satrio: "And this was done quietly as part of a covert mission?"

  Rustam: "Exactly. A little illegal to catch the truly illegal."

  The three chuckled.

  To be continued

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