Tropical Beasts (5)
Sultana Chandra Kirana turned her body back, fiddling with the blunt end of her pipe.
"Looking back now, the transformations in those massive lifeforms were harbingers of changes in humanity itself. They showed vigorous growth and ferocity beyond the norm first, and only then did humans follow with transcendent strength. So perhaps this time, too, new powers will be granted to people in the wake of those great beings."
This view wasn't unique to this chain-smoking noblewoman. There was no solid proof, but inferences based on phenomena were hardly difficult. In the relevant black markets, live research samples were going under the hammer in private auctions at unimaginable prices. There were three reasons for keeping the auctions secret. First, many of the live-traded goods were on the endangered species red list. Second, revealing their capture locations could spark diplomatic disputes. And third, to avoid becoming targets for eco-activists and cult groups with pathological obsessions about Awakened beings in the wild.
Anyway, when they do it, it's romance. No matter how hard businessmen like me tried, we couldn't catch up to the dark operations run at the national level. If the country was a basket case like North Korea, it might be possible depending on the field and timing. But national interests and the greater good justified their ventures.
"What say you?"
The interpreter relayed Sultana Chandra Kirana's question.
"Does my speculation seem too hasty?"
"Not at all. Plenty of people are predicting the same."
"Though credibility is low, you've surely heard the rumors of superhumans appearing here and there. In Japan, some cult leader's successor performed the miracle of rising slowly while seated. And in North Korea, that Moderenam—the supreme leader—gained a superpower called 'Chukji-beop' or something. They say it's the power to shrink the earth and fold space to make distant places near. If true, it's astonishing."
"......"
Bahasa Indonesia apparently lacked a term for chukji-beop, so Sultana Chandra Kirana uttered the North Korean pig's name and the term verbatim. From footage broadcast by the Korean Central News Agency, it was factual that the human-shaped swine had awakened as an Ability User thanks to his jiggling biomass. No matter how you looked at it, the sight of him in a black fur coat, arms crossed, traversing rugged snowy mountains like flat plains wasn't CGI.
But laying over bombastic propaganda songs about flashing east and west to toy with the world, and blathering that the republic's supreme dignity was secretly training in chukji-beop—that was just laughable. Folding space to cover three thousand ri in a single step? Not even the Round Table Cabinet's grand grimoire, the Majestic Book of Gold, held such a spell. And the added effect of an avalanche at his foot stomp was beyond ridiculous.
A passing news clip resurfaced in my mind—the provocative voice of that North Korean announcer better known in the West as Pink Lady.
"Our dear republic's supreme military commander, Comrade Kim* Jong-un, declared that on the day his chukji-beop reaches perfection, he will soar into the skies over Seoul with two million People's Army soldiers like a swarm of locusts, pouring down like a hailstorm upon the hearts of the pro-American traitors and warmongers of South Joseon. Those South Joseon puppet thugs who prattle about dialogue and peace in front, only to frenzy over military buildup and war provocations in the back, will scatter and collapse like flying locusts before the historic might of the supreme commander's chukji-beop—"
Deifying the ruler and manufacturing military crises were tools for dictatorships to secure domestic stability. Even in this era, North Korea couldn't be at ease. They were resorting to absurd fabrications like chukji-beop out of desperation. In the past, such nonsense would have stayed as internal propaganda, but hearing it from Sultana Chandra Kirana's lips was proof of how chaotic the times had become.
Conspiracy theories were swirling that the Chinese plague sweeping the world last year wasn't just a pandemic but a "mutant virus" birthing superpowers.
"What are you thinking?"
Curious about my silence, Sultana Chandra Kirana prompted me, and I gave a measured reply.
"I've only heard rumors from a few connections, but the Japan story might be true."
"Oh ho. Is that so?"
She showed interest, and I nodded lightly again.
"So it seems. Given how fast that cult's following is growing, even if not full levitation, they must have something to differentiate from rivals."
What muddied the waters on these rumors was the horde of cult leaders claiming all sorts of miracles since magic's return. Even as the dawn of dual Ability Users approached, the flood of prior fakes drowned out the truth.
And many hide it themselves. Anyone not self-restraining after seeing animal experiment news was either low-IQ or mentally ill.
Sultana Chandra Kirana continued.
"Back to the point. I foresee that humans will soon command water, summon fire, walk the air with unseen forces, and shield themselves with currents. When that day comes, the submarines we build in partnership could spark a global logistics revolution."
She naturally meant revolution in the black market logistics.
"Submarines charged by manpower could run at top speed the entire voyage. And no more fearing crackdowns. No border barrier means anything against our smuggling fleet. Even if spotted, dispersed watchers can't outmatch a concentrated fleet. Just load a bit less cargo per sub and fill with weapons and fighters."
Partnership revolutionizing logistics, our smuggling fleet.
"Are you asking for more than tech transfer?"
"Indeed. Far more."
"......"
"As you know, all markets favor the first mover. How high that ground rises depends on economies of scale. Thus, I wish to join hands with you to grow big, preempt rivals. Before those Latin American fools think of straying from their backyard, we secure 'our sea' for sure."
Talking economies of scale meant building a dominant network, even at lower margins. In plain terms, team up to become the Amazon of this trade. It also preempted future rivalry with me.
I pushed the dishes aside, interlaced my fingers, and eyed the heated Sultana Chandra Kirana.
"There's more."
"What do you mean?"
"The you I know wouldn't get this excited over mere profit. It'd tarnish royal dignity."
"Oh dear."
"Let me guess. Your goal isn't petty gains, but expanding the market itself by cutting costs and boosting volume. Our trade in death thrives on growing chaos and disorder. Right?"
"......Spot on."
Admitting freely, Sultana Chandra Kirana suddenly burst into laughter. Golden petals and stamens atop her resplendent coronet like a peacock's tail quivered with her mirth. Clutching her pipe with rising smoke, she laughed long before speaking in a delighted tone.
"This is fun. Read so easily. A friend's wisdom is joy itself."
"You flatter me."
"Yes, exactly. You see true. I desire chaos spreading like plague."
"For the kingdom?"
"For the kingdom."
This was unusual. In this harmony-seeking nation's negotiation style, unvetted matters weren't raised. Breakers of this were either rude incompetents embarrassing partners or clueless foreigners. Yet this golden smoker risked rudeness because she wanted to judge me face-to-face, without tipping my subordinates the real agenda.
Sultana Chandra Kirana was an Awakened. She could sense my mana field and my subordinates'. Meeting thus let her gauge how flexibly my organization embraced the era's changes, our readiness for the future. Like China's police and military—and all nations'—culling non-Awakened personnel was tough. It applied to disciplined crime syndicates too.
"That city."
Sultana Chandra Kirana pointed outside with her pipe hand. I knew chaotic slums from hasty development lay in that direction.
"Jambi is mine. Must be mine. Land razed by Dutch imperialists, refused return by republic traitors. The lost kingdom I must reclaim! I yearn for that city. To shed this pathetic sultana pretense and ascend Jambi's rightful throne."
Who knew this old-timer had this side. So earnest over past glories heard only in tales from parents, never experienced. A rare human specimen. And amusing, too. Scheming a 21st-century kingdom with an old royal gauging partners.
"What say you?"
Sultana Chandra Kirana asked again.
"Does my goal sound fanciful?"
From reverie, I replied.
"On the way here, the town's grown huge."
"Indeed. Much bigger."
"It'll keep growing. As order crumbles, more crave direct protection. But the corrupt republic can't meet all expectations."
"So, hope?"
"De facto control is sovereignty's cradle. Laws compromise with reality. So why not aim for hereditary governorship like Yogyakarta's sultan, or Wajo regent council honors? None would deny you're sultana then."
Indonesia let many bosses shadow-preserve old glories. Yogyakarta's sultan held official peak power—a fitting limit for faded royals.
"Don't rush. Chaos will find us without summons. Overt notoriety harms you."
Under pleasing words, I worried this pre-modern ghost-obsessed woman might botch things rashly. Best to affirm, whisper support, heighten caution. And it wasn't false. With resurgent Aceh separatists plus old sultanate heirs, Indonesia might compromise. Objectively, Jambi wasn't impressive—nor its province. If Sultana Chandra Kirana acknowledged central authority and locals backed her, government could yield hereditary governorship on historical grounds. Nominal sultanate revival.
Then I'd be founding merit. If she avoided rash moves, Jambi sultanate revival benefited me. Why the sudden talk wasn't all bad.
"......"
Her large-bowled pipe burned cigar-long once filled. Smoking with eyes closed, breaths hazy, Sultana Chandra Kirana exhaled white on steadying, opening eyes.
"You're right."
"Meaning?"
"People first, then deeds. Business waits for friendship. We can discuss real terms after securing land, building facilities, learning tech. Agreed?"
"Yes."
"Heh heh."
Sultana Chandra Kirana laughed. The leisure of a lord gripping my site's foundation, monitoring sub builds real-time.
Soon, servants brought coffee trays. Turkish-style: grounds boiled in water, thick as mud. Serving tea or coffee signaled banquet's end. She drained hers first, quietly smoking. As I set mine down, she proposed.
"Since you're touring the site anyway, how about hunting with me for fun?"
"Sudden hunting?"
"Not sudden."
Rising, Sultana Chandra Kirana said.
"Since ancient times, hunting is sovereign's rite. Slay man-eaters for folk safety, organized drives hone elites, strip mighty beasts' hides to augment lordly prestige. Thus—"
She exhaled smoke, smiling.
"A fine sovereign must be an excellent hunter."