026. The Criminal

Bandung, Indonesia. One day before the Karabash incident.
The morning sun cast an eerie glow as a black SUV glided into the expansive grounds of a residence in the Cipaganti district. A young man emerged from the driver's cabin, his handsome and masculine features accentuated by thick eyebrows above piercing eyes. His tall, lean frame seamlessly matched the tailored suit and open-collared white shirt, exuding an air of nonchalant sophistication. The top knot undercut hairstyle added a rebellious touch to his looks.
Known as Jalu Mahawira, this man transcended mere appearances. In the realm of the criminal underworld, his name struck fear into the hearts of many. Jalu was among the select few regarded as the world's premier contract killers. Those unfortunate enough to be on his list had no chance of escaping his clutches, be they crime lords or high-ranking government officials.
Jalu's lithe physique, adorned with lean and sinewy muscles, hid great strength and abilities that made him the target of numerous organizations. Yet, any attempt to lay a finger on him, whether individually or through coalitions, resulted in swift and untraceable obliteration from the face of the earth. These incidents solidified Jalu Mahawira's name in the criminal underworld. He became synonymous with death itself.
That day, he had just returned from Minnesota, USA, having completed a job destined to make headlines the following day. A middle-aged man, a franchise mogul with tentacles throughout the city, would be discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head when his wife returned from the gym. The only clue left for the police would be a text message on his phone—an ultimatum to end an illicit affair with a woman presumed to be his mistress.
Law enforcement would uncover the woman's belongings and a note asserting that the fetus in her womb belonged to the deceased man, all on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Though the woman was just a name, the organization hiring Jalu had meticulously prepared all the necessary documents to authenticate her existence. The investigation would conclude that the case was nothing more than a tragic result of infidelity. Thus, the orchestrated scenario would reach its flawless conclusion.
Jalu retrieved a backpack from the car trunk and securely locked the vehicle. He also sealed the trellis gate, towering above the height of an average adult, adorned with minimalist bars arranged in an aesthetic pattern. However, he obscured every gap with thick black fiber, preventing any view of the beautiful garden from outside. Jalu always evaded the gaze of others, preferring solitude and conversation only with those he truly knew.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Jalu brewed a cup of coffee and relaxed in the serene backyard surrounded by small trees and a spacious pool crafted to resemble a stone-lined lake. Lying in a hammock, he reactivated his device, intentionally silenced during the journey. Two unanswered calls from a single person appeared on the screen. Jalu appeared indifferent to the notifications, but seeing his father's name unearthed memories of the event that had shattered his world.
The man wasn't always immersed in the criminal world. Previously, Jalu was a member of Division 96, recruited for his achievements in Kopassus, a highly respected special force in the Indonesian Army. However, everything changed when he was sent to learn the art of camouflage and assassination with the Nizari Hashashin clan in Iran. His country underwent tremendous upheaval as he found himself isolated in the ruins of the Alamut fortress, perched two thousand one hundred meters above sea level and secluded from civilization.
A militant political party called the Gelombang Pembaharu Party won almost all votes in the general elections. The term 'Unified Ideology of the Nation' echoed through every media outlet and school curriculum, a euphemism replacing the word fascism. Eventually, all opposition was eliminated through various means from the political scene, and new rules were established to eradicate potential competitors.
Led by the President who was also the Chairman of the Gelombang Pembaharu Party, Bambang Irawan, the Penyempurna Regime emerged. A regime that disregarded history and the secrets guarded by each leader from generation to generation. The birth of the Penyempurna Regime seemed to overturn everything that had transpired in Indonesia, regardless of whether it was good or bad. The country's political system shifted from democracy to totalitarianism, and a new form of tyranny began.
Isolated from the outside world during his education with the Nizari clan, Jalu neither experienced nor witnessed the detailed sequence of events unfolding in Indonesia. What he discovered upon returning to his homeland was a country unrecognizable to him. Government institutions and military organizational structures had been completely overhauled. New agencies, organizations, and laws, unheard of before, emerged and quickly took root.
However, what struck Jalu profoundly was the news of the deaths of two hundred members of Division 96. During his time in Alamut, the secret task force EPCU had been labeled as terrorists and hunted down like animals. The majority of the remaining members of Division 96 fled abroad. Those who stayed were forced to hide far from the watchful eyes of a regime that seemed to imbue walls with eyes and ears.
Thanks to several active connections still working in various government agencies, every piece of information concerning Division 96 gradually vanished until it was completely obliterated. The hunt was deemed finished and successful. The country returned to a semblance of peace, functioning as it should. It was at that moment that Jalu returned from Alamut, precisely when the survivors of the Division 96 pursuit emerged from hiding and began to integrate into society.
Left alone with no one to turn to, he quickly adapted, relying on instincts sharpened by survival. His heart ached with the loneliness of isolation, but he masked it well, moving through the crowds like a ghost. Each step was calculated, every action deliberate, as he immersed himself in the fabric of society. Jalu listened, observed, and pieced together fragments of conversations, absorbing information to grasp the world around him. He saw the fear in people’s eyes, the way they avoided certain topics, and understood the weight of oppression bearing down on them.
Despite his efforts to remain detached, the memories of those he lost haunted him, pushing him forward. He scrutinized the situation from every angle, searching for cracks in the system. Yet, through all his analysis, one truth burned with relentless clarity: The Regime must fall. It wasn’t just a mission; it was a vow born from the pain of his shattered past, a beacon guiding him toward justice.