Ki Darmo muttered to himself, worried about what Arya had just said about Gento Ireng inviting him to meet at the edge of the skull pit.

“Don’t you feel something strange about Nak Arya inviting you to meet him tomorrow morning at the edge of the skull pit?”

Arya stared at the Serayu Village elder for a moment, then he seemed to smile.

“Of course I feel strange about Gento Ireng’s invitation, but whatever his purpose is, I am ready to face it. I even think it would be good to accept his invitation Ki, wouldn’t that give me the chance to snatch the necklace with the white crocodile head pendant from him?”

“Hmmm, what you said is true Nak Arya. However, Nak Arya must be careful, I am sure Gento Ireng has a plan for you so that Nak Arya doesn’t fall into his trap.”

Arya smiled again after hearing Ki Darmo’s statement, while also giving him advice.

“Ki Darmo doesn’t need to worry, of course I have considered everything before making a decision.”

This time Ki Darmo smiled, it was because he did not feel doubtful about the handsome young man sitting opposite him. Like from the beginning he met Arya, Ki Darmo could feel that the young man was not just anyone, his body had tremendous power to face all forms of danger that would threaten him.

"So what should we do with the villagers? Should I order some people to watch over Nak Arya's meeting with Gento Ireng tomorrow morning?"

Arya did not answer immediately, he seemed to be contemplating for a while.

"That's a good suggestion Ki, but there's no need to crowd together, it could invite suspicion on Gentio Ireng, just 2 to 3 people Ki."

Ki Darmo nodded in agreement with what Arya said.

 

******

 

That morning the weather in Serayu Village and the surrounding area looked bright, not far in front of the pendopo Arya was seen talking to 3 villagers who were appointed by Ki Darmo to watch over Arya and Gento Ireng's meeting on the edge of the skull, one of the 3 villagers was Tarno.

“I will go first to the edge of the skull pit to meet Gento Ireng, remember what I said earlier, the three of you must spread out and monitor from a distance so as not to arouse Gento Ireng’s suspicion.”

“Okay, Arya,” said Tarno representing the other two villagers appointed by Ki Darmo.

Arya, who had taken a few steps, suddenly stopped then turned around to walk back to meet Tarno and the other two villagers.

“If something happens between me and Gento Ireng at the edge of the skull pit, you don’t need to do anything other than leave the area and return to this village to meet Ki Darmo.”

Tarno and his two friends looked at each other, it seemed like he and his two friends didn’t understand what Arya said.

“If  Arya and Gento Ireng get into a fight later, can we just watch?” Tarno asked.

Arya scratched his head which was not itchy but had become a habit for the warrior, as well as his attitude which was sometimes cheeky, like to grin and be naughty.

“Yes, you just stay where you are. If you want to take action, the right action is to return to this village to tell Ki Darmo what happened later.”

Tarno and his two friends nodded as if they had understood what they were going to do later besides monitoring the meeting between Arya and Gento Ireng, Arya also turned his body back and walked towards the edge of the skull pit.

Arya who deliberately walked leisurely to the edge of the skull pit, when he arrived there the sun was already rising from its original position on the eastern horizon.

Arya chose to sit on a tree trunk that had long fallen and was almost rotten on the edge of the skull pit, then looked around to find out from which direction Gento Ireng would appear to approach him.

Not long after the figure he was waiting for appeared from the right side of the tree trunk across where Arya was sitting, Arya's attitude remained relaxed and he stood up when Gento Ireng had arrived beside him.

“Please sit down Gento.”

“Thank you.”

Arya and Gento Ireng both sat on the fallen tree trunk, for a moment no words were spoken from their lips. Both of their gazes were fixed on the middle of the skull pit, which from their position sitting on the tree trunk faced directly into the pit.

"First of all, I would like to thank you for your willingness to meet me here."

Arya just nodded and smiled friendly.

"Okay, let's get straight to the point of our meeting, Arya, I want to invite you to meet someone in that pit."

Gento Ireng said while pointing to the middle of the skull pit, there was also a fairly large whirlpool there. Arya pretended to be surprised because previously he had suspected that Gento Ireng would invite him there, as he had done several times to the residents of Serayu Village.

"You're not kidding, Gento?!"

Gento Ireng shook his head, then smiled to convince Arya that what he had said earlier was not a joke but was true.

"We are not a kind of fish or other water creatures that can survive in that hole," said Arya again pretending that everything Gento Ireng said was something that was impossible to do.

Gento Ireng smiled again, while Arya continued to show his face that he was surprised and felt strange with Gento Ireng's offer.

"We are indeed not a kind of fish or other water creatures, but with this you and I will be able to be in that hole for a long time."

Gento Ireng said that after reaching into his shirt pocket and showing Arya a necklace like the one he wore around his neck.

"With that necklace.....?!"