After Gana said goodbye to his mum, he met with Shiki at the Head Guard's office. Kazar greeted them with a nod as he leads them into his office.
"So, Shiki, this is the boy you talked up so much?"
He smiled proudly, "He's my cute little student, yes."
Kazar eyed Gana from top to bottom. "Hmm, good muscles, he looks prime physically to be a good swordsman. You must have worked him to hell."
"Hehe, well, his physical foundation is already good since he's a practitioner of mixed martial arts as well. Just so happens he has a talent for the sword as well.
"Oh, shouldn't he be in Pencak two years ago? How come I never heard of him?"
"Haha, he's more well-known as Heir-Hunter."
Kazar became wide-eyed at this answer, "He's what!?"
"Mhm."
Gana sighed asking his teacher," Sensei, I thought this is a secret."
Shiki grinned," Don't worry, I trust this man. Not every day I get to brag about my student."
After receiving details of the wanted man, Shiki and Gana embark on a small riverboat in Lentuk River. They both sat at the edge of it as the rider rowed their boat following the current towards the capital of Ayak Tribe.
"So we are going to Gesah Town, the capital of Ayak. The serial killer should be staying there, his bounty has reached around a thousand gold or so."
Gana swallowed his saliva. All his life he only worked with bronze coins. A hundred bronze coins equal a silver coin while a hundred silver coins equal to one gold coin.
"A thousand gold. Wouldn't that mean he's super strong?"
"Are you the same student that killed tigers and elephants?" Shiki held back his laughter.
Gana pouted beside him at the seat while caressing his sheathed curved blade. Gana did not know why he was nervous, probably because this is a first human he will have to kill. Unlike the animals where he would kill for gains or survival, he struggled to find a reason to commit murder.
"Do we have to kill this person? Can't we capture him or something?"
Shiki's grinning expression turned serious," Gana. You better not give me this soft shit. Sword Path is built upon blood and death. The sooner you realize that, the better."
Gana was tongue-tied. The student-teacher duo never conversed again until they docked at Gesah Town. The town was no less impressive to Munawar Town when Gana was in Daya. The pathway was neatly constructed in clear horizontal lines. Carriages pulled by donkey and horseriders could be heard and seen from every corner of the town. The residential place all had huts with triangular shape roofs. The central market place had many stalls open selling various goods.
"Come. We going to meet the chief. He's very business savvy. The Ayaks are very close to the Xianshus. Do you remember that Koku kid? He's engaged with Dania, the chief's daughter."
"Are we going to see Koku here?"
"Who knows, hehehe."
They were outside of the most fanciest-looking hut. Shiki knocked and when the door opened, a man in his late fifties appeared. He still has a well-built body while his hip had keris tied to his hip. His head wore a dark brownish tanjak. His wrinkled face beamed at Shiki.
"Ah, how are you, old friend?"
"Better than you Jaya," Shiki chuckled.
Jaya led them to his living room where a young woman in a red dress was sitting with a chiselled-faced man who seemed to be eighteen.
"Dania, Koku, meet Shiki, the bounty hunter and his..."
"My student, Gana."
"Ah, this little guy is Gana."
Both Dania and Jaya probed Gana in interest while Koku squinted his eyes at him. Gana stepped up and bowed towards the three of them. Gana and Shiki sat opposite towards the Koku and Jaya with Dania going to the kitchen to prepare tea. Both Shiki and Jaya kept speaking about the loose serial killer that was operating around the town. The preferred targets seemed to be any young woman around thirteen to fifteen years of age. Koku's ears were blocked from the old men prattling. He stared intensely at Gana. Albeit feeling the stare, Gana let his head bend downwards, adopting a laid-back expression.
After a short tea drinking session, the teacher-student duo wanted to leave as Koku boomed.
"Wait!"
Shiki and Gana stopped, puzzled by his demand.
"Gana, have you been to Pencak?"
Gana's face showed him thinking deeply, "Nope. Never heard of it."
Koku still had an intense stare, not satisfied with the answer, "If that's the case, please allow my pettiness, I'm just curious."
'Heh, only if you knew. I don't exactly want conflict here.' Gana mused to himself. Shiki and Gana departed towards their inn so that they would investigate at night since the serial killer liked to operate at nighttime.
Dania was confused as she looked at her fiancee, "Koku, love? Why are you staring at that boy so much?"
Jaya also piqued with interest.
"I feel like he's the Heir-Hunter of Pencak yet I'm not too sure," Koku replied.
Hearing this both Dania and Jaya drew cold breaths in shock.
After booking their inn, Shiki briefed Gana as the Sun began setting down.
"He's very skilful with knives, he claimed the lives of several veteran guards of this town. Gotta watch out for those throwing knives of his, he always uses it for distraction."
"You sound like you're very familiar with him sensei."
"Know your enemy is the key to victory they said. Also, I won't be helping you."
"What!?" Gana was stunned. He didn't even know this town, his tracking lies on the sound and smell of the people.
"Improvise, Gana. I won't always be there to save your ass. I'm sure you find a way, student." Gana could already felt his teacher's evil grin. Sighing, he decided to nap until midnight.
The moon was shining upon the structures of Gesah Town. There is a district where restaurants and bars were still opened, its located just east of the central marketplace. Most of the structures were constructed with hardwoods that were resistant to heat and water. People were eating and merrily partying while watching theatre performances. Gana was on the roof a restaurant facing the theatre. His ears sharpened trying to catch any female voice that sounded in trouble.
Gana sneakily jumped from rooftop to rooftop, until he heard a knife screeching at the wall. He estimated it is five minutes away from his current location. Gana was getting used to parkouring on buildings when all his life he was hopping from one tree branch to another. In a tight alleyway, his ears caught signs of a muffled scream. Jumping down, Gana initiated the flying kick downwards towards his back. The serial killer had to let go of the woman as he responded by throwing three of his knives.
Unfazed, Gana executed his first stance, Fleeting Wind to avoid the attack and subsequently bring the victim with him. Carrying her over the shoulder, he swung his curved blade towards the killer. The killer shifted to the side as he counters with a stab. Gana launched a high kick to his hand. With his knife now knocked away, the killer decided to flee. 'Shit.' Gana cursed before laying down the unconscious woman as he began his pursuit.
The killer wasn't able to shake off Gana whom stamina was endless. Gana then lunged forward with a dropkick as the killer slammed his head against the wall. The killer's head is bleeding as his eyes looked up at Gana, flashing a nasty smile.
"Heh, is this your first time, kid?" he voiced in a menacing way.
"Shut up." Gana hesitated, " Why you kill all these innocent women?"
The cutthroat slowly getting up, "Because I love them of course." He laughed maniacally before continuing," Don't worry, boy, I'll make sure your mother receive my love as well."
Gana snapped. His face twisted contortedly. His curved sword now in a position to trigger his stances.
Amaterasu First Stance: Fleeting Wind!
Amaterasu Second Stance: Light Needle!
The man's heart was pierced from behind. Gana kicked the body out of his sword. His arms shaking as he felt blood trickling all over it. He broke into tears. His sword fell. His mind in havoc. Memories resurfaced to the time his mother was on the verge of being violated by the bandits at Sandak Village. Even Gana was powerless as he could only hear the songs of death. Gana panted as he let go of the sword. Shiki who was in camouflage, was witnessing the whole scene chose to approach the killing scene.