The Rise of the Nine Dragons – Shadows Over Southeast Asia

After the official opening of Lotus Health Solutions in Kalimantan, Shen Ai, who always believed in the power of modern technology and innovation, began facing unexpected challenges. While her influence in the pharmaceutical industry was growing, the local community around her pharmaceutical factory in IKN started raising more serious concerns.

Kalimantan, renowned for its lush forests and rich biodiversity, was a lifeline for many of the indigenous people, including the Battra—traditional healers who had been using herbal plants and ancestral medicine for centuries. They felt threatened by the establishment of Shen Ai's factory, which not only endangered their role as traditional healers but also raised fears of deforestation that could destroy the sacred forests they depended on.

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Shen Ai, driven by profit and business expansion, initially dismissed the local protests and concerns of the Battra. He saw them as a minor obstacle, believing that modernization would bring long-term benefits to everyone, including the local communities. What he didn’t realize was that the Battra were more than just healers; they were the spiritual guardians of Kalimantan’s land and forests.

Small acts of sabotage started occurring at the factory. Machines would mysteriously break down, and the supply chains for raw materials would be disrupted in ways that seemed intentional. Shen Ai began to suspect that someone was deliberately hindering the factory’s operations. Security reports from the factory mentioned strange activities around the area at night—some employees claimed to have seen shadowy figures moving near the production zones.

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Meanwhile, Mayang, who initially worked in managing the factory's medicinal raw materials, began noticing unusual occurrences. One night, while doing an inventory check in one of the storage warehouses, she discovered that some of the stored herbal plants seemed different from the reports. A portion of the raw materials, which were supposed to be in good condition, had begun to degrade, as though they had been contaminated, despite the factory's strict preservation procedures.

Mayang, who at first was just focused on her routine tasks, started sensing that something was wrong. Her intuition as a natural healer made her suspect this wasn’t just regular sabotage. There was something more mysterious going on—perhaps something tied to the spiritual energy of the land. She started suspecting that the Battra might be behind this, but their goal wasn’t just to disrupt Shen Ai’s operations—they were protecting the forest and its spiritual power.

—

In the dimly lit office of Lotus Health Solutions, Shen Ai sat behind her polished mahogany desk, reviewing a stack of employee files. His sharp eyes scanned through each CV, barely paying attention to the standard qualifications—until she came across Mayang's.

"Mayang Sarasvati," Shen Ai murmured under his breath. "Expert in medicinal plant classification, traditional healing methods… Interesting."

His interest piqued, Shen Ai leaned back in his chair, flipping through the pages of Mayang’s profile. This was no ordinary factory worker. She had a deep understanding of plant medicine, almost on par with the Battra themselves, those local healers who had been causing so much trouble for the company lately.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," Shen Ai called, setting the file down.

The door creaked open, and Mayang stepped into the room. She appeared calm, though there was a quiet intensity in her eyes. She had been called for a meeting with Shen Ai directly—a rare occurrence, especially for someone who worked in the raw materials division.

"Mayang, please take a seat," Shen Ai gestured to the chair in front of his desk.

Mayang sat down carefully, not quite sure what to expect. She had heard rumors about Shen Ai—ruthless, efficient, and driven by profit. But there was also a quieter rumor that Shen Ai had a deep, almost obsessive fascination with medicinal plants.

"First of all," Shen Ai began, "I’ve been reviewing your work and your background. It’s not often that someone with your expertise in traditional medicine ends up working in a place like this. You could easily have been a researcher, or a healer in your own right. So, why this factory?"

Mayang took a moment before responding. "I believe in the power of traditional medicine, but I also see the potential for modern techniques to enhance what nature has already given us. This job allows me to work with both."

Shen Ai nodded, intrigued. "You’ve been working here for a few months now. And from what I’ve gathered, you’ve done an exceptional job managing our raw materials. But recently… things have been unusual. I’ve received reports that you’ve noticed something wrong with some of the herbal plants in the warehouse?"

"Yes," Mayang replied, her voice steady but with a hint of concern. "Some of the plants seem to be deteriorating at a rate that doesn’t match the storage conditions. It’s as though they’ve been contaminated or… altered, somehow. I’ve never seen anything like it."

Shen Ai raised an eyebrow. "Contaminated? Do you think it’s sabotage?"

Mayang hesitated. "At first, I thought it might be. But now… I’m not so sure. There’s something else happening here. The plants—I can’t explain it, but it feels like they’re reacting to something beyond just physical damage. Almost like the land itself is affecting them."

Shen Ai leaned forward… his interest piqued. "You’re saying this could be tied to the Battra?"

"It’s possible," Mayang admitted. "The Battra are more than just traditional healers—they’re connected to the land, to the spiritual energy that runs through the forests. If they’re trying to protect something, they may be influencing the plants in ways we don’t fully understand."

Shen Ai’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. He had heard whispers of the Battra’s connection to the land but had always dismissed it as superstition. Yet, here was someone she respected—someone with real expertise—suggesting otherwise.

"This is fascinating," Shen Ai said, standing up from her desk and walking toward the window. He gazed out at the sprawling landscape beyond the factory. "I’ve been thinking about conducting a deeper exploration of the surrounding forests. There are plants out there that have never been studied properly—potential breakthroughs in medicine just waiting to be discovered."

She turned back to Mayang, her expression softer than before. "I’m going to need someone who knows the land, someone who understands both the scientific and the spiritual. And you, Mayang, might be exactly who I’m looking for. What do you think? Are you up for an exploration trip into the heart of Kalimantan?"

Mayang blinked, surprised by the offer. "You want me to join you?"

Shen Ai smiled slightly. "Why not? You’re an expert in medicinal plants, and you’ve already proven yourself valuable to this company. Besides, if the Battra are behind this, it would help to have someone who can navigate both sides of this conflict. Someone like you."

Mayang felt a surge of emotion—part excitement, part apprehension. Exploring the forest with Shen Ai would be a unique opportunity, but it would also bring her closer to the very conflict she was beginning to understand. The Battra were not just spiritual healers—they were defenders of the land. And if Shen Ai’s ambitions continued unchecked, there would be consequences.

"I… I’ll think about it," Mayang replied carefully.

Shen Ai nodded. "Do that. But don’t take too long. There’s a lot at stake here, and I need people I can trust."

---

As Mayang left the office, her mind raced. On the surface, the offer seemed like an incredible opportunity—one that could further her career and give her a chance to explore her roots. But deep down, she felt a gnawing unease. The Battra were not to be underestimated, and she wasn’t sure how far Shen Ai was willing to go in her pursuit of profit and discovery.

Mayang had grown up hearing stories about the land’s power, about the spirits that guarded the forests. She had never imagined those tales would become part of her reality. Now, she was being pulled into something much larger than herself—a battle between modernity and tradition, between exploitation and preservation.

The forest called to her. But so did the weight of her responsibilities.