the dust of battle begins to settle. With Friedrich now cowering in the Stadhuis dungeons, Julian and Adrian must face a greater challenge: maintaining stability in a shattered city while awaiting the arrival of the official Dutch fleet, which could bring peace or new aggression.
That morning, Batavia woke to an unfamiliar atmosphere. There was no sound of forced labor bells, no intimidating cavalry patrols. In the square in front of City Hall, thousands of people gathered not to witness an execution, but to hear the first announcement from the provisional government.
Julian stood on the balcony, gazing at the sea of humanity below. Beside him, Adrian wore a black beskap with a small red and white badge on his chest—a bold statement of identity.
"We have torn down the walls of tyranny," Julian's voice echoed through a copper megaphone. "However, rebuilding a just foundation will be far more difficult. As of today, all land contracts illegally made by Friedrich are declared null and void. Food warehouses are open to the people, and everyone, Dutch and Native alike, will be subject to the same law."
In a corner of the square, Kartika was overseeing the burning of Friedrich's intelligence documents containing the names of traitorous informants. She chose to destroy them. "We cannot build a future if we keep hunting the ghosts of the past," she whispered to Anne Marie.
However, the calm was disturbed when a scout from the Syahbandar tower ran toward the balcony. "Sir! On the northern horizon! Six warships flying the Royal Dutch flag have been sighted! They are carrying heavy cannons!"
The atmosphere, which had been full of cheers, suddenly became silent and tense. Was it the relief fleet requested by Baroness van de Berg? Or a punitive fleet sent to reclaim Batavia from the hands of "rebels"?
Julian looked at Adrian. They knew the final diplomacy was about to begin. Julian straightened his uniform, while Adrian gripped the hilt of his keris.
"Let them come," Julian said calmly. "We no longer welcome them as servants, but as masters of our own land."
Culture & Language Notes
Beskap: A traditional Javanese formal jacket, used here by Adrian to symbolize the rising dignity of the local leadership.
Menara Syahbandar: The lookout tower at the port of Batavia, historically used to monitor incoming and outgoing ships.
Batal Demi Hukum (Null and Void): A legal term indicating that a contract or law is treated as if it never existed because it violated fundamental principles.