A Battle Between Tradition and Modernization

The tension between Shen Ai and the Battra escalated. The Battra, who had been quietly resisting in the background, began openly opposing the factory's presence. They saw Shen Ai not just as an economic threat, but as an existential threat to their spiritual heritage and cultural legacy. For the Battra, clearing the land for the factory meant severing the sacred bond between humans and nature.

Shen Ai, unwilling to back down, reinforced security around the factory and sought ways to appease the local communities. However, the harder he pushed to suppress the resistance, the more aggressive the Battra became. They employed their mystical knowledge, using spiritual sabotage to interfere with the factory’s production.

Strange Occurrences in the Warehouse

---

The soft hum of machinery echoed through the warehouse as Mayang carefully examined the rows of stored medicinal plants. It was late, and most of the workers had already gone home, leaving her alone to investigate the peculiarities she had noticed earlier. Some of the plants, which should have been thriving in the controlled environment, were inexplicably withering.

She knelt beside one crate and gently touched a dried leaf. The texture was brittle, and the once-vibrant color had faded to a dull brown. She furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of the decay.

As Mayang stood up, deep in thought, she heard footsteps approaching. She turned to see Yusuf, one of the local employees, a friendly yet straightforward man who often worked late shifts.

“Still here, Mayang?” Yusuf asked, raising an eyebrow as he approached. "Everyone’s already headed out."

“Yeah, just finishing up some checks,” Mayang replied, trying to sound casual.

Yusuf leaned against a nearby shelf, glancing at the withered plants. “Something wrong with the herbs?”

Mayang hesitated for a moment before speaking. “That’s the thing. Some of these plants are degrading too quickly. It’s like they’ve been tampered with, but there’s no sign of external damage.”

Yusuf let out a low chuckle. “You’re not the first to notice strange things around here, you know?”

Mayang’s interest was piqued. “What do you mean?”

He crossed his arms, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “There’ve been rumors for a while now. Some of the locals say this land’s cursed… well, not cursed exactly, but… protected. Especially by the Battra.”

“The Battra?” Mayang asked, feigning surprise. “You mean the traditional healers?”

Yusuf nodded… his tone more serious. “They’re not happy with the factory being here. People say they’ve been doing rituals, trying to… I don’t know, protect the forest, the plants, everything. They think the land’s sacred, and what we’re doing here is disturbing it.”

Mayang felt a shiver run down her spine. She had heard of the Battra’s spiritual practices, but to think their influence could extend to the factory’s operations… it seemed far-fetched. And yet, the decaying plants in front of her seemed like proof.

“You believe in that?” Mayang asked cautiously.

Yusuf shrugged. “I didn’t at first. But then, you see things. Strange things. Machines breaking down for no reason, supplies going missing… and now this.” He gestured to the withered plants.

Mayang bit her lip, her mind racing. “But these are medicinal plants. Why would the Battra target them?”

“They’re protecting the land, not the plants,” Yusuf replied. “To them, we’re the invaders. And if the plants die, well, maybe that’s their way of telling us we don’t belong here.”

—

Mayang nodded slowly, processing what Yusuf was saying. It made sense—at least from a spiritual perspective. The Battra weren’t just healers; they were the guardians of the forest, and they would do anything to protect it from Shen Ai’s factory.

But there was more to it. The plants weren’t just dying—they were changing in ways that didn’t seem natural. Mayang’s instincts as a healer told her this was more than just sabotage. There was a spiritual energy at play, something deeper than she had first realized.

“I’ll look into it,” she said finally, glancing at Yusuf. “But we can’t tell anyone else. Especially not Shen Ai.”

Yusuf grinned. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me. But be careful, Mayang. The Battra don’t mess around.”

—

Before Yusuf could leave, another voice interrupted them. Rani, a young local worker who had joined the factory a few months ago, approached with a curious look.

“Hey, are you two talking about the strange stuff going on?” she asked, her eyes darting between them.

Mayang sighed, realizing that the rumors had spread further than she thought. “We were just discussing some unusual things happening in the warehouse.”

Rani nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, I’ve heard the stories too. My grandmother used to say the land here has a spirit, a powerful one. She warned me not to work at the factory, but… well, I needed the job. Still, I’ve seen some weird stuff. Like the other day, I saw shadows moving near the loading docks. But when I went to check, there was no one there.”

Mayang’s pulse quickened. “Shadows?”

Rani’s expression turned serious. “Yeah, like figures. I thought it was a trick of the light, but it didn’t feel right. Almost like someone—or something—was watching.”

Yusuf and Rani exchanged glances, and Mayang could see the unease in their eyes. The factory wasn’t just a workplace anymore—it was becoming a battleground between the modern world and something ancient, something spiritual.

“We need to be careful,” Mayang said softly. “Whatever’s happening here, it’s not just sabotage. There’s something more to it.”

---

That night, as Mayang walked home from the factory, her thoughts weighed heavily on her mind. She had been trained in both modern pharmaceutical techniques and traditional medicine, but this was something entirely new. The plants were being affected by forces beyond her understanding—forces that the Battra seemed to control.

But what were they trying to protect? And why now?

The moon hung low over the horizon as she looked back at the factory in the distance, its lights glowing like an unnatural beacon in the darkness of the Kalimantan night. She knew that she was standing on the edge of something far bigger than just a conflict over land.

Mayang had a choice to make. She could either continue her work at the factory, following Shen Ai’s ambitions, or she could dig deeper into the mystery, into the heart of the land that called to her, the same land the Battra fought to protect.

Whichever path she chose, one thing was clear: the balance between the modern world and the spiritual realm was shifting, and Mayang was at the center of it all.

—

The hall room was brightly lit, with large windows overlooking the expansive forest that stretched out for miles. Shen Ai sat at the head of the table, her expression calm but her mind racing. The Battra leaders were seated across from her, their faces a mixture of defiance and caution. This meeting had been a long time coming, and tensions were already high.---

Shen Ai knew that to keep her pharmaceutical company running efficiently, he needed a reliable and uniform supply of medicinal plants. Up until now, she had relied on local collectors to gather the herbs from the surrounding forests. However, the irregularities in quality, the disruptions in supply, and the unpredictability of the collectors were becoming too much of a risk. She had decided it was time to clear sections of the forest and start cultivating the plants herself.

However, the Battra, traditional healers who had long protected the forest, were not willing to compromise. They viewed Shen Ai’s plans as a direct attack on the sacred land they had cared for over generations. Despite her efforts to negotiate, the Battra remained firm in their rejection of her proposal.

The tension in the room was palpable as Shen Ai began the meeting. --- Shen Ai speaks to the audience, "Thank you all for coming today. I believe we all want the same thing—a prosperous future for this region, where traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical practices can coexist and thrive. But as it stands, the current supply system isn’t sustainable for my business. The collectors are inconsistent, and the quality of the raw materials varies too much."

Pak. Budi, one of the elder Battra leaders, leaned forward, his voice steady but stern. "We’ve been gathering these plants for generations, Ms. Shen. The quality of what we provide is the best you’ll find anywhere. We understand these forests, and we know how to maintain balance with nature. What you are proposing will disrupt that balance."

Shen Ai replied "I’m not questioning your expertise, Pak Budi. But I need more consistency. If we don’t have a steady and reliable source of raw materials, production will halt, and jobs will be lost. What I’m suggesting is a way to ensure that both of our worlds can benefit."

Ibu Kartini, another respected Battra, crossed her arms, her face unreadable. "You want to clear the forest. That’s not coexistence, Mr. Shen. That’s exploitation. Once the land is gone, it’s gone forever. You say this will benefit everyone, but how can destroying the very thing that sustains us all be a benefit?"

Shen Ai exhaled slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I’m not talking about destroying the forest. Only clearing select portions of it to cultivate the plants we need. This way, we ensure a controlled environment and higher yields. The forest will still be there, but we’ll be managing it in a way that allows us to meet growing demand."

"You don’t understand. The plants thrive because of the forest, and the ecosystem. You can’t just replicate that by planting them in rows and treating them like crops. The forest itself is sacred. It has its energy, its spirit."

"I respect your traditions Pak Budi, I truly do. But in the modern world, we need efficiency Ibu Kartini. I’m willing to work with you, to create standards that will ensure the quality of the materials we use. We can train your collectors to follow these guidelines. But we can’t continue like this—depending solely on nature’s unpredictability."

"What you call nature’s unpredictability, we call harmony Mr. Shen Ai. It has worked for us for hundreds of years. Your desire for control is what will throw everything out of balance. Once you start clearing the forest, more will follow. You won’t be able to stop."

Shen Ai’s frustration was mounting, but he knew she couldn’t let it show. He had to remain calm, and persuasive.

"Let’s find a middle ground. I don’t want to shut out the Battra. You’ve been stewards of this land for so long, and your knowledge is invaluable. But at the same time, this is a business, and I have responsibilities—to my investors, my employees, and to the community that depends on the jobs we provide."

There was a murmur among the Battra leaders as they exchanged glances. It was clear that they were not easily swayed.

"Your responsibilities lie with your profit, Ms. Shen. Our responsibility is to the land. The land gives us everything—our medicine, our food, our lives. You cannot put a price on that."

Shen Ai felt a surge of irritation. "And what about progress Pak Budi? What about the people who are sick and need these medicines Ibu Kartini? We’re not just talking about preserving the land for its own sake. We’re talking about saving lives. We can’t turn our backs on the future just because we’re afraid of change."

"The future you speak of erases the past. We are not against progress, Ms. Shen. But it cannot come at the cost of everything we hold dear."

Shen Ai leaned back… his expression unreadable. "I understand your concerns. But consider this—if we don’t adapt, if we don’t find a way to work together, the world will pass us by. We’ll all lose."

"We are not opposed to working with you, Mr. Shen. But the land is not negotiable. We will not allow its destruction, even in the name of progress."

"And what if we compromise? Pak Budi, Ibu Kartini … A smaller portion of land, with your oversight on how it’s cultivated? We can set guidelines together, ensuring that the spirit of the forest is respected, while still meeting production needs."

The Battra leaders exchanged another glance, but their expressions remained firm.

"We will consider your offer Mr. Shen Ai. But remember this, Mr. Shen—the land speaks. And if you do not listen to it, there will be consequences."

—

The tension in the room was thick as the Battra leaders stood up to leave. Shen Ai watched them go, her mind already working on the next steps. She couldn’t afford to lose this battle, but she also couldn’t bulldoze her way through without considering the consequences. The Battra were formidable opponents, not just because of their connection to the land, but because of the influence they held over the local community.

As he sat in the now-empty hall, Shen Ai knew one thing for certain: the conflict between the factory and the Battra was far from over.