The Ballad of Surogendelo’s Golden Scroll
In the vast and wondrous land of Nusantara, there reigned a mighty monarch known as King Surogendelo. His crown gleamed like the morning sun, and his robes shimmered with the colors of the rainbow. But what truly set him apart was the legendary Golden Scroll he carried—a scroll said to contain the Kalimasada Spell, an ancient and powerful charm granting wisdom, invincibility, and the secret recipe for the kingdom’s famous spicy stew.
The Golden Scroll was the kingdom’s most sacred treasure. It was said that whoever possessed it held the key to ruling not only the land but also the very hearts of the gods themselves. Yet, despite its importance, the scroll was shrouded in mystery. King Surogendelo would only reveal it in fleeting glimpses, never allowing anyone to photograph or even touch it. Some whispered that the scroll was kept locked in a golden chest guarded by a fearsome dragon named Birokrat, who had an insatiable appetite—not for gold or jewels—but for paperwork, red tape, and anyone foolish enough to ask too many questions.
The people of Nusantara, curious as cats and twice as persistent, began to murmur among themselves. “Does the Golden Scroll truly contain the Kalimasada Spell?” they wondered aloud in marketplaces, coffee shops, and even during royal puppet shows. “Or is it merely a fancy piece of parchment, gilded to dazzle the eyes but empty of magic?”
As questions multiplied like mischievous monkeys, a brave few decided to seek answers. They marched to the Royal Court, petitions in hand, demanding proof of the scroll’s authenticity. But, to their astonishment, nearly every petition was dismissed with vague reasons like “Not the right time,” “Top secret,” or the classic, “Because I said so.”
King Surogendelo and his loyal guards grew increasingly agitated. “How dare they question the sacred scroll!” they exclaimed. Soon, they began to brand the questioners as troublemakers, sowers of discord, and—most fearfully—haters of spicy stew. The four most outspoken skeptics were summoned and accused of inciting unrest, spreading rumors, and, shockingly, of stealing the royal chili peppers. And the funniest thing was that the advocates who should have helped the people seek justice, instead joined in defending the ruler by collectively reporting those who questioned the golden scroll.
But the king’s most curious weapon was the infamous Royal Tickle Squad—a secret brigade trained not with swords or spears, but with feathers, laughter, and relentless tickling. Their mission? To disarm dissenters with uncontrollable giggles until they forgot what they were protesting about. Though many whispered about the squad’s existence, no one had ever seen them in action—except for a few who mysteriously disappeared after attending royal banquets.
The kingdom’s gossip mills went into overdrive. At the bustling markets, vendors joked, “The Golden Scroll is like the kingdom’s Wi-Fi password—everyone wants it, but no one’s allowed to see it!” At the coffee stalls, elders chuckled, “If the scroll truly holds the Kalimasada Spell, why does the king hide it like a cat hides its favorite toy?”
Meanwhile, the royal scribes busied themselves crafting elaborate proclamations defending the scroll’s sanctity. One particularly verbose decree declared, “Any questioning of the Golden Scroll shall be met with the swift justice of the Royal Tickle Squad!”—though, curiously, no one had ever witnessed this justice firsthand.
Then, in a twist worthy of a royal drama, King Surogendelo suddenly vanished. Some said he had embarked on a secret pilgrimage to a distant land across the sea, others whispered he was avoiding an upcoming court hearing about the scroll. His departure left the kingdom in a swirl of speculation.
“Perhaps the king took the scroll with him,” mused one merchant. “Or maybe he just wanted a vacation away from all the questions.” Another added, “If the scroll really contains the Kalimasada Spell, wouldn’t he want to prove it before leaving? Or is he afraid the spell might be a recipe for instant noodles?”
In the meantime, the dragon Birokrat continued his endless feast on dusty files and unanswered letters, occasionally belching out clouds of red tape that tangled the feet of anyone daring to approach the royal archives.
And so the legend grew: King Surogendelo, the Golden Scroll, the elusive Kalimasada Spell, the mysterious Royal Tickle Squad, and the bureaucratic dragon Birokrat became symbols of power, mystery, and the curious dance between rulers and the ruled. The questioners, once threatened with imprisonment and tickling, became folk heroes, celebrated in songs and shadow plays—always reminding the people that sometimes, the greatest magic lies in the courage to ask questions.
"True power lies not in secrets kept, but in the courage to reveal the truth. A kingdom built on trust will never fear the light of inquiry."
