The smaller group sauntered down the street, getting a few glances as they passed by but only major interest from the roadside hawkers and street merchants who cried out for attention. Most were selling basic items - combs, clean underwear and socks, razors - or services, like the man with the whetstone and the girl with a full set of manicure, pedicure and scissors by her side.
That got the attention of the women, especially when she started talking about the kinds of nail she had left, but it was with reluctance that Casey moved on.
Almost all of them were offering to buy though, items within their purview or; in a few cases, men and merchants hurrying alongside with their eyes focused on their backpacks and the monster bits attached to it; avaricious attitudes.
"Best price, I promise. Don't think the corporations who buy from you, give good pricing. Trust me lah, I'll give you the best... urk!" A shove by Lam, forcing the mustached man back.
On the other side, a woman, shorter and darker skinned was trotting beside them, carefully out of range of Jan's arm. "Just let me look, okay? Look only. Five minutes and I can tell you what we can do with it."
"We don't have anything, not really."
"But you have something," the woman said, firmly. "Items you haven't identified? Loot? I can do it."
"Not now," Jan snapped.
"Mel, get her information," Arthur said, after a moment. "We can meet up with them later." A glance to the side and he added. "And his too."
"You know I can get you the friends and family price, right?" Cassey said, a slight frown marring her face.
"Yes. For now," he gestured around him. "But everyone keeps reminding me I'm the boss, so I got to start thinking outside of just a single alliance." A slight hesitation, then he added. "Also, recruit new people. Can't ever have too many hard workers."
"Mmm, not always, sometimes what you want in your organisation is a ..." She trailed off, seeing the amused look Arthur was giving her. "You don't want a lecture on management practices, do you?"
"Actually, I wouldn't mind." Arthur admitted. "But perhaps not right now. Busy taking in the town."
"It's something, isn't it?" she said in agreement.
After that, they kept silent for the rest of the walk. It was a companionable one, no longer strained after months of time together. Arthur still wasn't sure if he trusted her, not fully, but at the least she wasn't intending to stab him in the back. Or kill him. Which, all things considered, was a damn good start.
The sight of the only stone building in the town was more than sufficient to clue them in that they'd found the Tower Administrative center. More than a few climbers traversed the grounds before it, entering and exiting in a sparse but constant stream. Not far away, in the simple square that had been dug out, a number of merchant stalls stood.
After that, they kept silent for the rest of the walk. It was a companionable one, no longer strained after months of time together. Arthur still wasn't sure if he trusted her, not fully, but at the least she wasn't intending to stab him in the back. Or kill him. Which, all things considered, was a damn good start.
The sight of the only stone building in the town was more than sufficient to clue them in that they'd found the Tower Administrative center. More than a few climbers traversed the grounds before it, entering and exiting in a sparse but constant stream. Not far away, in the simple square that had been dug out, a number of merchant stalls stood.
A quick glance at the building and the stalls before he spoke, simply. "Mel, with me? Jan, you can keep an eye on things out here, chat with the others." He glanced at Lam and shrugged, knowing it wasn't his place to command him. "Let's go."
Casey followed, the pair of them walking in. They slipped into one of the three lines after a moment's review, ignoring the one that was meant for quests and getting in behind the shorter of the two that seemed to involve general administrative matters. Most of which, Arthur knew, involved buying and selling and registration of contribution points and access to the Tower's library and stores.
No surprise that this building was busy. This was the last major chance for a Climber to upgrade before they tried the final few floors the last place that you could give yourself an edge. For Arthur, he knew, he'd be back purchasing more than just armour or equipment or identifying the various weapons they might have acquired but looking at techniques. Upgrades to his current skill set, though he would have to work out what gaps he might have.
Area control or damage over time would be his guess, what with the other areas currently filled. Of course, he could upgrade on his strengths, find a stronger version of his generic body buff or explore the Refined Energy Dart further; but he had been learning and expanding upon that skill himself.
Better to find themselves that he couldn't get as easy, that he needed a place to find purchase of. Then, he could turn his understanding of energy and skills on it, see if he could improve it.
"It's fine. We have quite a few buildings here," Casey said, softly to him.
"What?" he blinked down at her. "Why are you trying to console me?"
"You're frowning."
"About something else." He hesitated, seeing her confusion and explained. "Build."
"Ah." Silence, the woman visibly weighing something further to say. Eventually, after a few false starts, she offered. "I can help talk you through some options, if you want. We get training, about choosing optimal builds."
"Even for my case?" Arthur said, raising an eyebrow. This Yin Body he had, sometimes it felt like it did little. Other times, he realised how much it had changed him. How he seemed to be chiller overall, not as easily worked up. How his libido - never that huge before - had shrunk. Not that he didn't enjoy the view, but it had become similar to watching a sunset. Beautiful, easy to enjoy, but not something he coveted or felt the need to own.
Made his life simpler. Easier too, considering just how many women - some of them extremely fit and toned - he was around.
"Not as much, but the theories are the same."
"Mmmhmmm..." He chose not to object. Stepped again, watched as the man before him dropped a dozen stones off, had them registered; listened in to the numbers and qualities and made note of it for future reference. Then, it was their turn.
When he handed over his seal, muttered the usual requests, got the Manager to come out; he was not surprised to see the usual bloom of information moments later as he let the Tower push the notification to him.
No surprise, outside and all around, the sudden increase in volume. He ignored the curious looks from those within the building, ignored all the fellas trampling their way in to catch a glimpse of the person who had registered a Clan. Instead, he kept his eye on the Clan numbers, noted how little it had gone up - relatively speaking - over the last little while.
No surprise, as Amah Si and the others probably were hitting the end of the easy pickings. Only so many people who weren't already allied, who were trustworthy and who they wanted. It would be a few more months of consolidation before they would begin pulling in people without issue, new regular members who might join them just for the basics of their Clan seal but who might never contribute too much.
That was fine with him. He wasn't trying to build a small, tightknit group of friends and family who could carry him to the heights of the world. He just wanted to help people, to give others another viable path beyond the gangs and triads and the corporations. Of course, there was only so much good work they could do before things crashed down if they didn't demand some aid and benefits from their members.
Clan taxes, payment for resources and information, usage of the Clan buildings. All of those things that he had talked with Amah Si and Mel about, over and over again.
But here and now, well...
"Your turn," he stepped aside, waved to Casey who offered her own token. Listened to the usual spiel, even as he ignored all the blatant eavesdroppers.
Not as though what was going to happen was at all that easy to hide. Especially when the Manager themselves were hovering before him, pulling out details about the various buildings they had on offer and being offered to him. If he was a little surprised by the sheer number, well, it certainly showed on his face.
"Told you," Casey said.
He could only grunt, in reply. Eyes flicking over the options, listening to her caution him about which ones he really should not take, not without angering her and the actual controller of the floor, her aunt.
Debated, once again, what he could do. Warehouse, residence - there was even the equivalent of an apartment complex it seemed - and retail-residential townhouse were his majority options. Locations scattered around, from those close to the main teleportation complex to outside; to where the forests and places to train and do battle were.
Options. He asked, of course, for Mel’s opinion but in the end, he made his decision.
Not that there had been that much choice, if you thought about it.