Chapter 416

In the cavernous hangar of the exit portal for the Kuala Lumpur Beginner Tower, the remaining quartet stood, staring at one another. Arthur Chua and three women, two of which could have been - probably had been - models or a Miss Malaysia contestant. Of course, none of them were likely to be as successful as the country’s most famous Miss Malaysia export. They would not go on to act with Jackie Chan or in Hollywood. But, perfectly acceptable to have lower standards of expectation in ones life.

It also, Arthur reflected, might say something about the status of Climbers that women like these might be willing to hang around them. The new starlets or reality TV contestants.

Any other time, Arthur might actually have been a little flabbergasted, a little tongue tied. As it stood, Manager Kong was helping with lustful thoughts by glaring him, giving him a look reminiscent of nuns and horny teenagers. The true-to-reality type nuns, not the ones that ran around mountains singing.

"So." Arthur clapped his hands together. "I keep calling you Manager Kong in my head, but that doesn't work. Auntie Kong? Kong-chie? Auntie Kong?"

"You can call me Cynthia. Or Ms. Kong," Manager Kong said, lifting her chin a little in answer to Arthur’s jokes. "I have been tasked to ensure that after your... rest," a slight twitch of her chin, as though she wanted to look at the other girls and didn't, "we can continue discussions. The government is quite interested in the Benevolent Durians, your numbers, the makeup of your Clan and, of course, how it was that you managed to establish it."

"Right, right..." Arthur nodded along as he debated the extent that she truly needed that information for the government and what was her being nosy. Obviously, secrecy was important to Climbers – if nothing else so as not make the most successful targets – but while the government might promise confidentiality, they leaked like a sieve stuffed close with red rice paper. The red, of course, being the ang pow that the bribes were given in.

Arthur’s eyes crinkled in wry humor, mostly at the lack of response to his own poor attempt at a joke. He would have to go back to rhyming if that was the case, though he was trying to act the professional here. That was becoming increasingly difficult, as he felt himself tire, as though he was a drain being slowly unplugged. It probably also had something to do with the slow, almost imperceptible loss of energy in his aura. Unlike in the Tower, where energy kept being suffused into his aura or pushed against it in an attempt for entry, here, that same energy leaked out into the world.

"Mr. Kong?" Cynthia called, trying to draw Arthur’s attention. 

Rather than answer, he raised a finger. Called forth his Status.

 

 

Cultivation Speed: 3.143 Yin

Energy Pool: 32/33 (Yin) + (7/7) (Net Drain in Progress)

Refinement Speed: 0.1814

Refined Energy: 0.08 (40) +(0/3)

 

Attributes and Traits

Mind: 15 (Multi-Tasking, Quick Learner, Perfect Recall)

Body: 25 (Enhanced Eyesight, Yin Body, Swiftness, Fast Twitch Faster, Lightning Reflexes, Explosive Strength)

Spirit: 15 (Sticky Energy, From the Dregs, Strengthened Aura)

 

Techniques

Night Emperor Cultivation Technique (87% compatibility)

Focused Strike (114%)

Accelerated Healing – Refined Energy (Grade IVd) (5.8%)

Heavenly Sage’s Mischief (148%)

Refined Exploding Energy Dart (162%)

Steel Skin (108.5%)

Seven Cloud Stepping Technique (227.8%)

Pocket Simpanan Tua (173.7%) (Refined Exploding Energy Dart 99% Integrity)

Imbued Strike - Yin Poison (104.4%)

Yin Aura (Level 1) (133.3%)

Yin-Yang Energy Exchange (100.2%)

 

Partial Techniques

Simultaneous Flow (245.4%)

Yin Poison Darts (52.6%)

Shadow Sense (88.7%)

 

Just a little disturbing, to see so many strikethroughs. Arthur knew it was going to happen, but to see it... it was jarring.

"Mr. Chua?" Impatient now, Ms. Kong spoke up. “We really should get you washed. We can also help you with your items…” She gestured at his gear, the backpack that he carried, the pouch and armour he wore.

“Sorry, let’s go. I was just looking at my status. It’s…” Arthur shifted on his feet. “Weird, being out of the Tower.”

“So I’m told.”

“Not a Climber?”

“None of us are,” Cynthia said. “It’s not allowed.”

“You manage us but you’re not allowed to be one?” Arthur said, surprised. Not something he had known about the agency.

“There’s concern that we would be too influenced by our experiences in the Tower,” Cynthia said. “Or by the Tower itself.”

Arthur grunted. That old argument. Even twenty years after the Tower advent, there were those who felt that their presence was a harbinger to more dire circumstances. There were quite a few religious heads – and if one knew anything about Islam, you’d know they had more than anyone else – who argued one way or the other.

The cynical part of Arthur, the one who had grown up poor and Chinese in Malaysia, pointed out that it was a great way to keep Climbers out of positions of power, to keep them in check. Not that it worked in some ways, what with the way Climbers weren’t excluded from owning companies, real estate or conduct commerce in general. All of that meant they accrued resources and power – just not directly. At least, in most countries.

He had never really thought about how such things affected him, barely gave the various governing parties more than a passing thought when it came to voting. The past decade of life when Arthur had time to even think about politics had been dedicated more to trying to discern which of the lies being told was greater than deeper consideration.

Simple fact was, though everyone promised an increase in the PAS/UBI amount, no one actually wanted to increase it. Malaysia was caught in a tough situation – with the use of fossil fuels decreased – one of the major sources of revenue had faded. Climate friendly resources were in demand, and while rubber and palm oil helped our trade balance, we still imported a ton. Manufacturing had shifted to local countries for the most part if local resources were available, so outside of a lot of rubber products – tires, condoms, gloves – the country suffered from the automation trend.

Because there was no money, the option of increasing the UBI amount was just not acceptable. No politician, no government, was foolish enough to think they could survive a decrease in that amount. Once given, it could not be taken back – so the amount, once small now a fraction of what was needed to survive – kept decreasing as inflation ate away at its value.

Other promises were easier to keep – tackling certain types of climate change, pushing for more entrepreneurial activities, paying for and helping build local manufactories with new automation. Reviving old school arts and crafts, developing the still struggling arts center.

And, of course, taxing or aiding climbers.

Politics had never been something that Arthur had to consider, but now; he was right in the middle of it and having to parse together what he recalled of the various political parties promises, actual voting trends and stances.

By the time he surfaced from his thoughts, he was in the simple suite that was set aside for Climbers. He might still have been thinking, if not for the fact that one of the ladies – Tannah – had taken hold of the straps of his bag, intent on pulling it off him. He had tensed, only relaxing when he realised who it was after.

“We will take this and inventory it for you, Mr. Chua,” Tannah said, sweetly. “And, of course, clean it.”

“And once you strip, we’ll make sure your armour and other items are cared for too.” Elsa added, reaching towards the ties on my armour.

Arthur shifted then, moving from the too close women. “Look. Lovely as you are…” He trailed off, the inscrutable expressions on their face suddenly unnerving. He fidgeted, flashed them a crooked smile. “I’m just more used to doing this myself.” Hesitated. “All of it.”

“Surely it’s not easy, taking off this armour. At least let us help with that,” Elsa said.

“Uhhh…” He could not lie, because it really was difficult taking armour off. Possible, with modern changes but difficult.

“And you really won’t need your weapons.”

“I don’t want you to touch them.” Arthur touched the kris on my hip, remembered what it was and added. “Don’t even clean them. I’ll do that. They’re cursed, and you don’t want to get it on you.”

“Really?” Manager Kong said, skeptically.

“Really, really, Cynthia.” Arthur touched his cheek. “You might notice I’m a lot less tan than my IC. I can handle the curse, but it’s not something I recommend anyone who isn’t a Climber test. Knocked out actual climbers too.” All true enough, though not in the way they might be led to believe.

“I see.” Seeing the wide-eyed looks the girls were giving her, Cynthia made a decision. “Then place what you don’t want us to touch on the table there. We’ll take everything else with us.”