Chapter 424

To Arthur’s surprise, she did not get into it immediately. Instead, she waved him into a limo, handed him a limau ais as his request and chattered away about her plans, the way things had been going as the car pulled away. Not that they were getting anywhere fast. Kuala Lumpur traffic being KL traffic, they got stuck in a traffic jam almost immediately and inched forwards, even if it was ten at night.

Once the car managed to get onto a highway and out of the narrow streets of the old city, things would speed up once more but since dinner had been located around Pudu in one of the high class restaurants that dotted the space, the streets around them were crowded.

The old two-storey retail buildings that had been built in the early fifties and sixties of the previous century still lined the streets alongside broken and occasionally well maintained pedestrian walkways under the retail buildings, while massive drains to take away flash floods ran alongside the road. Concrete coverings with intermixing gaps to allow easy maintenance helped to widen the walkways while also reducing the stench, though Arthur spotted the flash of red eyes occasionally from within the drains.

“You know, they’re still talking of making some of these buildings ‘historical’,” Casey said, as she noted Arthur’s interest. “My family purchased a street further in. Rents are good and steady, mostly and maintenance isn’t too bad, but we’re all waiting to see what happens.”

“For what?”

“If they’re historical buildings, we fix them up further and start a tourism campaign. Change out the rentees and draw in more tourists. More hands-on stores.”

“And if not?” Arthur said, frowning.

“We tear it down. Link up to town houses, maybe a condo,” Casey said, unashamedly. “You might consider investing.”

“With what money?” Arthur patted his pockets. “Pretty sure just tonight’s dinner would wipe out everything I own.”

He tilted his head as they passed by the façade of the old jail – only the main entrance and part of the wall remaining, the latest mural project painted across it to give hints of the dire history of the prison. Their version of Alcatraz, though a lot less remote. What must have it been, to live and work next to the jail, knowing people were executed within, that hardened prisoners were just a single wall away from escaping?

And now, glimpsed behind the wall, that looming branded futuristic mall. Dotted around, various high-rise buildings mixing with the old; a strange dichotomy as even buildings built in the 80s and 90s began to look dated, their customers reduced.

“Well, that’s the question, isn’t it, Clan Head.” Casey tapped the arm rest in the car, the pair facing one another in the luxurious limo they were seated within. “I was not happy to find you talking to the government.”

“Not exactly as though I could say no. They are the government.”

“And that has to stop.” She sighed. “You’re not just Arthur Chua, nobody. You’re Arthur Chua, the Clan Head of the Benevolent Durian’s. You are someone.”

“Until they put a dozen bullets in me and it all goes away.”

“No one’s doing that, not if they have a chance to use you,” Casey said with a roll of her eyes.

“Like you intend to.”

“Yes.” She admitted it without care, as she continued. “But at least, you know where we stand. Like I said, we can be good friends.”

“Rich friends,” Arthur recalled their earlier conversation.

“Exactly.” She glanced down at his backpack he had slung in, where the papers and offers from the government lay. “We can match a lot of what they can offer. And at least we won’t change our minds if the elections are bad.”

“Except you have your own politics, don’t you?” He recalled the struggle that she had within, even as the daughter of the current heir presumptive of the Chin’s.

The glower she gave him was answer enough. “We’re headed to my father’s residence. A few people will be there, for you to meet.”

“To talk to and introduce and make sure you’re not insane?” Arthur glanced down at his clothing. Nothing horrible, but certainly not the kind of clothing he would want to wear while meeting a group of important people. Then again, he was not entirely certain what he should wear. A suit seemed a little try-hard, especially in Malaysia and 30°C+ weather. Light jeans and a t-shirt on the other hand trended a little too much towards casual; but at least he wasn’t in shorts.

Did he need a fashion consultant? Certainly at the least, he’d want a haircut… His last had been done in the Tower and involved a knife rather than scissors and an over-enthusiastic Climber.

“Among other things. If we are to formalize our partnership, we do need to take your measure further.”

Arthur sighed. “So, what? You get angry because I’m flirting with another, but now you’re saying we might not get together? You’re like the worse kind of girlfriend, ever.”

Rather than provoke a biting comment, Casey actually blushed at his words. Lam, seated beside her so far and silent glared at Arthur for his impertinence. Not that he cared much, though he was getting a lot of ‘protective father’ vibes from the man at the moment.

“I’m not asking for anything that formal,” Casey said, stiffly. “But we need to make sure you won’t just embrace others too.”

“Like the government? Like Rick?”

“Exactly.” She hesitated, added. “The Ghee Hin, the 66 and TG are all looking for you too.”

“So, what are you offering me?” He gestured at the package by his side. “Financially, I assume the same?”

“Better.” She smirked. “Gifting you a training facility, support staff to be hired on, trainers and people, we can do all that. The government wants you to do the job and give you money, but they’ll take like fifty percent at least in kickbacks.”

“Still have to pay them off,” Arthur noted.

“We’ll call that extra.” Casey shrugged. “And the amounts will be less, with us. We can add to our usual contributions.”

Arthur grunted, not surprised they already had a system for this. “That’s nice. And…?”

She leaned forward, shaking her head. “And what? What do you want, Arthur?”

“Nei si loh.”[TW1] 

“Build up the Durians so that they are a place for all the unwanted.” She rolled her eyes. “Not very profitable.”

“Not looking for profit.” Arthur shrugged. “Not in the short-term anyway. There’ll be money, eventually, as we climb the Towers and bring out cores.”

“You think so?” she said.

“Not just cores, of course. People too.” He drummed fingers on his leg as he thought out loud. “You all see climbing the Tower as a way to gain status, to earn cores and sell whatever you have to others. But Climbers are tower enhanced. And low-level Climbers, if we set things up, they can run beginner towers for quite a few years before they have to stop. What’s the number like in the States, now?”

“Three decades, give or take. Europe has it up to four and Canada in-between them.” It was Lam who surprisingly answered. When Casey looked over at him, he shrugged. “I looked into it, when I was asked to accompany you in.”

“And that’s just the basics. So, three to four decades, maybe a decade of that actually in Towers. That’s still two to three decades of enhanced individuals working for you.”

And wasn’t that an interesting thought. Three t four decades, as a beginner climber – if you controlled how far you progressed.

A decent life, for some. Not him, of course. He would have to climb, but it would work for others.