As much as he wanted to be focused upon exploring the various methodologies and techniques and his new Yin body further, Arthur was, in the end, the Clan Head. He had responsibilities and as much as he tried to shift them to others, delegating like any smart manager did; there were just things that onl he could handle.
Including the all-hands meeting the next morning, held in the corner of the lobby with Eric glaring at those other residents who were coming down, curious about what was happening.
"We need a real meeting room." Mel said, sighing as Eric shooed off the next lookie-loo. "We can't talk Clan meeting in the lobby."
"No meeting room," Arthur said. "I checked. This place is barebones."
"We could break a room down, make one?" Yao Jing offered.
"Great. If you can do that without breaking the building...." Arthur said. "I don't exactly know what's a load bearing wall. Do you?"
"Load bearing...?"
"The walls that make sure the building doesn't come down," Leia said with a sigh. "I can ask around, see if anyone knows. But most of the walls are pretty thin, it should be fine."
"Probably." Arthur shrugged. "I'd still like to know first before we do it."
A few confirming nods, before he dismissed the topic. It wouldn't help them now anyway. "Right. So, we have three things." A slight pause. "At least, in my view. Anyone have anything to add, add it after I'm done. First up, our new residents." He waved upwards. "We collected their payments, after the Chin's finally coughed up refunds, so those that are here are here." He chuckled a little. "Didn't have to even kick out that many, what with the place not being full." In fact, they actually had more rooms than they needed, especially with a few of his group doubling up including Jan and Yao Jing and Eric and Leia. "That being said, we should get a proper document set-up and make sure those who are meant to be leaving are. Need someone in charge of that."
"You're not letting them stay afterwards?" Leia asked, curiously.
"No," Arthur said, firmly. "Not at these rates at least, and while there might be a few -" at Leia's look, he added, "-I'll tell you later. A few who are interesting, we don't let them in if they don't join. There's not enough space, once we start recruiting, I'd bet. So those who want long-term residence - even Clan members - are going to need to show they're worth it."
"Eh, boss. This a big building, no?" Yao Jing said. "You sure we need worry that much, ah?"
"Definitely. We need to keep at least a few rooms free for those ascending and give them time to get their feet under them, and then a few for the Chin's and a few for long-termers as perks. It's going to run out, fast. So, we need a plan and someone managing this. Volunteers?"
No one offered themselves up, so Arthur stared at Leia. She winced, but nodded eventually, accepting her fate. As much as she disliked such work, he knew she'd be decent at it. And decent was all they needed, at least till he found his Floor boss.
"Next. The White Lotuses." Mel and Uswah both perked up. "They're yours, of course. Just get to them soon, let's set-up a meeting. Hopefully they like us well enough and it's less of a headache getting them to join and agree."
"And if its?" Mel said, carefully.
"Then we work it out. You know the Lotuses have first call."
She smiled, happily and he snorted, turning away. Sometimes, his vice Clan Head could get real touchy. "Thirdly, the Chin's. Getting payment and all that." He shrugged. "That's for me to deal with, but Casey's been pretty good at getting us payment soon. Once it comes in, I'll take payment." A slight hesitation, then he nodded to Jan. "We'll also be dealing with the merchants and what not we talked to. Shouldn't take long, not like we have a lot to trade for yet."
Murmured agreements, before he finished. "That's it lah, ya?"
"Ghee Hin." Mel offered.
"Celaka. I forgot. Right, what did they want...?" He asked.
"They want to talk."
"Talk?"
"just talk, they said," Mel replied with a shrug. "Seemed respectful enough."
"Huh." Arthur frowned, considering. The triads were always tricky to work with, and he'd hoped to avoid them this floor, but obviously it wasn't going to happen.
"Eh, Arthur? Maybe we should, you know?" Leia waved at herself and Eric. "We just worked with them. Know how they think, we could feel them out to start at least."
"And avoid dealing with this building?" he said with a smirk.
She grinned. "It makes sense, lah."
"Uh huh." She was right, but he was still reluctant.
Rick, silent until now, coughed. "I could do it." Then, hurrying to clarify, he added. "The building. Not the gangsters. I know how to do this, take money, take notes, feel people out. It's what my father had me do before, really. It's not that hard."
"Says you."
Arthur hesitated, still not entirely sure he could trust the man all that far. Then again, this might be a good first step. He was the heir of a multi-million if not hundred of million dollar business empire. He must have the relevant skills, Arthur figured. And how badly could he screw up the recruitment and management of a bunch of Climbers and their apartments anyway? It was not as though anyone else was volunteering.
"Fine." He sighed, rubbed his face. "Last thing."
"I though you said there were only three?" Mel said, teasingly.
"Funny. But seriously, last thing. This is the last rest floor. When we head up, there's no guarantee we'll be together. The last floors, you know how it is." Nods all around, and he continued. "So. While setting up the Durians is important, most important is making sure you're all ready to try it." He firmed his voice as he added. "No dying."
They echoed the words back, some seriously, a few like Yao Jing with a smile. It was Uswah who fixed him with a look till he paid attention to her.
"You especially, Arthur. We will take as much of these meetings as we can, because you need to practise and grow stronger. You most of all."
Arthur hesitated, before he bobbed his head in acknowledgement. He had been thinking the same thing last night after all, that he needed to work on his techniques. As much as he could, he intended to do that, and he said the same outloud. Some other minor conversations continued, discussions of places to eat, or buildings the group had seen. Even a brief mention of the altercation last night.
Then, they split off, everyone with their own jobs.
"So what now, boss?" Jan said, hovering by his side.
"You find our merchants, let's talk to them. Maybe we can sell something, maybe we can recruit them. I want to know what we can get." He turned slightly, touched the spear he had brought down and propped up against the wall near him as he'd spoken. "I want enchanters, if possible."
She nodded, hesitated, then added. "Then you cultivate lah. This for me to do."
"But..."
"You don't need to be here lah. Ah Jing and I, we can do it enough."
"I'm sure you do it enough for sure..."
She snorted, not even blushing. Yao Jing grinned, puffing up a bit till she smacked him in the stomach with the back of her hand as she continued. "Once we know something, we tell you. But you go cultivate."
Again, he considered protesting but eventually nodded. She was right. Casey wasn't going to be back with any new stones anytime soon, but he had some from their recent ascent. And a lot of experimenting to do either way. What he needed, most of all, was time. She was offering, so why was he resisting?
In the end, he shook his head and dismissed his reluctance. "Okay. Go."
Jan nodded, took a few steps away, frowned and turned around, leveling a finger at him. "You. Stay inside, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," he waved a hand, dismissing her concerns. He knew better. In fact, grabbing his spear, he turned to head for the stairs. If he was going to experiment, his room was the best option.
Whistling as he strode up, he could not help but wonder, what he'd learn today.