Chapter 422

Arthur’s routine continued in a similar form of training, arguing and negotiating with Manager Kong and delving into aspects of the agreement while taking notes for his own use. Most of all, Arthur found that his time in the security building – outside of the guards who routinely avoided speaking with him and seemed to resent his presence – and the ladies was peaceful.

A series of nerves, an unknown tension that had built up within him unwound. Nightmares – never a major factor in his life – disappeared entirely. On the other hand, his level of wariness dropped; not away entirely but to a more manageable level.

He was grateful, a little, that he had not just blithely walked right into the middle of Kuala Lumpur Merdeka Square in the state he had been. He made a note that they would need to have someone here, someone to whisk new Clan members off to rest and recuperate and wind down in the future. Was there not something about sending army personnel to bases for a month or two after deployment to wind down? He vaguely recalled articles of that, but would need to look it up.

Online forum commentary, while offering a wide range of information, could be just as suspect and, often, lacked context or other viewpoints. They were good starting points for research, but certainly not something Arthur wanted to base his entire organisation’s plans upon.

Even if his own lived experience right now was suggesting it made sense.

Of course, right now, he was also looking at another example of someone needing time off.

“Uswah. Calm down.” Arthur called out to the woman who was glaring all around her, most especially the soldiers with their guns.

“Sorry – just… the guns.”

“After your test?” Arthur acknowledge. “What was it?”

“I was forced to compete in a series of duels by the Tun,” Uswah said.

“Oooh, that variant.” Arthur acknowledged with a nod. “I got a murder mystery.”

“Sounds better than mine.” She touched her shoulder, then looked around, frowning. “Why are you still here?”

“Waiting for you all.” He stepped to the side, gestured to Manager Kong and the girls who had followed him when he had hurried over when they had informed him that a new Climber had arrived. He made quick introductions, only pausing when he realised that he did not know Uswah’s remaining names.

Funny thing about Malay culture – there were no family names, but personal names and then the name of the father. So while there might be multiple personal names, there was only one following name after – the name of their parent.

Once introductions were over, Arthur gestured towards his quarters – and the place where he knew additional holding suites were located. “Let’s get you washed up and we can talk.”

“Not leaving?”

“I’m not, and you should take a little bit to relax first. But I got to stay for a bit,” Arthur said. “I’ll explain later.”

He was just a little hurt by the look she gave him, because he was not trying to pull a fast one. Even if circumstances had caught up with him again.

 

***

 

Uswah sighed and rubbed her face with one hand. She had to put down the spoon she had been wielding to eat the nasi kandar that had been brought for lunch, but she no longer seemed bothered by it or the lack of her left arm. It had been months, after all, and while she could - in the Tower - wield her shadow skill to provide her additional gripping points, she was not that rehearsed with them that they could take over the loss of her arms for delicate tasks like feeding.

Not yet, at least.

And obviously, being out in the real world, casual use of her skills was going to be a problem. In fact, Arthur would not be surprised if she looked into mundane options to replace her lost limb. Or pushed for a return to the Tower soon enough. Though, the woman had also surprised him before. The Yin Body they both shared allowed a degree of cold calculation - both about themselves and their losses as well as their needs - that many lacked.

So, what she might consider necessary might not align with his own beliefs. Especially since he had no idea about her own family history.

"Do you wish a phone, Cik Uswah?" Tannah said.

"Tak paya," Uswah replied. "I will be leaving soon enough. Unless I have to stay?"

“No. Only me,” Arthur said. “I do want your contact infor-”

The shrill noise of a new climber alert resounded through the building again and he blinked, stupefied. Uswah stared at the man, somehow having managed to make a knife appear in her hand as she listened to the alarm.

“What?”

“We have another climber exiting.” Arthur smiled. “Time to say hi to another friend, eh?”

 

***

 

This time around, the situation that they came into was a lot less tense. Not too surprising, since the newcomer had a rough and ready charm to him. Even if he was built like a body builder, he somehow never seemed to radiate an intense, dangerous energy - at least, not when he didn't want to. Always a smile on his lips, especially when Jan - who was the more intimidating one of the pair - was about.

Not that Arthur understood what the attraction between Yao Jing and Jan was. Then again, no one was asking him to play matchmaker or therapist, so him not understanding what made their relationship work was okay.

He just hoped that if they did break-up, it would not cause problems in the Clan. After all, Yao Jing was, among other things, his bodyguard.

"Boss!" He cried out, happily and surged forward. The guards stepped aside as the big man swept Arthur up into a tight hug, spun him around and then dropped him. "I should have known you'd be fine."

“Bad quest?” Arthur said.

“The worse!” He let out a long groan. “That stupid hermit beat me up again and again, all the time.”

“You went to the hermit?” Uswah said, surprised.

“You didn’t?” he echoed her surprise.

She snorted and he grinned. “Of course you did. I bet all of us did which is why there are so few of us out.”

“You think we’d be allowed to gather here normally?” Arthur said, surprised.

“Aren’t we?” Yao Jing gestured at the obvious to him fact that the group was here, waiting for him.

“Buat ini tak boleh lah. Normally kick you outside,” Arthur pointed to the main doors that led out, though he had – quickly – checked it out and noticed it was more a murder corridor than a direct exit. Actually safer – if you were breaking out – to go through the walls on either side.

Not that he was going to tell anyone that. Or try his hand at breaking through brick or concrete walls. He was not that strong yet. Though Yao Jing…

“Oh, then why?” the big man frowned around, shifting the backpack he carried around a little more. He eyed the ladies who had come along, and Manager Kong smiled, bowing a little.

“Welcome, climber. I see you’re part of Mr. Chua’s Clan?” At Yao Jing’s nod, she continued. “If you wish to get washed up, we will make sure to acquire more food for the dining hall. I’m sure you have a lot to catch up on.”

Uswah was shaking her head at that, making Manager Kong frown. “A problem, Cik?”

“I should go. My parents will be waiting.” She touched the place where her arm had been, then looked at me. “Keep in touch?”

Arthur nodded. He not only had a series of notes about how to contact them all, healso  had their phone numbers all memorized. One nice bonus of increasing the Mind attribute, such memorization was simple enough now.

“Yao Jing? Do you want to go to?” Arthur asked.

“No way lah, boss. I your bodyguard. Cannot go.”

“Don’t you have family?”

“I call them later. No problem, boss,” he said, blithely.

“Really.”

Yao Jing’s grin never faltered even under my scrutiny. Rather than push it, I gestured to the ladies in waiting then. “Alright, you go get washed up, we’ll meet at the dining area. And don’t complain or protest. You stink.”

He huffed in anger but I was unrelenting till he let Elsa lead him away. Almost immediately, he started hitting on her, though he did so in a more routine, ‘you’re cute, I’m a guy, let’s keep in practise’ manner than any focused intention.

Good, since Arthur wouldn’t want Jan to skewer Yao Jing. Finding a new bodyguard would be a pain.

Turning to Uswah who was looking impatient, he considered what else to say. Found that he had nothing more to add and laughed, softly. “Alright. I’ll see you then, I guess?”

“Yeah. Get us a headquarters, eh?” she said.

“Yes, yes. And we can talk about training later.” Watching her step away, Arthur found myself feeling a little lost. Things were moving, even if not necessarily in the direction he wanted.