Chapter 452

“Selemat Tengahari, Tuan Chua.” Manager Kong greeted him in the Ministry’s headquarter’s ground floor the next day. 

“Selemat Tengahari, Manager Kong.” He cocked his head to the side. “Or should I use Puan Kong?”

“Tak paya either way. I don’t mind,” Manager Kong led him inside the tall, marble strewn building. Like most of the more modern offices, the place was glitzed up. Grey and white streaked marble floors, faux-gold edging, big gaudy paintings and murals of famous Malaysian Climbers scattered throughout. Windows had metal bars crafted in the Islamic-Middle Eastern style, lots of swirls and interesting shapes; rather than the blocky edging of the west. Arthur had always been a little appreciative of that kind of artistry, especially compared to 'modern' minimalist styles.

"You have not been here before, have you?" Manager Kong said, slowing down a little so that he could take in the surroundings as they went for the elevators.

"No. We've met at the KL one, but never made it all the way to Putrajaya." The entire government apparatus had been moved to the new sub-division over two decades ago, and for a time; it had seem like a big money grab. Still likely had been, but the extra space that being an hour plus out of the city had meant that they could fit in the growing government apparatus easier. 

Like throwing up a new building just for the suddenly important and heretofore unnecessary Tower Climbing ministry.

"We can show you around a little, if you want? Most of this is just offices, but we do have a testing facility not far from here and training options for Climbers who join us." She raised a shoulder and dropped it. "Many of the bumi candidates train there, and are trained; by our newly emerged successful Climbers. And there are Climber specific sections too, so that they can continue to improve themselves. We even have a Tower-room environment and we’re building a modifying terrain room, to give people more training at the more esoteric environments.”

“Like the platform floor?”

“Exactly.”

Arthur grunted, a little jealous. That would make a big difference later on, especially since he heard that there were some platform floors at higher levels where you literally had a single step to jump onto. One reason so many Climbers trained in parkour, truth be told; since they needed the skills they learnt there to give them a boost.

“How about for monsters?” Arthur asked curiously. “Did the bill about breeding more animals to be fought by Climbers pass?”

“The one in Parliament by Dato’ Azari?” Manager Kong said. “Hasn’t made it to the floor.” At Arthur’s puzzled look, she clarified. “It’s not been voted on yet.”

“It was in the news before I went into the Tower.”

“Yes.” 

“Huh.” Arthur wasn’t sure what that meant, exactly, but it didn’t sound good or bad. Just, weird, to him. Either way, it was not as though he could do much about it; though he had views on the idea anyway. “Better to just buy some of those weird robot monsters they keep trying to sell.”

“The ones from Japan or the US?” Mel wandering beside him so far, asked. While he and Manager Kong had been talking, waiting for the elevators; the others in his group had been chatting amongst themselves or with Manager Kong’s own people. Among those here today was Rick and Casey, both of his allies coming with him for this confrontation.

As the elevator dinged, the group gathered within. Not much of a squeeze since the oversized elevator was quite roomy, allowing the large group to fit. Moments later after Manager Kong had swiped her keycard, they were moving; heading for the top floor.

“I don’t actually know. Maybe one of each to test?”

“You need to buy in the dozens. And their subscription pack for their software updates, and the maintenance costs are incredibly high too, because fighting Climbers is very abusive. All the limbs and other parts are proprietary too, so we can’t even update them.”

“The American ones are better,” Rick muttered. “My dad bought a few for me to work with. Though he only let me use the integrated pistols.”

“Integrated pistols?” Arthur asked, curiously.

“They’re connected with lasers and Bluetooth. You can also get melee weapons that are set-up too, so that when you strike – or shoot – it registers as attacks. Depending on where and how fast, the program helps the creature mimic the damage.”

“Huh. Fancy.”

Rick shrugged, suddenly awkward as everyone stared at him. Casey, coming to his rescue, added. “China has its own program too. I hear they’re not too far behind Japan and US these days, with their AI movements even better simulated.”

“Supposedly most of their software and parts are basically stolen parts, mish-mashed together though,” Rick said. “Not sure how reliable that is.”

“Nevermind whatever data they collect going back,” Manager Kong said. “We were told we weren’t allowed to buy anything, because of that.”

“Wise,” Rick said.

“Even the US,” Manager Kong added, pointedly.

That made Rick shift uncomfortably, since everyone knew that the US had a tendency to borrow the information from US companies too. They were just a lot more subtle about it, compared to China, who had state run spyware; while the US government just took the data from the maintenance logs of the companies who you paid subscription fees to.

And while Japan didn’t have anywhere as large a spy operation or even the same needs, no one was willing to bet that they weren’t either compromised or just a willing participant to their ally, the US.

“Not a concern for us, any way.” Arthur said, loudly, choosing to distract everyone. When people looked at him, he shrugged. “We don’t have the money for animals or androids. So we’ll just have to keep it old school.”

“I still don’t believe you have people dressing up in extra padded armour and running around on all fours as though their animals.” Casey shook her head. “Not even my family does that.”

“Eh, the kids like it.”

“And the adults?”

“Need to loosen up.” Arthur grinned. “It makes for great blackmail material on the teens too, when they start going on their first dates.”

“Did you get blackmailed?” Rick asked, curiously.

“Oh, look! Doors open!” was Arthur’s bright reply as the elevator dinged and slid open near silently, letting the man leave before he was trapped within by further questions.