Chapter 528

Meeting the triad bosses was a late night affair. Same day, but this time, rather than going for a civilized lunch, they were meeting in a nightclub. Arthur had not been in one for ages, mostly since he had not the funds to actually visit one while training to be a Climber. Since his return, well… He had been so busy training and sorting out the Clan that letting loose in a club was the farthest thing from his mind. Even when he managed to find a moment to date someone, he was more likely to do a dinner than a night out here.

It did make him feel like his life had constrained itself, that he was wasting his youth building a foundation for better lives for others. Not a problem when it was his mother and his mei mei, but for complete strangers?

The throb of music, faster in a bump-ping that he was not a fan combined with the flashing spotlights, causing him to shift a little as he waited. Half of his usual team were here, Yao Jing and Jan with him by his side, his seniors and Uswah already inside the club scouting it out.

Jan managed to verify it was clear – or as close as a crowded nightclub could be – before he was led within. Dark tiles, flashing strobelights, a lot of small booths ringing the tiny dance floor in the center. Women in skimpy clothing with an apron and tray gliding back and forth, while other ‘hostesses’ kept the men who were lounging around in the booths company.

Most of the patrons were in the mid-30s and forties really, at least in the upper levels. Those near the dance floor were younger, but there were quite a few older executives throwing business credit cards and money around, letting their hanger-ons – men and women – indulge in the overpriced bottles and ear damage.

It amused Arthur as he followed Yao Jing to note that there many of the youngsters were wearing ear plugs, keeping their hearing safe. Smart move, though if that was the case, perhaps they could have just lowered the volume here?

As he walked, eyes locked onto him for a variety of reasons. Waitresses and hostesses, gauging if he was going to be a good tipper. Checking out his clothing, his watch and shoes to see if he was worth spending their on him, ranking him higher for his bodyguards and lower for his clothing.

Your general clubgoers, checking him out as competition or prey for their nightly endeavors. Most just checking him over before drifting on, a few lingering gazes at his tanned and marvelous physique. One of the advantages of being a Climber, since it ripped out of a lot of the fat one might hold naturally since their bodies were no longer empowered by calories alone.

At the same time, Yao Jing was probably getting more looks than him. The man had been a former bodybuilder and gymrat before; and rather than Arthur’s own more lean, functional strength, the man had just grown broader and wider. It was not to Arthur’s personal taste in body types, or perhaps most people’s – but it was quite eye catching either way.

The guys were watching Jan more than him, other than the usual courtesy threat check. Most of the civilians barely paid attention, secure in their personal safety. Those whose eyes lingered, Arthur clocked; the gangsters, the fellow Climbers within the room. A few even unconsciously reached to their sides, to their belts where knives or shivs or batons might be hidden, weapons that were highly illegal in the country. Even for Climbers who had emerged, carrying weapons to a place like this was a no go.

That the bouncers at the door had not even checked for such weapons were another telling point that this was not your average nightclub. Not that most of them weren’t somehow connected, but there were connected and connected.

Pondering the state of such connections, of what it might mean led Arthur all the way to the upper floor where the true VIPs sat. There, a group of older men and a single woman waited. There were waiters, of course, but they kept well back and only brought whatever was required to the top of the stairs where another of the triad members would take it.

A lot of security.

“Arthur. Come, have a drink!” Greetings called out, one after the other. Arthur smiled, nodded and bowed and clasped hands and set himself in for a long couple of hours. There was not going to be much discussion about business, not till people had drunk their fill it seemed.

After all, this meeting was more about solidifying the relationship between Clan and the triads rather than negotiation. Everything Mel had said was that they were more than happy with what they were getting – little enough as they were offering – for their support. Beating on another triad was just a matter of course, and since they weren’t breaking out into full war; they were happy enough to take potshots and one another.

Of course, the moment Arthur wanted their full support; that was going to be a different matter. Something all parties knew and something he was trying desperately to avoid. After all, once that particular negotiation began, they would want portions of the company.

And unlike the Chin’s or Rick’s family, they were not going to let go that easily. Legal leverage would mean a lot less to them.

“Kampei!” Arthur cheered, slugging down the alcohol. He was a little amused by this, since he could not get drunk. Between his Accelerated Healing and his resistance to poisons running passively, he could be drinking entire bottles of alcohol and still not feel anything.

There was a reason why Climber-made alcohol was restricted to Climbers and quite in demand as one of the major Tower exports.

The group cheered, drunk and eventually, talk turned to things of more interest than the sexual habits of the various individuals, casual ribbing and the state of Malaysian football – dire – and badminton – promising.

“More gangs than ever, many of them unwilling to join up,” Bolo, the head of the 66 who was here for Arthur muttered. “With your war, we can’t even put them to proper accounting.”

“What war?” Arthur said. “No blood is drawn.”

“Nothing the polis can track,” Bolo said with a smirk. “But if you don’t think there’s been blood spilt, you don’t know anything, boy.”

Arthur tilted his head. They had been leaning on their allies to pressure the Hai San and their affiliate Mamak and Templar gangs. However, it had been interesting to hear that they actually had been taking action – since Casey had been clear they had refused overt overtures.

“Casey said…”

The group broke out into laughter, causing Arthur to blink.

“You think we tell her?” the Suey Ying boss, the only female in the group, said. “She’s corporate through and through.”

“And I’m not?”

“You sent your shadow girl to us, didn’t you? Her and your seniors?” The woman smiled. “You tau jalan-jalan kita lah. So we’ve been pushing, but carefully. There’s… problems lah. The Hai San are big.”

“I thought you all were the largest in Malaysia?” He didn’t look at the Ghee Hin but it was clear who he was speaking to. Just better not to say it.

“Not just Malaysia lah,” she said. Arthur couldn’t recall her name, Mary something? “Also got all of Asia.” A grimace, then added. “And Africa.”

“Africa?” Arthur said, surprised.

“Ya lah.” She sighed. “They ada banyak orang hitam dari sana. Too many, and they bring them in. Climbers too, a lot.”

“African triad Climbers?” Arthur frowned.

“You cakap banyak with Manager Kong right? Very friendly. Tell her to stop letting them in, lah. Otherwise…” A long sigh, a shake of her head.

“I get it.” Arthur said, making note to pass the word on to Cynthia. They definitely needed to manage the Climbers coming in if this was the case, if they were using the Tower as a means of bolstering the Hai San’s numbers.

Taking them on, individually, might have been possible if they were just the Malaysian group. With the backup from overseas, this could get bad. Especially if the triads had to call in help from their own international groups – because then, the amounts they would ask for would grow.

So. Curtail that, let them do their own pushing around for now; it seemed everything so far was on the level. Hopefully, things would stay simple and stable, at least for a little while longer…

“Boss!” A voice from one of the guards. They turned, surprised to find the man hurrying over. When he was gestured to speak, he added. “Polis. Looking for the Climber.”

Five sets of eyes turned and locked onto Arthur in a non-friendly manner, causing him to groan. Of course, a pleasant night out was not in his favor.