4. Future

Times are changing rapidly, and even the Kingdom of Tru must now prepare for the future.

There are about 60 Kingdoms in the South Blue, and the Kingdom of Tru is considered one of the least notable among them.

On this day, after Anos finished his morning run, he arrived at the palace hall, where many officials were already waiting for him.

As soon as he sat on the throne, an elderly man stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, our coastal areas have been affected by pirate attacks almost every month recently. Shouldn't we come up with a better plan to address this?"

"Our Kingdom's funds are limited, and the distance between the Kingdom of Tru and the coastline is too vast. With our current military strength, we can't protect all areas effectively!" Anos also looked helpless, at least for now, the situation seemed beyond his control.

At fourteen, Anos appeared mature and composed, carefully considering all aspects of every issue. Even for seasoned officials, he was a convincing leader.

While listening to their reports, he realized that this issue wasn't new it came up almost every time they met.

He had been contemplating these problems for the past year or two, and now was the time to find a solution.

Looking at the concerned faces around him, Anos sighed but then smiled slightly. "I already have some plans for our kingdom, and I may need your help in the future to prepare a comprehensive budget."

"Your Highness, if you need anything, just ask. We will do our best to serve the kingdom and its people. It's time for us, old bones, to make our final contributions," said a thin elderly man standing at the front.

"You are all heroes of the Kingdom of Tru. I propose to cultivate various flowers and herbs throughout the kingdom to establish our unique national attributes."

Anos stood up, walked a few steps forward, and spoke to them.

The dozen people standing in the hall exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of what Anos meant.

Anos noticed their confusion but didn't elaborate. Instead, he took out a bottle of an unknown liquid from his pocket, and the exquisite decoration on the bottle piqued everyone's interest.

Anos sprayed the liquid, and soon the hall was filled with a pleasant fragrance.

"This is the scent of tulips. It's called perfume. Although other kingdoms produce it, theirs is far inferior. I have the formula to create this. Currently, if we grow food, it may be stolen by pirates. Instead, we should grow something they can't easily take away."

"This is an idea I've been considering for some time. Once we grow enough flowers, the surplus workforce can focus on making perfumes. We'll sell these overseas so that all kingdoms recognize Tru's unique products from the South Blue."

Anos smiled as he continued. No one raised objections. These seasoned officials could foresee the potential benefits of his proposal.

"Your Highness, if the people switch to this, won't we lose our food supply?" asked the elderly man at the front.

"Don't worry, I've considered that. Everyone will be taught how to cultivate these plants properly. After the harvest, we'll buy the flowers from them, providing payment they can use for food or other necessities."

"If they prefer, they can sell the perfume directly for cash. This way, we can keep production within the kingdom and provide jobs. Only in this way can we move toward prosperity."

Anos spoke passionately. Everyone nodded in agreement, recognizing the feasibility of his plan.

Given the current situation, even a small improvement would be better than their current state.

What the kingdom lacks most is money. Once the plan is in place, Anos will have the resources to achieve whatever goals he sets.

Almost everyone agreed with his proposal, and no one voiced objections.

In such a chaotic era, preserving the kingdom's economy and the people's livelihood requires strong leadership.

Though Anos is only fourteen, these old officials see him as the perfect candidate for king.

"Your Highness, I feel my age. From now on, the kingdom's future is in your hands. It's time for us to follow the old king into retirement and let the younger generation take the lead," said one minister tactfully.

Indeed, most of the ministers were in their sixties or seventies, the same age as the old king. They had devoted their lives to the Kingdom of Tru.

At their age, they should have been enjoying a peaceful retirement, but the kingdom's weakness prevented it.

Anos respected their sentiment, understanding that they felt no attachment to their positions. But he couldn't let them retire just yet.

"You have sacrificed everything for this kingdom. You should be enjoying a peaceful life now, but it will take a few years for our kingdom to stabilize. I hope you can endure for a bit longer until we've trained a new generation. I promise you; I will ensure you can live in peace afterwards."

Anos walked in front of them, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a firm, serious tone.

"Your Highness is too kind. We just worry that our abilities and energy are insufficient and might hinder your plans. But if you need us, we will continue to serve the kingdom as long as we can," said the elderly minister.

Anos felt deeply moved. Although they hadn't achieved much, these people were still invaluable to the kingdom.

"That's all for today. Everyone, please return to your duties. I'll have others implement our plan, and I will need your support." Anos smiled warmly.

Under the palace dome, the elderly ministers didn't know what else to say. They understood their limitations and trusted that Anos had his methods in place.

After dismissing the ministers, Anos returned to the old king. Despite everything, the old king was still his father, and some duties could not be ignored.

The old king's face was lined with age, and his wrinkles had deepened. But when he saw Anos, he lifted himself, smiled, and called weakly, "Anos, come here..."

"Father, how are you feeling today?"

Anos sat beside him and asked gently.

"I'm fine. No issues lately." The old king smiled but then added, "Take the throne tomorrow. The Kingdom of Tru is yours now."

"What are you saying? The kingdom still needs your guidance. I am just helping."

"I know my condition, son. There's no need for comforting words. I've lived long enough. I just feel guilty leaving you with such a struggling kingdom." The old king smiled sadly, his eyes glistening with tears.

"Don't worry. I will make the Kingdom of Tru prosperous. It won't remain like this," Anos reassured him.

"You've always been different. I believe in you. But with pirates running rampant now..."

Before he could finish, Anos picked up a crystal ball from the bedside table and crushed it effortlessly into powder. Seeing this, the old king felt reassured. His greatest fear had been that his son might not be able to protect himself.

The old king smiled warmly. "I see. If you ever feel overwhelmed, consider joining the World Government."

"Don't worry about the future, Father. Rest now. I will make sure you see a stronger Kingdom of Tru."

"That's good to hear, but I won't be around to see it. Our kingdom, though, still has hope."

The old king's hands trembled as he pulled out a parchment from under his pillow. It appeared to be a treasure map.

"This map has been kept in the palace for generations. Now, it's yours. You can follow it when you're ready." The old king handed it to Anos.

The Kingdom of Tru was different from other Kingdoms. It had no nobles and was mostly impoverished. In recent years, pirate raids have left the people in dire straits.

The old king smiled warmly & said, "Remember son, The decisions you make will come at a certain price or consequences. And by the time you've realised that you made the wrong decision, it will lead to your & the kingdom's downfall."

Anos accepted the map, more focused on comforting his father than on the treasure. "I'll take care of everything. Don't worry."

Anos knew his father wouldn't live much longer, perhaps only two more months at most.

But he had already begun implementing plans for the Kingdom two years ago. His perfume idea was a good one.

Even if food was grown, it would likely be stolen by pirates.

But flowers and herbs were different they held no value to outsiders.

The palace coffers were nearly empty. Maintaining a Kingdom under such circumstances was the next challenge.

After talking for over half an hour, Anos left, visibly saddened. His father's condition was worsening, and he knew the end was near.

As he stepped outside, a guard rushed over.

Seeing Anos, the guard bowed deeply and said, "Your Highness, a large number of pirates have appeared at Nanniwa Port. Captain Daiki asked us to inform you immediately and hopes you have a plan!"

Faced with this sudden news, Anos remained calm. Seeing the guard's nervousness, he asked, "How many troops do we have there now?"

"Your Highness, we have about 500 troops at Nanniwa Port, but the pirates number around 1,000."

"Let's go. I'll head there immediately."

Anos spoke decisively. Nanniwa Port wasn't far from the palace, and given his current speed, he could reach it in half an hour.

At Nanniwa Port, the situation was tense. A young man, about 20 years old, stood at the forefront, his eyes fierce and resolute.

This was Daiki, the kingdom's most loyal subject, and a formidable fighter.

When Anos was ten, he began training a group of people in the techniques of the Marines' Rokushiki and taught them Haki. Although their numbers were few, Daiki was the strongest among them.

Facing seven or eight pirate ships, Daiki showed no fear, but his fists were clenched. Such a large pirate crew was intimidating.

The most critical issue is that no one knows the reason for these pirates coming to the Kingdom of Tru.

"What's the current situation?"

Daiki was observing the arrival of the pirate ships when suddenly a voice sounded behind him. He turned around and saw that Anos had already appeared behind him.

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Thank you for reading!