182. Blind Man

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Until now, none of the princes or ministers of Alabasta had realized what they had truly lost.

But at this moment, Losta was inwardly laughing. She never imagined that the people of Alabasta could be so shortsighted.

The five-year tax exemption alone was enough to save Alabasta significant expenses.

Furthermore, while the Tru Kingdom was assisting with infrastructure maintenance, the actual work wasn't theirs to handle.

Their support consisted merely of basic training and simple equipment.

The bulk of the labour still had to come from Alabasta's own citizens. The Tru Kingdom's delegation consisted of only 20 people. Beyond initial planning, the manpower had to come from Alabasta itself.

Now that negotiations were concluded, Losta saw no need to add further conditions. In the days to come, she planned to begin construction at Nanohana Port, allowing everything else to proceed systematically.

Alabasta's location on the first half of the Grand Line made it a hub for commerce, where all trade routes converged.

If the kingdom had demonstrated any business acumen, it wouldn't have fallen into its current state.

Although the Tru Kingdom had committed to full cooperation, the leadership of Alabasta, including King Cobra, remained stagnant.

Mediocre and incompetent, they rested on the laurels of their ancestors, who had built the nation's glory. Under their stewardship, Alabasta had slowly decayed.

The business negotiations were fully implemented. After finalizing the agreements, Losta immediately informed Anos in the Tru Kingdom via Den Den Mushi.

Upon hearing the news, Anos wasted no time. He began organizing people and machinery for deployment to Alabasta.

This massive mobilization included a team of skilled workers and resources.

The Tru Kingdom knew that relying solely on Alabasta's inexperienced populace would make achieving their five-year goals nearly impossible.

The Tru Senate also moved swiftly. Within weeks, decrees were issued across the nation.

Fertile fields, once used for cultivating flowers and plants, were converted for agricultural purposes.

Although the Tru Kingdom offered no direct compensation for these changes, they exempted farmers from taxes entirely.

This alone earned them the gratitude of landowners, who were more than willing to support the initiative.

Within a month, the kingdom was thriving. Infrastructure projects proceeded smoothly, and life in the Tru Kingdom blossomed with prosperity.

The newfound stability attracted migrants from neighbouring nations, eager to find a better life.

While the Tru Kingdom welcomed newcomers, it maintained strict policies.

Foreigners could live as second-class residents unless their home countries merged with the Tru Kingdom. Only then could they gain equal rights.

After weeks of overseeing plans from the royal palace, Anos finally ventured into the capital city unaccompanied, eager to see the results for himself.

He headed first to the expanded Nanohana Port, now five to six times larger than before.

The port could accommodate nearly 200 colossal cargo ships at once, yet demand for space still exceeded capacity.

Standing at the bustling docks, Anos surveyed rows of merchant ships bearing flags from all corners of the world.

The Tru Kingdom had become the Grand Line's central trade hub, ensuring merchants could profit immensely from their ventures.

Satisfied, Anos left the port and strolled through the city's main street. The architecture retained its historic charm, though signs of wear and tear lingered.

Yet the throngs of people bustling through the streets reflected the city's renewed prosperity.

Even by Grand Line standards, no other nation could match such vibrancy.

"Step right up! Come see for yourself a blind man winning round after round!"

The lively shout caught Anos's attention as he passed a crowd surging toward a nearby casino. Intrigued, he followed them inside.

The casino, a grand establishment nearly 100 square meters in size, was packed. Enthusiastic cheers and gasps filled the room, creating an electrifying atmosphere.

At the centre of the commotion stood the casino owner, a nervous man in a tailored suit.

Sweat dripped down his forehead as he faced a middle-aged man seated at the roulette table.

The man, who carried a cane, radiated an air of quiet confidence. Despite his unassuming demeanour, his every move commanded attention.

Anos paused, observing the scene with curiosity. Something about the blind man felt oddly familiar, though he couldn't immediately place him.

For now, he decided to watch, eager to unravel the mystery behind the enigmatic figure dominating the casino floor.

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