Three days after Dazna quietly left, the entire Land of Waves was engulfed in dark clouds.
Thousands of people ran to the entrance of the Naoki Association, begging desperately for them to lift the maritime ban.
Because it had only been three days, and they could not hold on.
If the goods in hand couldn't be sold, that would be fine. At worst, it would mean bankruptcy!
But when they couldn't buy food even with money or only barely managed to exchange it for a bit of sustenance at several hundred times the price, their mental state immediately collapsed.
What was the point of making money?
Wasn't it to live a life replete with abundant food and clothing?
But with the country closed off, everyone was hoarding essential goods tightly. Even with money, people couldn't buy food, so what was the use of having money?
The restaurants on the streets were all shut, and the vegetable vendors had made a killing by hiking prices on the first day. But as three days passed and they sold everything, they were left stunned.
They had made hundreds of times more money, but what then?
When will the maritime ban end?
The Naoki Association isn't serious, right?!
It's not that nobody had tried to take risks by secretly building ships to escape.
But as soon as they went to sea, their ships were sunk or simply confiscated, cutting off this last avenue of escape completely.
Thus, the public was in panic, everyone cursing loudly!
Naturally, they weren't cursing the Naoki Association, which controlled the economic lifeline. They were furiously denouncing those with the heart of a wolf and the lung of a dog, always clamoring about building some sort of sea-crossing bridge!
The Naoki Association had contributed so much to this country, and yet you dare to spread rumors and insist on constructing some bridge. Have dogs eaten your consciences?
Public opinion instantly flipped!
Those who had wanted to make trouble were killed off one after another, and many now became like rats crossing the street, chased by everyone.
Then, just as Dazna had imagined, the enraged populace directly rushed in and seized them, pressing them in front of the Naoki Association's doors, hoping the Naoki Association would vent their anger and no longer make things difficult for everyone.
Some even wrote petitions stating that anyone who mentioned building a bridge again was their common enemy!
It wasn't that they were short-sighted and couldn't see the benefits of constructing a sea-crossing bridge for the future.
But the problem was, they didn't even know how to survive in the present; how could they think about the future?
Were they too full to care?
Now, there was almost a unanimous public sentiment that the Land of Waves did not need that damned bridge!
Anyone who dared to bring up the old matters would be the enemy of the people!
Under such petitioning and protests, it was not until the fifth day, when the Land of Waves was on the verge of rioting, that Naoki appeared outside the company with a troubled face.
Then, under the 'coercion' of the populace, he held his nose to check and confiscate the properties of these unfortunate people and 'out of exasperation,' agreed to 'repurchase' ships and immediately lifted the maritime ban.
He also painfully condemned those 'business rivals' who had spread rumors and slandered them, making quite a headline for a time.
Not only did they play the role of a villain, but they were also crowned with countless markers of virtue, which they could not even refuse to accept.
This also made Naoki again marvel at 'that person's' ability to turn the situation around with thunderous methods.
He was certain that, before the wound healed and the pain was forgotten, no one would dare to oppose them again.
It also reminded everyone once more who the true master of the Land of Waves was!
And when Naoki, who had prepared in advance, directly brought in countless ships loaded with fruits, vegetables, and fresh meat, the Land of Waves' bit of riotous (censored) trends was immediately extinguished. Not even a trace of black smoke could be seen.
In just a short moment, everything was divided up.
And then countless goods were loaded onto ships again, setting sail fully loaded.
The true losses of the Naoki Association were but a drop in the ocean, and this move even earned it all back.
Instead, they re-established their authority and retook control of public sentiment, which was worth it.
But if Aoba knew that his actions made some people think he was limiting the freedom of the people of the Wave Country, he would cry foul.
Because he had never done such a thing, nor had he ever thought about it.
Who knows how many people want to live the life the people of the Wave Country are living now? He came up with an immigration scheme to limit this situation.
Yet some people misunderstand him, which is too much.
Do you believe that even if all the registered residents of the Wave Country left, he wouldn't care, and it would only take a few days to transport more people to settle down and live happily here?
The Wave Country is just a small island nation. As long as the foundation is there, my Ie Society won't fall. How could we run out of people?
Finding a toad with a hundred legs is hard, but two-legged people require supply.
As long as there are enough people, what kind of talent can't be found?
At most, it's just a waste of time; development might be slower, but does it elevate to personal freedom?
On the contrary, for those who left the Wave Country, he seriously doubts whether they could still live as well as they did before.
Just any band of robbers could leave them penniless and empty-handed.
People, it's important to have self-awareness.
The world will continue to develop without anyone and won't stagnate.
Thus, a minor disturbance calmed down.
The people of the Wave Country returned to a stable and prosperous life, not having to rack their brains over basic needs and enjoying their happy lives.
And without comparison, there's no satisfaction.
No one wants to return to the impoverished life they once had.
Of course, thanks to my Ie Society, it's my Ie Society that brought them such a lifestyle.
For a while, the cohesion among the people greatly strengthened, and even those inflated with pride eventually realized the true gap between the two sides.
Even if the tiger takes a nap, it's not something they can provoke.
If they wake the tiger, the first thing it would do is eat them!
So, no one dares to speak ill of my Ie Society anymore, even if some only dare to do it in secret. Openly, everyone is more respectful than the next.
When Naoki reported all of this to Aoba, Aoba could say he had anticipated such an outcome.
Looking back on the history of those rebellions and revolutions, whether successful or not, they all have one thing in common: the people couldn't eat, and it was under these prolonged circumstances that they were forced to act.
As long as one can live and not starve to death, no one will think about overthrowing the government.
Those ambitious individuals and heroes are just going with the flow.
So, monopolizing the transportation industry means nothing. As long as the people have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to live, those troublemakers can't stir up any trouble.
But this incident has been a wake-up call for it's time to enhance the entertainment activities within the country and give those who are fed and have nothing to do something to invest in emotionally.
Otherwise, there might be more troubles like this in the future.
It may be time to debut a girl group.
Aoba wasn't very sure, just pondering wildly.