Ice Snow Town's Revival
At the same time, over a hundred kilometers away from Vilia Port
Ice Snow Town.
Compared to just a month ago, the town had undergone a dramatic transformation. Once a war-torn, half-abandoned settlement reduced to ruins, Ice Snow Town now looked completely different.
The houses that once lay in shambles had been rebuilt, the town's area expanded several times over. Countless workers were busy across construction sites, raising new buildings. Beyond the town, a massive wall now encircled more than half of it.
On that wall, under the command of stationed soldiers, groups of workers hauled block after block of stone, like stacking building blocks slowly increasing the wall's height bit by bit.
At the docks, countless merchant ships came and went, occasionally joined by a few royal navy vessels. Dockworkers scurried about like industrious ants, loading and unloading goods without pause.
By noon, smoke rose from every chimney. The air was filled with the sound of hammers, chatter, and laughter, the once-frozen Ice Snow Town now brimming with vitality.
"Unbelievable. In just one month, this place has completely changed! I hope things can stay this way forever."
A young soldier standing atop the partially finished wall gazed down at the bustling town below, his face full of emotion.
"Yeah… and it's all thanks to Lord Maysfield. If he hadn't taken us in, and if he hadn't somehow secured grain from those damn greedy merchants, this place would still be a wasteland. Lord Maysfield is truly a good man."
The soldier beside him nodded earnestly, admiration shining in his eyes as he mentioned Maysfield's name. Nearby recruits shared the same expression.
"Alright, that's enough talk, rookies. Stay sharp! The rebels could strike at any time. If you don't want this town reduced to ashes, or your families back on the streets then focus and do your jobs!"
A tall, square-jawed officer strode toward them, barking the order with a stern glare.
"Yes, Sir Dalton!"
The young soldiers snapped to attention immediately, saluting with disciplined precision. Their faces grew serious, some even hardening with traces of hatred in their eyes.
Most of them weren't originally from Ice Snow Town or the nearby villages, they were refugees from Rode Port. After the rebels' surprise attack a month ago, their homes were destroyed. They fled to Ice Snow Town, and to survive and to avenge their losses they enlisted.
"Remember this: if there's something you want to protect, then protect it with everything you've got. Don't let those bastards run wild again."
Dalton nodded in satisfaction, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Turning to look at the thriving town before him, his expression softened, filled with respect for the man who had made it all possible.
As one of the first defenders of Ice Snow Town, Dalton knew better than anyone how it had risen from the ashes.
The town's rapid growth had begun after the rebels razed Rode Port, displacing thousands. With Drum Kingdom on the brink of a food crisis, most nobles had turned their backs on the refugees, closing their gates and refusing aid.
But at that moment, Arik, under the alias Lord Maysfield, opened Ice Snow Town's gates wide welcoming the refugees. He had even managed to purchase large quantities of grain from obscure foreign trading guilds, staving off famine.
To restore order and prevent chaos, Arik implemented a "work-for-food" policy, employing refugees to rebuild the town in exchange for food. He promised that anyone who contributed to the town's reconstruction would earn the right to settle there permanently.
Driven by hunger and the hope of a new home, the refugees worked with incredible zeal. In just one month, Ice Snow Town was completely reborn.
Its population exploded to 300,000, surpassing even its former peak and it was still growing rapidly.
To accommodate everyone, the town had to be expanded, its borders pushing outward day by day. The booming population led to skyrocketing demand for resources, and the docks now fully operational again, drew merchants from across the sea. The once-ruined market came alive overnight.
To accelerate economic recovery, Arik directed the Golden Flash Trading Company to build a pharmaceutical factory and other labor-intensive workshops.
Ever since Aaron had become a Logia-type Devil Fruit user and served temporarily as Gilbert's bodyguard, the Golden Flash Company had gained enough influence to enter Drum Kingdom's lucrative pharmaceutical trade. They'd already built several small factories within Aaron's territory, making a fortune from selling healing medicines.
Now, the factory being established in Ice Snow Town was essentially a relocation of one of those existing production lines, complete with the same workers and equipment.
Each day, merchant ships came and went from the port, injecting new energy into the once-desolate coastal town. Every industry here was awakening anew.
And to protect this growing prosperity from rebel incursions, Arik began expanding his forces, recruiting remnants of the royal army and selecting the best fighters from among the refugees. His army quickly swelled to 5,000 strong.
He also ordered the construction of defensive fortifications around the town walls, towers, and strongholds to safeguard their newfound peace.
Helping him in this massive effort was the captured rebel officer Michella, whose Block-Block Fruit ability allowed her to produce building materials with ease, drastically speeding up construction.
While Dalton continued his inspection of the defenses, inside the tallest building at the town's center, the temporary lord's manor, Lord Maysfield (Arik) was meeting with a royal envoy sent from the capital city, Cassia.
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