Chapter 238: Kazekage Ninja- - 27: This Man Must Be Recruited
"How much money can you even make by running an iron mine? That kind of operation is labor-intensive and easily subjected to price manipulation. You know, Amegakure’s biggest mistake is failing to adapt to the times. They’ve squandered every good hand they’ve been dealt. And just to clarify, I hold no special prejudice against Amegakure—this is purely my personal opinion."
Aotu Tailuo, standing in a horse stance, was casually chatting with Yahiko in the cramped confines of their shared "small cell."
"What do you mean by that?" Yahiko asked curiously.
"Take the Hourglass Group, for instance. They’ve provided so many jobs to Amegakure villagers along the banks of the Shule River. It was a win-win opportunity! All they needed to do was implement the right policies and focus on developing the service sector. They could’ve been rolling in money. But what did Nōshin Kongō do? All he cared about was squeezing bribes and benefits out of the Hourglass Group. Then, when that so-called Akatsuki organization took over, they outright drove the Group away."
Aotu Tailuo’s tone was dripping with disdain.
"Did they really think Amegakure could manage without the Hourglass Group’s brand and technology? What a joke!"
Yahiko couldn’t help but ask, "If you were in charge of Amegakure, what would you have done?"
Aotu Tailuo chuckled. "Now? Heh, it’s already a chaotic mess. Fixing it would take a monumental effort."
"Tell me more," Yahiko urged, fishing out a cigarette he had picked up during one of Aotu Tailuo’s brawls—likely something another prisoner had stashed away. He extended it toward the adjacent cell.
The two cells were close enough that they could easily pass items back and forth.
"Oh, you’ve got a stash, huh? But there’s no fire here," Aotu Tailuo remarked.