Inside the विशाल circular conference hall, over a thousand tables had been laid out. Kings and representatives of powerful groups from around the world filed in, with sections divided into small, medium, and large sizes. Since the Star Alliance's higher-ups had considered that members of the giant race might attend, many different arrangements had been made during construction.
Since yesterday, with Ashil packed beyond capacity, envoys from nations staying nearby had begun setting out to attend the meeting.
The enormous circular conference hall could hold more than thirty thousand people. Its wide passageways could accommodate military formations of over six thousand soldiers. After the national envoys took their seats at the conference tables, the attendants and guards they had brought could withdraw to wait along the edges of the circular hall.
At the center of the conference hall stood a massive circular pool two hundred meters across. Its water had been drawn in from beyond the bay through the Star River. At the pool's center was a circular fifty-meter-wide podium. Many people understood at once upon seeing it that this was the stage for today's protagonist—the Star Alliance's Alliance Leader, Ronglin.
At that moment, Jinbe, the alliance's Vice Alliance Leader, and Gecko Moria, who was responsible for security around the conference hall, stood at the entrance to welcome the distinguished guests.
Two rows of burly, imposing soldiers stood in formation, while a floating bridge had been built from the shore across the "moat" surrounding the conference hall. Envoys from every nation crossed from shore over the moat and entered the hall.
Envoys entering the conference hall were permitted to carry weapons, but they had to hand them over to their attendants and have them placed at the edge of the venue. Weapons were not allowed at the conference tables.
Jinbe