The latter half of the Grand Line.
There was an island called Sphinx Island, also known as Peach Blossom Island.
Six years ago.
With the World Government's help, Edward Newgate established his own Whitebeard Kingdom here.
At the same time, he took in the residents of Rainbow Island, whose homeland had been shattered by Imu, as his subjects.
With the children born over the past few years, the island's population had now reached more than two hundred thousand, comparable to a small city in the Modern World.
Beneath a clear blue sky dotted with white clouds, within a vast circular valley.
Great stretches of grass, like an emerald carpet, gave off a fresh, soothing fragrance under the sunlight.
Along the edges of the valley.
Sphinx lions, five or six meters tall and nearly ten meters long, either paced about gently or lay on the grass with their eyes closed.
Even with human children playing beside them, they showed not the slightest irritation. Some even allowed mischievous boys to climb onto their backs and laugh gleefully.
Of course, that might also have had something to do with Little Oars, who was sleeping soundly against the mountain wall not far away.
Because he was simply too enormous, standing thirty-eight meters tall.
He could only live on the outskirts of town, where he also kept watch over these Sphinx lions.
The Army Headquarters of the World Government had actually invited him to join before.
But he had refused, saying he would rather protect Pops and his country.
When Fleet Marshal Raymond heard that, he had been quite speechless, sarcastically asking whether Whitebeard really needed his protection.
Still, he had not pressed the matter. He was welcome if he came; if not, so be it.
The current World Government was not short on one