High above the first half of the Grand Line, near the towering Red Line, countless islands floated slowly above the clouds in clusters.
At the center of the largest island, surrounded by the archipelago, stood a magnificent palace.
A huge ship trailed behind the island. It was less a ship than a massive, semi-elliptical boulder, with countless oars jutting out from both sides.
At its bow was carved an enormous lion's head, its wild mane draped over it, fierce and imposing.
Aboard the ship, in a lavishly decorated room.
Clop—clop—clop!
A strange series of footsteps sounded as a man in a scientist's white coat entered the room. His face was covered in exaggerated clown makeup. He walked up to a blond man with shoulder-length hair and stopped in front of him.
The man was tall, with only half of each leg remaining and a pair of twin-bladed swords strapped to them. He wore an orange-and-yellow striped kimono, and half a ship's wheel was conspicuously embedded in his rugged face.
The scientist raised his hands and gestured to him. Apparently realizing the other man didn't understand, he spoke up under the man's puzzled gaze:
"Admiral, the pirate crews we summoned have been arriving one after another and gathering in the nearby waters. They should all be here by tomorrow."
"You can talk after all!!" the Golden Lion roared, glaring at him.
The cigar at the corner of his mouth trembled. He turned and walked over to the wall, looking down through the window.
"We're too close to Marineford here. Once we get farther away, I'll sink the island. You're in charge of welcoming the captains aboard. I'm going to Marine Headquarters myself to warn those old geezers."
"Understood, Admiral."
The scientist took out another newspaper and grinned. "Also, the experiment we