Below Mary Geoise, the holy land of the Celestial Dragons, on the side facing the first half of the Grand Line, lay a broad platform carved out by human hands.
A small settlement stood there. Many pirates chose not to travel beneath the sea to the New World on bubble-coated ships. Instead, they used a special passage through this town.
The place was called the Red Square.
It had a vertical lift known as the Bubble Pod. Some pirates sold everything they owned, ships included, then rode it up the Red Line and descended on the other side.
Once there, they bought new ships and continued their voyages.
Today, the marines stationed there had driven out all the pirates. Ships from countries across the world would soon be docking here.
"Look! Another ship's coming in!"
"Clear the way! The royals are coming!"
Crowds of onlookers packed the outskirts of town. Some were so well informed they could even identify which country each king came from.
There were reporters in the crowd, too. Morgans, the newspaper king himself, had shown up. He stood at the front, snapping photo after photo of Shirahoshi as she approached from afar.
Suddenly, Rubick sensed a familiar presence arriving at the docks. "Everyone, let's head down!"
Dong!
Two Divine Soldiers struck the Golden Bell. Together, they swung the battering ram, sending a clear, resounding chime across the ship.
The sound drew every eye. People below looked up, and before long, an airship parted the clouds and came into view.
"Look! That ship can fly!"
Fukaboshi cried out in delight, "That's His Majesty Rubick's Royal Flying Dragon! He's here!"
Fish-Man Island had sent an impressive party: Neptune, his three sons, and his daughter. Shirahoshi floated above the ground inside a bubble. Looking curiously up at the sky,