Only three days remained before the Swordsmanship Tournament began.
The Swordsmanship Tournament was held only once every twelve years.
How many people would miss such a grand occasion?
Outstanding swordsmen from all over the world gathered here.
To witness the birth of the World's Greatest Swordsman, millions of people flocked to Paros Island, even though this was the early Great Pirate Era, when piracy was surging.
Throughout the Grand Line and the Four Seas, transport ships belonging to Umit, the King of Shipping, docked at some of the better-known islands.
These ships were provided specifically for swordsmen entering the Swordsmanship Tournament and guests coming to watch it.
The transport ships would take everyone aboard the Island Turtles.
The Kronos Kingdom had stationed an enormous Island Turtle in each of the Four Seas.
The Island Turtles would deliver them safely to the New World, then take them home once the Swordsmanship Tournament ended.
Traveling between the Four Seas was no difficult task for the Island Turtles.
To the south and north of the New World lay the North Blue and West Blue.
To the north and south of the first half of the Grand Line lay the East Blue and South Blue.
The Island Turtles could also pass beneath the Red Line.
Over a thousand meters deep beneath the Red Line, a huge opening allowed the Island Turtles to pass through and reach the first half of the Grand Line without trouble.
The Kronos Kingdom had begun publicizing and opening up this network of routes well in advance.
Not only did these transport ships boast powerful firepower, but each was also guarded by two fighters of Commodore-level strength who had mastered Color of Two Haki.
On the surface, this was a collaboration between Umit, the King of Shipping, and the Kronos