Things started when Luffy went out to sea and had not yet climbed over the Upside Down Mountain. Ace was still well on Whitebeard's boat, and Thatch had not been killed by Teach. Everything was calm, except for a black screen appearing above the sky. The magic of this screen is that no matter where you are. You can see it anywhere in the sea, but the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, who are world nobles, cannot see its existence. Even if someone reports it, the World Government cannot read its contents. In the end, this matter was tacitly concealed from the World Government.
Ps: My timeline is quite confusing, mainly to make up for some regrets in One Piece. I just have fun reading the books and pictures. The author will not be partial to pirates, because the author himself likes the three generals of the navy and Mr. Garp.