East Blue, Loguetown.
Marine base, commander's office.
A woman in a Marine uniform, wearing a white apron, with medium-length blue hair and glasses, held a broom and dustpan as she swept the office floor.
"The Germa Kingdom defeated the Nodis Kingdom in overwhelming fashion and demanded that it cede territory..."
"Yamato, the Supernova Pirate with a bounty of 120 million Beli, accepted the Marine invitation and became a Shichibukai..."
Smoker, with two cigars clenched between his teeth, lounged on a single-seat sofa as he carefully read a newspaper.
"Honestly! When will this farce of the Marines cooperating with pirates finally end...?"
"Unless the Marines and the World Government develop something capable of replacing the Shichibukai, or the royal families of every nation agree to it at the Reverie, the Shichibukai system will continue to exist..."
A slightly teasing voice drifted in through the open office door.
Smoker turned toward the voice and saw Sephiroth, dressed in a black suit, swaggering into the office.
"What a rare sight! What wind blew you here?" Smoker raised a brow, looking slightly surprised.
"If I said I was bored, so I came to visit an old friend... would you believe me?"
Sephiroth sat down on the long sofa and casually tossed two cigars toward Smoker.
"Royal exclusive from the Ilusia Kingdom in West Blue... premium stuff!
"You really know how to enjoy yourself, kid."
As he spoke, Smoker removed the two nearly finished cigars from his mouth, stubbed them out in the ashtray, then happily lit the two cigars Sephiroth had given him and took a deep drag.
"This tastes fantastic!
"The stuff I usually smoke can't compare at all..." Smoker remarked.
"If you like them, I'll give you two boxes."
As he spoke, Sephiroth drew the Butcher Blade from his waist, sliced open