In the world of pirates, starting by watching Roger's execution

Fragrant smoke surged forward like ten thousand galloping horses.

Clearly, this was an exceptionally fine cigar, far beyond what someone of Smoker's standing could get his hands on.

Suddenly, just as Smoker narrowed his eyes in enjoyment, a towering figure appeared before him, engulfing him entirely in her enormous shadow.

"Well? My special-issue cigars taste pretty good, don't they?"

"Huh?! Atlas, you're done with the meeting?"

Startled, Smoker hurriedly opened his eyes to find Atlas's towering frame blocking his view.

"Yeah. There wasn't much to discuss anyway, just minor details."

Atlas patted Smoker on the shoulder and said with a mischievous grin, "Don't look like that. These cigars may be rare, but at my rank, the World Government still allocates a special supply to me every month."

Being a Marine Candidate Admiral sometimes meant more than having an impressive title.

It also came with privileges ordinary Marines could never enjoy.

These special-issue cigars, for instance, were tribute offered each year by one of the World Government's affiliated nations, and their supply was limited.

Since she rarely smoked, however, she had never gone to the storeroom to collect her share.

As it happened, Smoker was rather obsessed with tobacco, though whether that was an effect of his Devil Fruit ability was anyone's guess.

Atlas simply gave her share to the kid.

"Heh, it's fine. It's just my first time smoking something this good, so I haven't quite gotten used to it."

At her words, Smoker scratched his head sheepishly.

Perhaps it was because of Atlas, but Smoker was nothing like his counterpart in the original timeline, who always wore a dark, menacing scowl.

Instead, he had a certain youthful innocence about him.

As for talking back to his superiors?

That had only happened when he first left the Recruit Camp. At