Shu Mai stayed silent, her lips tightly pressed shut, her trembling hands clutching the edge of the table as her wide, helpless eyes remained locked on the holo-screen—
watching her beloved planet Castell hover on the brink of destruction with every passing second.
And then—
"…The galaxy will know you are evi—" Shu Mai hissed, her voice cracked and rising—
Suddenly, the holo-screen flared with a new burst of light.
A desperate news voice shrieked through the transmission:
"—the atmosphere—! Castell's upper layers are collapsing—radiation spike— the Gossam population exposed—THEY'RE—!"
Onscreen, Shu Mai watched in frozen horror as her people, her cities, her world were burned alive under the searing, merciless glare of their own sun.
Palpatine exhaled softly, his throat moving as he swallowed, a rare flicker of unease brushing his usually flawless mask.
He said nothing. Just watched.
Shu Mai's knees buckled again. Her hands shook uncontrollably as tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision. She dropped lower, her voice breaking into gasping, desperate sobs.
"I—I'll give you anything! Ten planets! Hundreds of trillions of credits! Spare my homeland, please… please…"
But Jin-Woo…
He didn't even look her way. Seated calmly, he turned his sharp gaze to the far window, watching the afternoon sunlight drift lazily through the glass as if he hadn't heard a word.
On the holo-screen, Castell burned. Seventy percent of the planet, devoured by flame.
Shu Mai collapsed forward, her body hitting the floor with a thud, knees and palms splayed wide.
Then, like a puppet's strings cut, her forehead touched the cold stone.
A dogeza bow.
Her voice choked out between ragged sobs, shattering in the stillness.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…! Please—give me a chance… I swear—I won't bother you again! The Purple England Company that you own, Sir Jin-Woo—will lead the Commerce Guild… just please…"
Jin-Woo stood.
Slowly, smoothly, he stepped forward. His boots made the f sound as they crossed the floor, stopping just inches from where Shu Mai lay crumpled like a broken doll.
He gazed down at her, his pale hair falling slightly across one sharp eye, his mouth curled into a cold, almost pitying smile.
"Chances…" Jin-Woo murmured, his voice steeped in menace,
"are the refuge of living beings who have already failed."
Jin-woo crouched slightly, his shadow stretching long across the floor.
"Most people never realize… their chance is thinning. And when The Fall starts… they scramble, they claw, they beg for lifeboats."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a silken whisper, laced with a cruel edge. "But the truth is… no one's here to save you."
CRACK—BOOOOOOOOOOM
The holo-screen shattered into static as Castell's planetary core collapsed inward—
And then burst outward.
A blinding flash. A firestorm of light.
A planet, broken into a million pieces, scattering like ash across the void.
The explosion's silent light washed over Shu Mai's pale, ruined face as her tears fell soundlessly onto the cold stone.
And Jin-Woo… He only straightened calmly, his hands sliding into his pockets as if nothing at all had happened.
His sharp gaze lowered once more to Shu Mai .
"I'm asking you again… the same as before," he murmured softly, the faintest edge curling into his words.
"I don't like to speak twice—so do you accept my request, or not? The choice is yours."
Shu Mai, still crumpled on the floor, trembling, raised her head just slightly. Her eyes were red and glassy, her voice weak but clear, trembling as she forced the words out.
"Yes… with all my body… I accept. I'll accompany you for the whole day… and speak only when needed."
Jin-Woo's lips curved into a faint, pleased smile, his voice like silk.
"That's very good… yes, I like that."
He slowly shifted his gaze toward Morgan and Rey, who had been standing quietly nearby, observing. Without a word, they gave small, knowing nods—the silent, effortless communication of two who knew his mind. As his wives, they fell smoothly into step behind him, moving toward the exit to wait outside.
But just as Jin-Woo turned to walk forward, a figure stepped into his path.
Palpatine, still wrapped in his calm, diplomatic senator's mask, raised one hand in a measured, almost chiding gesture. His expression carried a touch of practiced authority, a glimmer of heroism in his carefully composed posture.
"Where do you think you're going?" Palpatine asked smoothly, his voice carrying just enough firmness .
"Do you think this Republic is your playground, Jin-Woo?"
Jin-Woo's sharp eyes flicked toward Morgan and Rey—barely a glance, but it was all the signal they needed.
Wait outside.
Without a word, Morgan and Rey gave subtle nods, turning gracefully toward the door, their movements seamless . The quiet tap of their footsteps faded as they exited, leaving behind only Jin-Woo, Shu Mai, and Palpatine.
Palpatine's lips curved into a practiced smile, though his eyes gleamed faintly with steel.
"The Republic won't turn a blind eye," he murmured, "to someone other than Joever Bideney having the power to destroy a planet."
Jin-Woo tilted his head slightly, his expression sharp yet lazy, like a predator half amused by the idea of being accused.
"Did I destroy a planet?" he murmured, a faint edge of mockery in his voice. "You crazy? I'm standing right here, aren't I? Isn't that right, Shu Mai?"
Shu Mai, still shaken, raised her head slightly, her voice hoarse and worn.
"I… I didn't keep my word… and my mistake came for me."
Palpatine stepped forward smoothly, folding his hands behind his back with that careful .
"Presidente… although as a senator, and you as the leader of the Commerce Guild, we have clashed at times…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"But this man—Jin-Woo—we could bring him before the Court of Coruscant. There, he will be judged."
Shu Mai's lips twisted, her face pale but fierce as she turned to face him fully.
"Which proof, huh?" she rasped, a bitter laugh slipping from her cracked lips. "That he killed many of my men—though they started first? That I'll carry even more loss if I push this further? Or that he destroyed a planet—when only Joever Bideney can do that? This man stayed here the entire time, that's all."
She let out a shaking breath, shoulders slumping.
"Stop making my life worse, Senator. I've already lost… and Force knows why I'm even still alive… but now I'm just a homeless leader without a home."
Her voice dropped, heavy with exhaustion and raw surrender.
"So shut up, Senator… and let me be in peace."
Palpatine's smile sharpened just slightly, a glimmer of steel behind his polished senatorial mask.
"I can't let this go any further," he murmured smoothly.
With a subtle flick of his hand, a slender holoprojector slipped from his sleeve, casting a blue glow between them. The small device lit up, projecting a clear recording across the table — a full replay of their conversation at the restaurant, from beginning to end.
Palpatine's eyes locked onto Jin-Woo, his voice calm, precise.
"In here, I have the entire recording of this discussion — every word, every move. Now, my demands are simple: return Felucia to Shu Mai… and release her."
Jin-Woo tilted his head slightly, a lazy smirk curling at his lips, his eyes half-lidded with quiet amusement.
"I did save your ass when you made that wrong chess move, Senator," he murmured "Are you suffering dementia?"
Palpatine's gaze hardened, his voice cool.
"You're off-topic, Jin-Woo. Better accept my terms… or this goes to every HoloNet channel across the Republic."
Jin-Woo's smirk deepened.
With a slow, deliberate motion, he pulled out his own holoprojector, setting it lightly on the table.
The blue glow flickered to life — and before Palpatine's eyes, the recording played:
There was Queen Amidala, standing in the royal court.
Palpatine stood before her, presenting the supposed remains of Jin-Woo. His voice rang through the recording, clear and unwavering, as he declared Jin-Woo dead — slain months ago at Malachor.
But then, the image shifted—
In the background of the recording, Jin-Woo himself suddenly appeared, stepping calmly beside Palpatine. The camera captured the exact moment the senator's smooth words faltered, his face flickering in disbelief as Queen Amidala turned sharply, her eyes narrowing in confusion.
And just as the tension peaked—
Jin-Woo in the recording gave a laugh, raising a hand smoothly.
"Senator… you do have quite a knack for opera, especially in SUS scene , right."
The queen paused, blinking — then gave a small, polite nod, accepting the explanation, her suspicion softening. Palpatine, smoothly recovering, had nodded along, offering a gracious, if slightly tight, smile.
The recording ended.
Now, back in the present,
Jin-Woo leaned back, one eyebrow arched in mock concern.
"You… really are suffering dementia, from what I see," he murmured, his voice low, taunting.
"Are you okay, Palpatine?"
Palpatine Calmed himself To Control The Situation , though a flicker of tension rippled through his voice.
"Ahhh… perhaps I am getting old, my friend," he murmured smoothly. "The Senate days do wear on one's memory, don't they?"
But as Palpatine shifted slightly, his steps faltered — his body gave a subtle, almost imperceptible sway, his gait faltering for the briefest second.
His mind jolted with sharp surprise.
What…? Did I just… bend in fear toward this man?
Jin-Woo's voice sliced through the moment,
"You have dementia. I know," he murmured, stepping lightly forward. "Sleep well, Senator."
Palpatine let out a low exhale, forcing a thin smile.
"Yes… maybe I have dementia …" he muttered softly.
What Palpatine didn't realize was that Jin-Woo, with a flicker of shadowed precision, had already recorded those words — capturing the senator's quiet admission on a hidden device.
Jin-Woo leaned in slightly, his presence cold and unshakable, his voice a murmur just above a whisper.
"Careful. I don't care if you have dementia or not… but the fact I saved your ass — from the Jedi, from Queen Amidala — that's equal to life itself. And right now… the balance is tipped to mine."
Palpatine fell silent, his sharp gaze resting on Jin-Woo without a word — but inside, his mind churned, cold and calculating. He knew. Jin-Woo remembered everything.
And Jin-Woo didn't want anyone — senator, Jedi, queen, or otherwise — disturbing him. Dementia or not.
Jin-Woo gave the faintest, knowing smile as he turned.
"Watch out, Senator… your lady luck might've just switched over to mine," he murmured. "Careful — disaster might come knocking at your door."
With that, Jin-Woo turned , strode from the restaurant with effortless calm.
Palpatine was left alone in the silence.
For a long moment, he simply stood there, frozen, his hands slowly curling into fists..
His mask shattered.
He lashed out — shoving over a chair with violent force.
A table slammed sideways, glasses and plates crashing to the floor.
His boot smashed into a furnace stand, splintering wood with a sharp crack.
The elegant decor of the once-pristine restaurant fell under his rage as Palpatine stormed through it, teeth clenched, eyes blazing — a man infuriated not just by failure, but by the unbearable taste of powerlessness.
His plan to control Jin-Woo… had crumbled to ash in his hands.
Outside the restaurant, Jin-Woo stepped smoothly into the sunlight where Morgan and Rey were waiting.
Morgan, her arms casually crossed, gave him a sly smirk as she handed over a small device.
"Here," she murmured, a spark of amusement in her voice. "A little souvenir — the senator's meltdown."
Jin-Woo accepted the recording with a grin, sliding it effortlessly into his Cloak . Without another word, the group turned, moving calmly through the streets of Theed toward the grand marble steps of the Royal Palace.
Shu Mai walked just behind them, her posture stiff, eyes hollow, having already been briefed — her mind laser-focused on one goal: preserving her life.