Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan strode back into the Theed Palace square, their breathing just faintly heavy, their robes ruffled from the furious sprint.
Seated calmly near the royal dais, Senator Palpatine rose slightly, smoothing his fine robes as he gave them a thin, knowing smile.
"So… did you catch him?"
Obi-Wan let out a small, exasperated laugh, shaking his head.
"I wish I could say we did, Senator."
But before anyone else could speak, there was a sudden boom — a sharp sound crack splitting the air as a Mach 2 gust of dust and wind swept across the square.
Jin-Woo blurred to a halt in front of them, casually skating backward with perfect control, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
"Too slow, boys."
The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers. Gungan warriors slapped each other on the back, croaking in their thick accents.
"Weesa need more weapons! Bring da catapults next time! Ho-ho-ho!"
The Naboo civilians, breathless from the chase, laughed and clapped, some shaking their heads in mock frustration.
"We need training! Training from the expert himself!"
Qui-Gon crossed his arms slowly, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Jin-Woo.
"What kind of merchant," he murmured under his breath, "runs that fast… and dodges that well… even from a Jedi ?"
Obi-Wan gave a dry grin, flicking a glance at his master.
"Shouldn't a merchant hire bodyguards to handle these kinds of things — not do the work himself?"
Jin-Woo turned smoothly, his smirk widening just enough to flash that sharp, teasing glint.
"I'm one hell of a merchant," he murmured — then added casually, "Also… a crazy amount of training."
From the left, Boss Nass let out a booming laugh, his wide face shaking with delight.
"Ho-ho-ho! Tell us, then! Even we want to be like dat! Weesa General Binks and his troops — weesa could use dat training!"
Jar Jar, standing nearby in his runner's sash, paled instantly.
Oh no… mesa might die from exhaustion… he thought frantically, eyes darting side to side.
Jin-Woo, still grinning, raised one fist high, taking on a deliberately heroic pose — the kind of exaggerated stance you'd expect from a comic book legend.
"Simple," he declared smoothly, voice ringing out.
"One hundred push-ups. One hundred sit-ups. One hundred squats. And… a one-hundred kilometer run."
Captain Panaka, standing with arms crossed, furrowed his brow slightly.
"That still doesn't explain how you run that fast, Jin-Woo."
Without a word, Jin-Woo let the heavy black cloak slide off his shoulders.
THOOM!
The ground trembled — a deep crack forming under his feet, the stone floor caving slightly in a one-meter crater.
Jin-Woo stood there, bare arms revealed, wearing only a tight-fitting black shirt, his body rippling with muscle. His back flexed once, the unmistakable shape of the devil's back splitting across his skin like a monstrous grin .
He gazed slowly around, his tone low and smooth.
"You guys…" he said , "lack training."
His eyes flicked deliberately toward Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, his smirk deepening.
"Too much sitting… too much meditating… EYYY ?"
The entire square fell into a hush — jaws dropping, eyes widening —.
With a smooth, almost lazy motion, Jin-Woo reached down, pulled his cloak back over his shoulders, and fastened it in place
"Thanks for playing, guys," he said calmly, his voice carrying easily over the stunned crowd. "See you tomorrow."
But just as he turned to leave, Padmé rose quickly from her royal seat, stepping down toward him.
"Wait, Jin-Woo!" she called, her voice edged with both urgency and warmth.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Kiss him! Kiss him!" voices shouted from all sides — Naboo civilians and Gungans alike chanting in playful unison. "Kiss him, Your Majesty! Kiss him!"
Padmé flushed bright pink, her cheeks burning with embarrassment, but despite it, a shy, genuine smile played at the corners of her mouth. She was glad… she could kiss Jin-Woo. She wanted to.
But Jin-Woo, ever sharp, ever calculating, kept his smile faint.
A 14-year-old girl kissing someone on the cheek in public? he thought coolly. No. That's not healthy. And worse — rumors will spread. They'll call her naïve, reckless, too soft-hearted for a queen.
Without a word, Jin-Woo subtly pressed a hidden button on his belt.
Suddenly, all the public holoscreens flickered, the cheers fading under a new, gentle tune.
The soft, iconic notes of "What a Wonderful World" drifted over the square.
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world…
On the holoscreen, a graceful book page animation flipped slowly, then closed gently as digital curtains drew across the display.
The silent message rang clear to all watching:
The chapter… is ended for now.
Qui-Gon stood back, arms folded, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.
… he knows how to read a situation, he thought, amused. A kiss like that… that's supposed to be a private moment — not something the entire city watches like a stage play.
Off to the side,
Senator Palpatine gave a smooth, almost mocking clap, his eyes gleaming f
"Bravo, Jin-Woo," he murmured softly. "Bravo. You truly are the finest actor of this era…"
As the crowd began to disperse, the energy fading from the square, the Gungans gathered themselves up, chattering in their unique, rolling tones.
Boss Nass gave a great, wobbling laugh, his big jowls shaking.
"Ho-ho-hooo! Mesa go first, Queen Amidala! Dere be mattahs to attend to under da watuh!" He thumped his broad chest, turning his wide grin toward Jin-Woo.
"Jin-Woooo, weesa gonna have big feast 'n' trainin' soon, yahhh! Be ready!"
Jar Jar Binks, standing awkwardly nearby, gulped nervously, his gangly limbs trembling.
"Uh-oh… meesa might die from da exhaustion…" he mumbled, waving a wobbly, awkward goodbye as the Gungan party bounced and splashed their way off toward the hidden undercity.
Jin-Woo, still calm, still faintly amused, turned slightly toward Padmé, his eyes half-lidded.
"That was… very fun," he murmured smoothly. "And you even managed to sway Rey and Morgan into ambushing me."
Morgan, walk beside them with a smirk, crossed her arms and tilted her head.
"But still," she teased , her eyes glinting with challenge, "we didn't catch you."
Jin-Woo gave a small, knowing smile, the faintest flicker of mischief dancing across his expression.
"Maybe next time you can manage… oh, I don't know… zero-point-one percent?" he murmured, voice smooth, teasing.
Rey and Morgan both immediately puffed their cheeks in playful frustration, lightly smacking Jin-Woo's shoulders as they let out little huffs of protest.
Suddenly, Qui-Gon Jinn approached .
"Jin-Woo," Qui-Gon said, folding his arms with a thoughtful nod, "we have quite a lot we need to discuss. Your… methods are strange, but I must admit, they're fascinating. Revolutionary, even — not just for health, but perhaps for the Jedi Order itself."
But before the conversation could deepen, the smooth, velvety voice of Senator Palpatine .
"I'm sorry, Master Jedi," Palpatine interjected softly, hands folded calmly. "But I believe I am already next on the list to speak with Jin-Woo… isn't that right?"
Jin-Woo didn't even turn to look at Palpatine.
Instead, his sharp eyes flicked briefly to Rey.
Rey, standing quietly at his side, stared intensely at Palpatine — a confused, unsettling feeling rising in her chest. Her brow furrowed, her fingers tightened slightly.
Why… why do I feel like I know this man? It's in my skin… it's inside me…
Palpatine, for his part, sensed nothing unusual. He offered Rey a polite, slightly curious smile.
"Young lady, you must be tired," he said softly, dismissing her tension with a graceful wave of his hand.
But through the invisible tether of the Force dyad, Rey's thoughts flowed silently into Jin-Woo's mind.
Jin-Woo… why do I feel like I know this guy? It's in my skin… my blood…
Jin-Woo's sharp gaze remained fixed, though inside, his thoughts churned.
So… it's true. Rey… Rey Skywalker. From the future — from the days of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker. She must've stumbled when she was a kid , into the World Between Worlds… and somehow time-traveled back here. The system doesn't recognize her yet… even after I've bestowed her some of my shadow power. She's like a fusion now — part Talion from Shadow of War, part The force strength…
Jin-Woo transmit his thoughts through the telepathic link .
He's related to you in the future. He's your nemesis — the most despicable man in the galaxy. That's him. But don't kill him… he still has a use in my plan.
Rey, keeping her expression steady, replied quietly through the dyad.
If you say so, Jin-Woo. Also… the mission was a success against the Commerce Guild.
A small, satisfied smile curved across Jin-Woo's lips. He turned his gaze smoothly toward Qui-Gon .
"Sorry, Qui-Gon… I think Senator Palpatine here has something urgent he needs to discuss with me."
Qui-Gon let out disappointed sigh, glancing briefly at Obi-Wan.
"A shame indeed, Obi-Wan… seems we might be leaving earlier today. I was hoping we'd have more time to speak with him — but," he added with a amused smile, "he's quite hard to pin down. Always making some sort of spectacle, like today."
Obi-Wan smirked , nudging his master.
"Shouldn't we at least get a drink first, Master? I mean, we should enjoy the culinary delights of Naboo before heading off."
Jin-Woo , waving a hand casually.
"You can wait — this will probably take only five, maybe ten minutes. Don't worry."
Off to the side, Palpatine's gaze narrowed slightly, his expression calm… but within, his thoughts coiled sharp and cold.
That arrogance… it might be your downfall, Jin-Woo.
Not long after, by 9:30 a.m., Jin-Woo and Palpatine sat across from each other at a quiet outdoor restaurant near the Theed Palace. The soft bustle of passing citizens surrounded them — merchants, tourists, guards — all ensuring this was a public space, safe from sudden confrontations. Palpatine had deliberately chosen it. He wasn't foolish; after Jin-Woo's earlier spectacle, he knew better than to risk a direct clash now. Any reckless move could expose his hidden life as Sidious.
Jin-Woo leaned back slightly, his tone light, but edged with disinterest.
"I've done what you asked, Senator. Shouldn't you be on your way now — and I on mine as well?"
Palpatine offered a smooth, diplomatic smile.
"I think there's a more urgent matter that needs your attention… as the leader of the Purple England group, of course."
I don't let anyone go, Palpatine thought darkly, his mind curling inward with quiet venom. Even those who help me in hard times — I will use them until their dying breath. All is for me. All is mine alone.
But unknown to him, Jin-Woo had already dipped lightly into his mind, skimming across the upper thoughts, reading them like words on a page. A faint look of boredom crossed Jin-Woo's face as his gaze drifted lazily elsewhere.
Suddenly, a figure approached: Cat Miin, the slender Gossam female who served as chief aide to Presidente Shu Mai of the Commerce Guild. She moved with the practiced arrogance of someone used to power, her sharp, calculating gaze scanning the table. Without hesitation, Palpatine smoothly rose, gesturing courteously to the seat beside Jin-Woo.
"Please," Palpatine said silkily, "have a seat, Chief Miin."
Cat Miin gave the faintest smirk, settling gracefully into the offered chair as Palpatine slipped into the middle seat, positioning himself between Jin-Woo and the sharp-eyed Gossam.
Cat Miin's voice came out crisp, cutting the air in clear Basic so every ear nearby could follow.
"So… you're the one named Jin-Woo? The so-called third-rate merchant?"
Jin-Woo didn't even bother to meet her eyes. His bored gaze drifted elsewhere, as if the entire encounter barely registered on his scale of interest.
Irritated by the lack of reaction, Cat Miin's hand flicked swiftly over her holoprojector, activating it. A small display flared between them, showing a set of crosshair marks — carefully lined up, targeting both Morgan and Rey from hidden sniper positions.
Palpatine, ever the master of masks, raised his hands slightly in a calm, placating gesture.
"Chief miin , let's not get heat up …" he murmured smoothly, voice touched with mild concern.
But Cat Miin didn't even look at him.
"Quiet, Senator," she snapped sharply.
Her eyes locked back onto Jin-Woo, cold and direct.
"We, the Commerce Guild, will accept the vassalage of your little Purple England company — on our terms. Refuse, and—"
Suddenly, Jin-Woo's head tilted ever so slightly, his voice low and lazy as he cut in without turning.
"Two things," he murmured, his tone light, almost dismissive. "Two things are going to happen… in the next forty-five seconds."
Cat Miin's brow furrowed, the faintest flicker of confusion rippling across her sharp features.
"Are you being an idiot now?" she hissed, narrowing her eyes.
Jin-Woo's smile barely twitched as he continued, his voice carrying that same casual, careless expression .
"First," he murmured smoothly, "your holocommunicator's going to ring." His eyes remained fixed elsewhere, sharp but relaxed.
"And second… your life, Cat Miin, is going to be mine to decide."