As Solo walked back to his quarters, Ahsoka tried repeatedly to get him to talk, but he brushed her off with vague answers.
The Togruta girl, also bored, returned to her own quarters to resume her training, leaving Solo alone in his thoughts.
Had the Shadow Warrior truly found the killer of the Force-sensitive?
Although Palpatine orchestrated the Clone War, politics and war have always been inseparable—the war was merely an extension of political strategy.
Why would they come after him?
Who could have accessed the Shadow's core mission information?
The High Council could directly assign missions. Master Yoda held the highest authority, and other members of the Jedi Council could also deploy the Shadow within certain limits.
More crucially, any Jedi Master could review the Shadow's mission records, making the pool of potential suspects far too broad.
Regardless of the truth, trouble had already found him. Staying out of it was no longer possible.
Solo's thoughts shifted to the current state of the galaxy, analyzing the Republic's system within the context of its historical evolution.
The Republic's democratic system was fundamentally designed to give a voice to diverse interest groups. Yet now, the Republic was teetering on the brink of collapse.
At its core, the problem lay in the lack of effective centralized governance.
Many prosperous sectors openly defied the Senate's laws, while the Senate itself was often infiltrated by lobbying groups. Instead of representing the common people, it served the interests of massive financial conglomerates manipulating laws for their own gain.
In Solo's view, the true foundation of the galaxy wasn't taxes, currency, or social services, but the lawful use of force—the orderly control of military and law enforcement powers.
Only by integrating legitimate force into the public governance system could all factions, even the wealthiest conglomerates, be restrained. No amount of capital could then allow them to trample over established rules.
Since the Ruusan Reforms, the Republic had gradually abandoned its orderly control over military power.
It had stripped some authority from the Jedi, yet failed to establish an effective system of its own to manage the resulting power vacuum.
Initially, the Republic could rely on its historical memory of opposing the Sith and the Brotherhood of Kahn to maintain cohesion. However, over time, the governing institutions, represented by the Senate and the Supreme Chancellor, became entrenched in maintaining the status quo, gradually losing sight of the proper use of military force.
Starships of the Interstellar Fleet were either dismantled or sold off, leading to a steady decline in military strength.
Powerful interest groups grew increasingly brazen. The Kuat Shipyards even privately constructed dreadnoughts, completely disregarding the Republic's authority, while the Senate turned a blind eye to this.
This imbalance led to a widening gap between the core regions and the periphery. The core powers appropriated the lion's share of benefits, leaving the outer planets with mere scraps, and even squeezing their very means of survival.
The outbreak of the Clone War was, at its root, the culmination of this long-standing tension.
This was not an inherent flaw of democratic systems; even autocratic regimes have faced similar failures.
Regardless of the system, the key lies in the effective operation of the governance structure. If the various components and core mechanisms of the system have become corrupted, decay is inevitable, no matter how vast the scale or how great the potential.
What truly matters is whether those wielding governing power, along with their supporting teams, possess a sense of responsibility and the ability to execute their duties effectively.
Claims that a particular form of government is inherently efficient or inefficient are often rooted in misunderstandings of fundamental principles.
What has always been important is not the form of rule, but whether those in power uphold justice and fulfill their obligations, and whether their supporters possess the necessary competence and courage.
Solo still believed in the potential of democratic systems, but realizing this potential required sufficient strength to uphold the rules and resist those who would destroy them.
New questions arose in quick succession.
What was he trying to establish in this galaxy?
How would he go about it?
Who would heed his call?
What price would all this exact?
Could he simply allow Palpatine to continue wielding power?
Let him unleash one massacre after another in his lust for power?
Or should he do everything in his power to protect the people from such harm?
Yet Palpatine's Empire was not entirely hellish.
During his reign, he did implement numerous measures, many of which were later botched by Mon Mothma, Borsk Fey'lya, and others.
Solo held the conviction that the current Republic, as a nation, could no longer endure.
Reforming it was not a matter of opinion, but an established fact.
As the Clone War drew to its close, many had come to see this truth, and Palpatine exploited it ruthlessly.
A galaxy like this could not be reshaped through gentle means. It required a firm hand to utterly shatter the existing power dynamics.
Who was best suited to carry out such a transformation?
Solo objectively assessed his own capabilities and concluded he still fell far short. Whether now or in the future, he struggled to gather sufficient charisma, oratory skills, and strategic acumen.
Perhaps he could gradually improve over time, but he would undoubtedly fail to keep pace with the rapidly shifting situation.
Moreover, Palpatine had already achieved remarkable success. He had delivered a violent shock to the galaxy and a devastating blow to the Jedi.
Solo approached the window and gazed at Rendili planet under the night sky.
The galaxy indeed needed this shock, but its purpose should not be to push people to the limits of their tolerance for tyranny. Rather, it should be to completely reshape the power dynamics.
This idea might be naive, but Solo believed that after Palpatine's death, it was entirely possible to use the "fruits" of his labor to establish a new power.
To achieve this goal, Solo needed to continually enhance his influence in the galaxy, engage in constant conflict, and accumulate sufficient strength and resources.
Returning to the present, Shadow had found him, explaining that they had obtained valuable intelligence. This meeting might be an attempt to get him to join them in eliminating their enemies.
Whether it was due to his own capabilities or someone deliberately manipulating the situation, he was very likely to agree to such a proposal.
The war had already begun. Staying on the front lines meant endless conflict, and he might even encounter Ventress or Grievous. This aligned perfectly with his previous plan to travel to Devaron.
As night fell, Solo left his quarters, draped a hooded cloak over his shoulders, and used the Force to conceal himself, avoiding drawing attention.
The Summit restaurant was located in the outskirts of Grallia, nestled in the slums where the city's impoverished population resided.
As Solo arrived at the meeting place he had agreed upon with Jedi Knight Mo, his thoughts grew increasingly clear.
Drifting through the galaxy, he was destined to form connections with all manner of intelligent beings—men, women, aliens. From one planet to another, from one star system to another, his footsteps could never stop.
The restaurant's interior was decorated with tasteful solidity. The main hall featured orderly rows of rectangular tables, two of which were occupied by groups of people who appeared to be celebrating, creating a lively atmosphere.
"Good afternoon, sir," a middle-aged waiter in a classic three-piece suit approached. "Do you have a reservation, or are you dining without one?"
"I reserved a private room," Solo said, his face mostly concealed by his hood. "Taidor Loy is waiting for me."
The waiter tried to see beneath the hood but failed. He activated the data pad on his wrist and nodded. "Mr. Victor, please follow me."
Solo smiled faintly and followed the waiter through a corridor lined with ten doors.
"The third one, sir."
The waiter pointed to an open door.
Solo stepped inside. The private room was lavishly decorated, with a modern-style four-person table at its center, laden with dishes. A Matukan was devouring the food with barely any utensils, grabbing whatever was within reach. A halberd rested nearby.
Taidor Loy, the esteemed Master of the Matukans, sat elegantly using utensils. Beside him were Jedi Knight Mo and another figure facing the door.
Solo recognized the Master. He had encountered him during his predecessor's travels with his Master, though that meeting had been unpleasant.
When Solo finally saw the face of the other figure, he narrowed his eyes in surprise. He hadn't expected to encounter this particular Jedi Knight here.
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