Chapter 020 The Ruler

Palpatine!

Sith Lord Darth Sidious.

He was the most scheming and inscrutable figure in the Star Wars universe; his power and wisdom were beyond doubt.

Before becoming Emperor of the Galactic Empire, he had served as Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.

To be honest, this man's rise from a Sith to the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic was by no means mere luck. How many conspiracies and intrigues he had endured to reach that position—only he himself knew the bitterness and hardship involved.

But compared to his cunning and wisdom, his ambition was even more terrifying.

The Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic was already a position above all others.

Yet even so, Palpatine remained unsatisfied.

Because he felt the Chancellor's power was insufficient—he could not have the final say, could not act on a whim, could not kill at will; he was still a dozen levels away from "those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish."

So he began to use his position to secretly plot.

He personally caused the fall of Luke's father, turning him from a Jedi Knight of boundless talent and promise into the Sith Lord Darth Vader, serving his own ends.

He also instigated the Clone Wars, seizing more political power under the guise of maintaining galactic security.

Then he declared the Jedi Order traitors, dismantled the Galactic Republic, and single-handedly established the Galactic Empire.

But the newly founded Galactic Empire was unstable; it took Palpatine a long time to achieve complete control, and the final straw was the dissolution of the Imperial Senate.

Now, he was Emperor of the Galactic Empire, truly above all others. No one dared to act presumptuously before him, and no one dared to defy his orders.

He had truly grasped supreme power.

But now, everything he had achieved would benefit Wang Bo.

After entering the Imperial Palace, Wang Bo met the Emperor of the Galactic Empire with almost no effort.

All of this was thanks to Grand Moff Tarkin.

Before serving Wang Bo, Grand Moff Tarkin had been Palpatine's confidant; otherwise, Palpatine would not have entrusted Tarkin with commanding a superweapon like the Death Star.

So when Grand Moff Tarkin requested an audience, Palpatine agreed almost without hesitation.

Thus, under Tarkin's guidance, Wang Bo met the Emperor.

Palpatine, clad in a black robe, sat on the supreme throne, looking down at Grand Moff Tarkin and Wang Bo.

His face was hidden by the hood of his black robe, making his true expression unreadable.

But Wang Bo could easily see Palpatine's face.

It was a face riddled with scars.

Anyone seeing that face would first feel disgust, then want to vomit. After all, humans love beauty, and Palpatine's face was far from beautiful.

It was an ugly face.

Of course, Palpatine was not born ugly; in fact, his face had been disfigured.

Clearly, Palpatine's path to becoming Emperor had not been smooth; he had endured a grueling battle, and that face was a testament to it.

But in the end, he succeeded.

Unfortunately, Wang Bo had arrived.

Palpatine spoke slowly: "Tarkin, tell me, why have you returned instead of staying at the Death Star? Why have you become so young? And who is the young man behind you? I sense a powerful Force in him."

Grand Moff Tarkin knelt on one knee and said slowly: "Great Emperor, I have returned today for only one purpose: to assist my master in ascending the throne."

Palpatine was stunned at first, then laughed in anger: "Tarkin, do you know what you are saying?"

"Yes, I am fully aware, Emperor Palpatine." Tarkin stood up, raised his head, and looked up at the Emperor on the throne. "Your era is over. From now on, my master will rule the galaxy."

Palpatine said coldly: "Who is your master? The man behind you?"

"Yes." Tarkin stepped back and stood behind Wang Bo.

Palpatine's gaze fixed on Wang Bo, scrutinizing him carefully. "Tell me, young man, how did you seduce Tarkin into serving you?"

Wang Bo said: "I gave him something you could not."

Palpatine immediately realized and asked tentatively: "Youth?"

"Exactly, youth." Wang Bo wore an expression of "the pupil is teachable." "At his stage, there are few things that can move him. Youth is something he cannot refuse."

Palpatine admitted that it was indeed irresistible.

Not only could Tarkin not refuse, but even he himself could not.

"Young man, if you can grant me youth, I can forgive your disrespect and even give you a position second only to me, above all others."

Wang Bo smiled and said: "Rather than being second only to one, I prefer being above all."

Palpatine's face darkened, and he said coldly: "Greedy people never come to a good end."

"I know."

"I can give you one last chance. As long as you—"

"No need." Wang Bo waved his hand, cutting off Palpatine's words, and strode forward toward Palpatine.

Palpatine's face flushed with anger; he waved his hand, signaling the guards around him to step forward and shoot Wang Bo.

But the guards stood like wooden statues, motionless.

Palpatine's expression turned extremely grim.

He saw that the guards looked at him with cold indifference, as if at a stranger, but their gaze toward Wang Bo was filled with a familiar fervor.

He recognized that fervor because not long ago, these guards had looked at him with the same eyes, as if willing to give everything for him.

But now, they looked at his enemy with that same gaze.

"What have you done?" Palpatine demanded loudly.

Wang Bo walked up to him with a smile and pointed to his own temple. "Just a little brainwashing technique. From now on, they are my loyal followers."

"You..." He suddenly understood. "Is Tarkin the same?"

"More or less." Wang Bo smiled. "Will you get up, or should I throw you off?"

Palpatine snorted coldly. "Your methods are indeed extraordinary, but unfortunately, you are too close to me."

Before his words faded, he suddenly sprang up, a lightsaber appearing in his hand, slashing at Wang Bo's head.

The strike was as swift as a thunderbolt, as if it would cleave Wang Bo's head in an instant.

Wang Bo seemed frozen in shock, standing motionless on the spot.