Chapter 41 of 100

Chapter 41

12 min read3,099 words

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn walked discreetly through the small town. Following the orders of the Jedi High Council, he was there to mediate the dispute between the Trade Federation and the planet Naboo. This most respected Jedi Master in the Star Wars universe was working tirelessly for peace between the two parties, and he was now the protector of the Queen of Naboo.

After Naboo's devastating defeat in the war with the Trade Federation, the Queen, whose crown was now precarious, had only one hope: the Republic's mediation and support. To avoid the pursuing Trade Federation forces, their ship was hit in the engine and had to make an emergency landing on the planet Tatooine.

The respected Master had a vague sense that an urgent crisis was approaching, and the Force was guiding him here, as if waiting for something.

Qui-Gon Jinn walked discreetly down the street, with his apprentice Obi-Wan and a 'handmaiden' sent by the Queen. He was very familiar with remote planets like Tatooine, knowing that trouble was easy to come by here. He only wanted to find a suitable engine replacement and leave as quickly as possible.

Time was running out for Naboo. The Trade Federation was committing massacres and plundering on Naboo every moment, and Qui-Gon Jinn was burning with anxiety.

Qui-Gon Jinn skillfully led them through the alleys, stopping occasionally to ask local residents. Soon he learned that to find such an uncommon part, they would have to go to Watto's shop.

"A Watto's shop is the place with the most complete parts. If you can't find what you need there, you're pretty much out of luck!" A local old resident grinned, showing his yellow teeth.

He said meaningfully, "Where is Watto's shop? You can't miss it unless you're blind! I say, you should go there sooner rather than later, or Watto will make a fortune and close up shop! Hahaha! Or be captured by Jabba!"

The group left the eccentric local, and Obi-Wan stepped forward to ask, "Master, is what he said reliable?"

"The Force tells me he is not lying or hiding anything," Qui-Gon Jinn said, walking quickly ahead. The 'handmaiden' beside Obi-Wan frowned, displeased, and thought to herself: Even if this eccentric person isn't lying, his words may not be reliable!

As they turned a corner, they immediately understood what "not blind" meant—dozens of mercenaries and pirates of various shapes and sizes were crowded together in a chaotic mass. "Watto!" this name was shouted several times in just a few minutes by loud voices.

These rough men, either angry or impatient, were shouting. A large, hoarse-voiced lizard man yelled, "Watto! Open the door! If you have the courage to keep us out, you should have the courage to open the door!"

"Right!" someone in the crowd agreed, "Watto, you heartless merchant, you monopolize the Master's works at high prices, which is certainly not the Master's intention. Watto, open the door quickly, we have money to buy your goods!"

The crowd suddenly became agitated, shouting Watto's name, and even chanting in unison, "If you don't give us the chance to buy the Master's works, we will break down the door!"

"Break down the door!" The crowd was in an uproar, and people were holding large stones and bricks, crowding towards an old alloy door. Obi-Wan wanted to step forward but was stopped by Qui-Gon Jinn's outstretched hand.

Suddenly, the alloy door was violently pushed open, and a fierce-looking man with horns stepped out, shouting at the crowd, "What are you doing? Making a fuss? Don't you care about your lives? Watto said there's nothing today, come back tomorrow, get lost!"

A trembling old Mokk stood in front of him, raising his right hand with an iron hook, piercing the stone under the horned man's feet, "Kammin! You stupid Ongarian, move out of the way! We are here to talk to Watto! Do you want to taste my scythe hook?"

The old man swung his steel hook, and a high-frequency probe shot out, grabbing a piece of alloy plate from dozens of meters away, tearing off a fist-sized piece.

The power of this move made the onlookers secretly alarmed. No wonder he was an old mercenary on Tatooine, half a foot in the grave, still fighting on the battlefield. It was said that this old man could still go to battle and even go to the bar to flirt with women, truly a seasoned and vigorous old-timer.

The horned man just snorted, the broken horn on his head glowing slightly, and a swift particle beam blinded everyone. Seeing the deep, bottomless hole in front of the old Mokk, the people in front involuntarily took a step back, both hopeful and wary of the silver metal horn on the man's head.

The horned man looked around, seemingly satisfied with their fearful expressions, "Scoundrels! Behave yourselves! The Master's works are not something you can afford, hahaha!" He laughed, stroking his silver horn, and left triumphantly.

Obi-Wan heard someone whisper, "What's so great about him? He used to be a trash collector, but he got lucky and bought a limited edition part, and now he's acting all high and mighty."

"Keep it down, you can't beat him now!"

Obi-Wan, with a serious expression, turned to look at his master. Qui-Gon Jinn nodded slightly and turned to leave. Obi-Wan followed, but was very puzzled. The laser device on the horned man's body was very dangerous and powerful, and such modifications were prohibited in the Republic.

He didn't know how someone here could have such military-grade weapons.

"The Force tells me that the laser on his head is alive. Like the laser bugs that live in the spaceport, it is a living thing," Qui-Gon Jinn said calmly. Under his lead, the group took a different route to approach Watto's shop from the back. They came to the back wall.

Qui-Gon Jinn pressed his hand on the wall and nimbly climbed up, leaping into the yard. He saw a boy of about eight or nine standing not far away, looking at him in surprise.

The Force did not detect this boy, and Qui-Gon Jinn felt uneasy. He waved his hand to test the boy and was surprised to find that the boy had an astonishing affinity with the Force. The unknown feeling from the Force also hinted to him that this might be the Chosen One.

"Hello, young sir!" Qui-Gon Jinn indicated that he meant no harm, "I just want to buy some things, but the front door is blocked."

"Hello, Master!" Anakin politely asked, "This is Watto's shop. What do you want to buy?"

"What are you here for?" Watto quickly darted over. Qui-Gon Jinn noticed the electromagnetic wings on his back, and his pupils contracted slightly.

Qui-Gon Jinn stepped forward and explained his purpose. Hearing that they were not there to seek the 'Master's' works, Watto's face relaxed, but when he heard they wanted to buy something, his face fell again.

"You're too late. My shop has changed business, and all the old stuff has been sold. Go away! Don't sneak in anymore!" Watto waved his hands to drive them away.

But Anakin, standing to the side, curiously interjected, "His things are all pledged to my teacher. Do you have any urgent matters? If time is tight, I can ask my teacher if he can sell the things to you."

Watto, furious, pushed the group to one side. He didn't dare scold Anakin, so he just glared at them and turned to leave.

"Can you introduce us to your teacher?" Qui-Gon Jinn bent down and asked.

"My teacher is very busy. He usually doesn't refuse requests, but he rarely gets involved in trivial matters. You should wait around here! I'll ask my teacher and come back to you," Anakin replied sincerely.

"Do you have any way to contact him now?" the 'handmaiden' interjected, "We really have an urgent matter!"

"Alright, I'll try! But don't get your hopes up. I haven't seen my teacher for weeks. He's so busy, he barely sleeps or eats."

Anakin turned and went into the house. A moment later, he came out, looking puzzled.

"That's strange, my teacher agreed to see you!" he scratched his head and told them.

"Follow me!"

Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance and followed Anakin away from Watto's shop.

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