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English translation of The Vow of Silver Dawn.

The Vow of Silver Dawn

Welcome to Begamore

(Skipping chapters 1-10 for now because I don't like them. They're largely irrelevent to the rest of the novel, and is essentially the prelude.)

A simple plan

The dawn before action

With heart, everyone is a master chef

A unique recipe

Contact

Food allergy

A change of plans

Confusion

Legends not forgotten

New mission, new system

'The lightsaber is the symbol of the Jedi. It serves as an excellent deterrence within most of the Republic's jurisdiction. You can raise your blade to scare off a mob without violating our terms—the power switch can by activated without using the Force.'

Jedi Master Mostema patiently replays the details of the mission for her apprentice inside the shuttle.

'After evacuating the manor, you failed to maintain your calmness and meticulousness. Instead, you became preoccupied with flaunting your skills with a landspeeder. As a result, you flew straight to the evacuation point without covering your tracks, allowing your pursuers to follow you like a shadow. Of course, you must have considered that the pursuers posed no real threat to you, but if you're only concerned with "real threats," then it signifies the neglect of any hidden dangers in the detail.'

'Indeed, the pursuers could not have threatened you, but they could have threatened innocents. And that is the hidden danger. You wouldn't have had to be rushed by your pursuers at the final stage if you had operated more prudently in the first place, planting red herrings along the way. On a more rigorous review, you should have considered your red herrings when we were finalising our plans and setting up an evacuation point.'

'In reality, you had enough time to set them up before infiltrating the manor, but you failed to think of this. I deliberately left this point blank as an extra question when I helped you finalise the plan. It's a pity that you failed to read it out. Regarding the process of infiltrating the manor, there's a lot space in the details that could be improved, but you've handled the several key moments quite well.'

'Firstly there wasn't any killing, even barely any injuring, which will help us win the initiative for the entire forensics process. Recording the President's criminal nature before public eyes makes him want to vent his anger on his own men, but inevitably have misgivings. Here, you have fully considered Braen's personality and the safety of the manor staff. Additionally, many of your improvisations are very much commendable, so in summary, I can only say that you've just passed.'

Sean was sat on the co-pilot's seat, and aside from happily accepting the criticisms, he was both slightly ashamed and moved.

The shortcomings his Master pointed out would seem slightly nitpicky, but then he failed to do what he was perfectly capable of doing. At the same time, aside from providing criticism, Master Mostema still gave him an overall positive review, particularly commending his ability to improvise; and the criticisms were limited to the details and not scathing the overall plan.

Strictness and gentleness in coexistance, such was Master Mostema's way of teaching.

'No no, Mostema, this review of yours is a tad bit ridiculous.'

Meanwhile, a resigned voice came from the bridge of the black shuttle.

A faint blue hologram showed the face of a nearly middle-aged but no less lively human. He sported black long hair that was soft and neat, wearing a wide and dark brown robe with his waist carrying the symbolic Jedi lightsaber.

Jedi Master Oslord, who was responsible for teaching younglings in the Order's temple on Coruscant. Sean had received his care several times as a youngling.

Unlike the ever-calm Master Mostema, Oslord's expressions of feelings were richer and more powerful, like a naïve child. He was thought by many to be the most childlike Jedi Master, always getting along well with younglings. And yet at present, resignation took hold of his face.

'Only "just" passed? Mostema, you're too harsh towards your own apprentice! Sean had already snuck into Jamie Brasen's manor and gathered invaluable evidence all by himself. This is an extraordinary result! There's no need to go nitpicking!'

Mostema said: 'Otherwise, there wouldn't be true progress.'

'You cannot be so pressing for success…'

Oslord closed his mouth halfway through, shaking his head in resignation.

He and Mostema had already debated how to teach Sean more than once. As Oslord saw it, Sean was an exceptional Jedi apprentice. He had shown a very special gift when he first started his training—a gift not with the Force, but with character.

Compared to what he had already achieved, Sean always set his sights on what is not yet obtained. He valued criticism more so than praise as if he refused to take satisfaction of his achievements for even a moment.

For a person whose talents were not the best, such an eager attitude to improve was of course good. In fact, Mostema's way of teaching perfectly matched Sean's character.

But Oslord still felt that this was inappropriate, though he had never convinced Mostema to change her way of teaching.

And looking at Sean's growth as of this day, Oslord could hardly accuse Mostema of any wrongdoing. Should it have been himself who was teaching Sean, it may not be the case that the clumsy youngling of the Temple grew into how he was at present.

Amidst the silence, Mostema suddenly said: 'Oslord, we've finished discussing this mission's results and replaying its events. Yet the Council specifically sent you to contact me, is there something else?'

Oslord touched his hair: 'Don't say it as if your mission's results were unimportant and that anyone could've been sent to receive the results. You've helped the Republic handle a very complicated problem. With the evidence you've gathered, Jamie Brasen's rule on Begamore has already entered its last moments.'

'And per procedures, I should first relay the Council's gratitude…but as you've said, there is indeed another matter, and it's likely that you cannot return to Coruscant.'

Mostema asked: 'An urgent mission?'

'Yes, quite urgent. Do you know of the "Heaven system"?'

'The star system located in the Oplovis sector that is ruled by the local enterprise, "Heaven-earth corporation"? I remember that it has a population of 174.2 billion, the main species being human, who take up 99.9% of the entire population. An unbelievably high percentage. Additionally, the production capacity of the Heaven system exceeded even that of the famous industrial world of Metalorn; it's relatively prosperous and wealthy as a remote star system.'

'Yet the Heaven-earth corporation has always been tentative in its relationship with the Republic. It's strongly independent, with only one member of their board of directors being friendly to the Republic. I remember that his name's pronounced rather strangely, "Heli Nan." If following local conventions, it instead would be "Nan Heli."'

'Did something happen to him?'

Oslord had already found Mostema's ability to act as a walking encyclopedia commonplace, but at this moment, he could not help asking: 'You know of even such remote a sector?'

Mostema said: 'I've gathered an abundance of information while investigating the galaxy's outer regions with Sean last year, which coincidentally includes the Oplovis sector, particularly its Heaven system. At the time, we even learnt the famously difficult-to-learn Heaven-earth language, which may be the reason why the Council sent you to contact us.'

Oslord sighed and said: 'Two days ago, Nan Heli was assassinated in his own villa, and the Heaven-earth corporation's explanation was that a villa staff member killed him while conducting a theft.'

Mostema asked: 'I see now. The Council thinks his death can have a severe consequence?'

Oslord said: 'Nan Heli was a politician who had befriended the Republic for many years. His outstanding contributions made him valuable to the Republic, and he was even a high-ranking member of the Heaven-earth corporation's board of directors. It's unusual for the authorities to establish a firm narrative with the cause of his death in doubt. This could quite possibly ignite a huge political storm. Regardless, the Republic cannot accept such an unclear verdict.

'I understand. No wonder the Jedi Knights are needed to handle this. But our understanding of the Heaven system is limited to data files. Progress of our investigation will be slow without local help.'

'We've already found a local contact. In fact, many people are unhappy with Nan Heli's death, especially after the Heaven-earth corporation's perfunctory explanation. The help we get would be from these people.'

Mostema said: 'That's why this is nothing less than a political issue.'

Oslord said: 'The life and death of political figures are of course political issues, and for us, getting to involved in political issues is rather sensitive, so we'll need to avoid creating unnecessary problems where possible.'

'The wording "where possible" is a little vague; is the Council allowing me to act in my own accord?'

Oslord said: 'Yes, the Council is granting you the permission to improvise. We trust that the Heaven system problem would not trouble you since you've perfectly solved the Begamore problem.'

Mostema corrected: 'This is incomparable. Jamie Brasen had only ruled Begamore for decades, while the Heaven-earth corporation is a massive entity that had legally ruled their system for thousands of years. We had an investigation report by an elite Republic agent on our hands while investigating Jamie Brasen, but we don't even know our local contact for the Heaven system.'

Oslord interrupted with resignation: 'Alright, alright. I'm just the messenger. You can consult the Council directly should you have any doubts.'

'That won't be necessary. Since the Council had assigned the mission to me, I'll do my best to complete it. The same goes for you, Sean.'

Sean honestly replied: 'Yes Master, I shall do my very best!'

Looking at such an always overly serious pair of master and apprentice, Oslord sighed: 'Alright, I'll leave it at this and return to the Council. I hope you all the best in your travels to the Heaven system. May the Force be with you.'

'May the Force be with you.'

End chapter. Following chapter is work in progress.