The former Galactic Republic Senate Building had one side of its mushroom-shaped structure completely dismantled, exposing the enormous domed chamber within. Its roof had also been entirely removed, turning it into an open-air venue.
At the center of the chamber, facing the opening, a towering platform five hundred meters high had been constructed.
The platform was supported entirely by obsidian. Every massive stone bore the four-spiral emblem of the Fourth Empire. From its base to its summit were exactly nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, each engraved with the iron laws of the Fourth Empire.
Most of these iron laws concerned the Emperor's authority, singing his praises.
Inside the Republic Senate Building, the seats where Council Representatives from countless sectors had once debated passionately had now been converted into rows of cold metal viewing stands. Seated upon them were holographic projections of the Fourth Empire's highest-ranking officials, nobles, and military commanders.
But these holographic projections were different, because after they were projected, the Dream Sisters used their powers to turn them into tangible illusions.
As a result, before countless instruments and camera lenses, these holographic projections, enhanced by illusion, were indistinguishable from real people. Even the rise and fall of their breathing was exactly the same.
The Galactic Empire's highest-ranking figures, including Qi Jian, Ling Liang, Shadi Li, Mordin, Helmut-Zemo, Hari Seldon, Daphne-Clement, and others, also attended the ceremony remotely.
Yet among them, only one person was absent—Fleet Admiral Matt-Hona.
His reason for refusing was that he was commanding operations in space. He had even directly refused orders to attend remotely or merely show his face. Thus, the Matt-Hona present here was nothing more than an illusion created by the Dream Sisters.
Tang Xiao had originally planned to have all of them attend in person on Coruscant, but nearly every official,