The Prisoner

Outer Rim of the galaxy, Kip planet.

This was an utterly ordinary planet, without even the slightest strategic significance. It had neither a developed economy nor advanced technology, and it was not located along any major hyperspace route. Its natives were still in the era of the First Industrial Revolution.

The inhabitants of this planet had not widely adopted the advanced technology of the Galactic Republic, believing that doing so would throw their economy and society into chaos.

So even after the war broke out, Kip planet remained peaceful. They publicly declared neutrality and continued living at their own pace. Neither the Confederacy of Independent Systems nor the Galactic Republic came looking for trouble with this planet.

However, Kip planet was not entirely without value.

The planet produced a kind of Ulikuo gemstones. They were extremely rare, with smooth shapes and vivid colors, making them highly precious gems renowned in the jewelry world.

Of course, since Kip planet held absolutely no strategic value, no one came to seize the Ulikuo gemstones by force.

Yet this peaceful, isolated planet was plunged into endless trouble over a single incident.

They had arrested the Hutt Zorba Desilijic Tiur, patriarch of the Hutt's largest family, the Desilijic kajidic, and its most senior elder.

In truth, Zorba had simply been unlucky. After repeatedly failing at managing the family's businesses, he had wanted to go out and relax. So he piloted his personal ship—the Zorba Express—to Kip planet, intending to find some gemstones to cheer himself up.

Of course, he was a Hutt, the patriarch of the Desilijic kajidic, the greatest criminal family. Naturally, when he wanted something, he was not going to pay for it.

He flew his ship straight into Kip planet's gemstone mine and began digging up gems on his own.

Then he