Valerian & Laureline (english version) - Volume 2 - The Empire of a Thousand Planets

Valerian and Laureline are exploring Syrte, capital planet of a system of
1,000 worlds. Their mission is to discover whether the Syrtians could present
a danger to Earth. What they find is a decaying empire led by decadent
aristocrats, a population ripe for revolution, and a mysterious caste of
masked wise men who discreetly pull the strings from hidden fortresses. Swept
up by the winds of history, the agents of Earth will have to choose a side…