"This isn't worth it, Count Dooku! We shouldn't waste our precious warships in a war of attrition where we have no chance of winning! " The holographic image of the Trade Federation's governor, Newt Gunley, appeared in front of Count Dooku and said anxiously.
"This battle is imperative! We have to take the midpoint! If we let the Republic get their hands on a midpoint, Palpatine will undoubtedly open fire on the Lasax system, and even on every system in the Confederation that has a heavy industrial system, "Count Dooku said slowly.
"That's not what you said when you mobilized these fleets! You said it was just like what happened on Malastar, just to scare the Corellians! You didn't say we would fight the Republic's main fleet to the death! "Newt Gunley was obviously anxious, and he uncharacteristically criticized Count Dooku.
Count Dooku glanced at him and said slowly, "The situation of war is changing rapidly. Although I don't want to use our main fleet to risk our lives, the Republic's fleet has already reached Corellia and has begun the occupation operation. Naturally, we can't just sit back and watch the Republic obtain the midpoint."
"But that's not what our agreement is! You have no right to send our precious warships to their deaths! "Newt Gunley roared. He was going all out.
Count Dooku looked up at him and said coldly, "Our agreement doesn't include you having the right to question my decision!"
"The one who signed the agreement with us was Lord Darth Sidious! Not you! If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have agreed to your request so easily and joined the Confederation to become the Republic's enemy! "Newt Gunley pointed at Count Dooku's nose and roared.
Count Dooku laughed coldly. "Even now, do you still think you're serving Darth Sidious? Do you think the Trade Federation still has a place in the Republic now? The Republic will soon be gone, replaced by the Galactic Empire! Darth Sidious can't even tolerate Lendill, let alone you! "
At this time, the holographic projection flashed, and four more figures appeared around him.
"According to the agreement, we request immediate payment of the war bonus!" The one who spoke was the chairman of the Interstellar Banking Association, Sang Hill.
Count Dooku looked around. Governor Walter Tambor of the Technical Alliance, Governor Passel Argent of the Enterprise Alliance, and Governor Shu Mai of the Trade Guild were all staring at him with burning eyes. But compared to the others, Walter Tambor and Passel Argent's eyes were flickering. Every time Count Dooku looked at them, they would intentionally or unintentionally avoid his gaze.
"The war isn't over yet. Are you in such a hurry to ask for a bonus?" Count Dooku asked slowly.
"You broke the agreement first! Don't think that I don't know that you want to destroy these fleets to make us lose the ability to resist! And the Pan-Milky Way National Socialism that you strongly supported before was also trying to drive us out of the political center!! In other words, you're trying to go back on your word, aren't you?! "
Newt Gunley opened a light screen, and countless numbers flashed across it. He transferred the data over and said, "We've calculated the amount of our war bonus according to the agreement. Based on the contributions of our major commercial entities in the war, the Trade Alliance will accept the sovereignty of 463 galaxies and receive 1.6 trillion credits worth of goods and cash! "
"The Interstellar Banking Association will accept the sovereignty of 412 galaxies and have the right to issue currency in the Confederation of Independent Star Systems," Sang Hill said.
Newt Gunley looked at Walter Tambor and the others and said, "The Technical Alliance will receive the sovereignty of 271 galaxies, 900 billion credits worth of goods and cash. The Enterprise Alliance will receive the sovereignty of 233 galaxies, 750 billion credits worth of goods and cash. The Trade Guild will receive the sovereignty of 98 galaxies, 500 billion credits worth of goods and cash. "
A smile of success appeared on Sang Hill's face, and he chuckled. "Of course, the annual revenue of the Confederation of Independent Star Systems is not enough to pay for this, but it doesn't matter. The Interstellar Banking Association is willing to provide you with a loan of 500 billion credits. The time can be discussed, but the interest rate …"
Count Dooku's cheeks twitched. Even with his 80-plus years of experience, he was angered by the aggressiveness of Sang Hill and the others. He took a deep breath and said, "At the most critical time of the war, doing this is equivalent to taking drastic measures and directly destroying the economic system of the Confederation of Independent Star Systems. This kind of behavior is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. It's not something a merchant should do."
Newt Gunley said, "Business is business. Since the agreement is like this, we have no choice."
"And if we don't make a request now, are we going to sit back and watch you lose all our fleets?" Sang Hill echoed.
"In fact, we've already given orders to the frontline commanders to start retreating. So your best choice is to quickly fulfill this agreement, and then I'll order the fleet to cooperate with you so that you have a chance to have a good talk with Lord Darth Sidious, "Newt Gunley said.
Count Dooku did not fly into a rage as they had expected. Instead, he continued, "Actually, you should also know that if I go to negotiate with Darth Sidious in this situation, it's no different from groveling and begging for mercy, right?"
"This is between you and Darth Sidious. It has nothing to do with me. We're just fulfilling the agreement, "Sang Hill said with a poker face.
"Hahahahaha!" Count Dooku stroked his beard and laughed loudly. He raised his hand and pointed at Sang Hill. "Darth Sidious's master, Darth Pregus, is a Munn, and he's also one of the higher-ups of the Interstellar Banking Association. You're also one of his trusted subordinates. Do you think others don't know about this dark history? "
Sang Hill's expression changed slightly, but he did not say anything. Count Dooku then pointed at Newt Gunley and said, "As for you, you've long succumbed to Darth Sidious's dark side power and became his lackey. His power still lingers in your body, doesn't it? "
Count Dooku then put his hands behind his back, held his head high, and said in a dignified manner, "You are Darth Sidious's last line of insurance. As long as you exist, the economy of the Independent Galaxy Confederation will be in his hands at any time, and he will be invincible in this war."
He looked around. "All of you are just a bunch of greedy, cowardly, cowardly villains. You want to make money like an independent regime, but you don't want to bear the responsibilities of a country. So Darth Sidious took advantage of this and proposed such an agreement to you. Once the agreement is fulfilled, everyone in the Independent Galaxy Confederation will become your slaves! But … "
Count Dooku's lips curled into a cold smile. "Do you really think I don't have a way? I don't know if you've heard of this term — Order Zero. "
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