Chapter 1819: Chapter 1233: Underlying Currents
In the following days, Duanmu Huai, along with Ogis, Ann, and Mary, toured Coruscant, enjoying themselves—after all, it was Palpatine who was footing the bill, so Duanmu Huai was naturally unreserved.
While Duanmu Huai and the others were indulging in public-funded meals and sightseeing, a silver spaceship landed on the tarmac outside the Galactic Senate, and then, a woman with elaborate headgear emerged from it.
“Welcome to Coruscant, Queen Amidala.”
Upon her arrival, Palpatine smiled and stepped forward to greet her.
“Hello, Senator Palpatine.”
Facing Palpatine, Queen Amidala of Naboo also bowed in greeting.
“It must have been a tough journey, hasn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
Upon hearing Palpatine’s inquiry, Queen Amidala showed no visible reaction, but her tone was notably stiff.
“I never imagined I would be questioned at the Galactic Senate.”
As she spoke, Queen Amidala glanced with some complaint at the two Jedi Knights standing not far behind her, then withdrew her gaze.
Currently, Queen Amidala was indeed full of grievances, even very unsatisfied with the Galactic Senate. Previously, when the Trade Federation blockaded Naboo, the Galactic Senate turned a deaf ear, no matter how much she pleaded for help, always pushing it off with various excuses.
Once the blockade was lifted, the Galactic Senate immediately dispatched Jedi Knights to Naboo, implicitly asking Queen Amidala about her relationship with the mysterious fleet that defeated the Trade Federation’s fleet!
Though the Jedi Knights were very polite, Queen Amidala was no fool. Previously, when she sought help, they claimed everything needed to follow procedure, as slow as a snail. But the day after the blockade was lifted, they sent people to interrogate her? No procedure now? When did the Galactic Senate become so efficient? When Naboo was blockaded, they didn’t react this fast; now the blockade is lifted, and they’re quicker than anyone!
What, are we just easy to bully?
Thinking of this, Queen Amidala got angrier, she was young and energetic after all. Even though she maintained her composure in front of Palpatine, the thick dissatisfaction in her words was unmistakable.
“I understand your feelings, Queen.”
Looking at the young queen before him, Palpatine chuckled.
“But I believe you have nothing to do with this matter.”
“You believe me?”
Admittedly, Amidala was somewhat surprised to hear Palpatine’s answer. She could tell that he was neither perfunctory nor using diplomatic niceties; he genuinely thought so. Even within Naboo, there were quite a few people doubting whether the queen had any connection to that mysterious fleet, and yet, Palpatine completely trusted her?
Well, of course, Palpatine believed her, because Duanmu Huai had told him that the Tribunal’s presence there was solely because humans were under threat.
Hence, this matter had nothing to do with Naboo’s queen herself.
“Of course.”
Palpatine also knew standing there was inappropriate, so he gestured and turned to walk with the queen toward the senate, explaining on the way.
“Perhaps you are unaware, but similar incidents have been occurring continuously.”
“Similar incidents? Senator, are you referring to blockades on other planets?”
“Hahaha, of course not, I mean the fleets attacked by that mysterious fleet… the Trade Federation was not the first, nor will it be the last.”
“Really?”
Upon hearing this, Queen Amidala was somewhat surprised, while Palpatine merely smiled without speaking.
As Palpatine mentioned, during this time, Aikute had been acting according to Palpatine’s list, first deploying reconnaissance fleets to lock onto targets, then as they left the galaxy, fleets would suddenly appear, completely destroying them, and then swiftly disappearing.
The entire process was like an assassin’s work, striking fatally, quickly darting away.
In fact, in the subsequent operations under Aikute’s command, no one really detected them. The local patrol fleets, upon arriving at the scene and realizing something was wrong, all they would see was wreckage of warships, as all ships were bombarded to bits by the Tribunal’s dense firepower, without even a single intact cabin to be found.
People could only deduce from the remnants of those ship fragments that the attacks were related to the mysterious fleet that once appeared on Naboo.
“`
After several similar attacks occurred, the Galactic Senate naturally grew more tense, especially when they recapped and discovered that the races attacked were all opponents of Speaker Valorum…
Hmm, that immediately made the situation more delicate.
Meanwhile, Speaker Valorum’s position became increasingly precarious.
Although the Goddess’s Royal Guard incident happened nearly a thousand years ago, the races of the Galactic Senate all remember that when the Goddess’s Royal Guard rose to prominence, it started with a human family that believed in the Goddess ascending to the position of Galactic Speaker!
And now, a thousand years later, is Valorum planning to recreate this history? Could he secretly be a follower of the Goddess too?
Speaker Valorum naturally protested loudly, but no one believed his words anyway. Even the Jedi Council expressed distrust towards Speaker Valorum — after all, in such matters, it’s better safe than sorry. From the Trade Federation to the subsequent attack targets, all were opponents of Speaker Valorum. According to the principle of ‘who benefits has the greatest suspicion,’ no one would believe you if you claimed ignorance.
Only fools would believe that.
“I see, so such things have happened…”
After hearing Palpatine’s account, Queen Amidala was quite surprised.
“This time, your presence in the Galactic Senate is not for questioning. In fact, the Senate representatives plan to bring a motion of no confidence against Speaker Valorum. His removal is only a matter of time. Next, a new Speaker will be elected.”
At this point, Palpatine’s eyes also showed a hint of helplessness. He originally planned to use the blockade of Naboo as an opportunity to demonstrate his decisive attitude, separate himself from the current Speaker, and on that premise, take over as the new Galactic Speaker.
But the incident with the Goddess’s Royal Guard was too sensitive. Once it occurred, other races immediately became highly vigilant towards humans. Although Palpatine privately made deals with the Separatists, theoretically they should support him, but Palpatine couldn’t be sure if these representatives would change their minds when voting.
From this perspective, the appearance of the Tribunal disrupted all of Palpatine’s plans, raising the difficulty of him becoming Galactic Speaker out of thin air.
But from another perspective, gaining such a powerful ally as the Tribunal, Palpatine felt the increased difficulty was worthwhile.
Subsequently, at the Galactic Senate meeting, representatives of various races unsurprisingly brought forth a motion of no confidence against Valorum, passing it unanimously. However, Valorum’s troubles did not end there. Immediately after the impeachment, he was arrested by the Senate’s envoy and put on trial. As for the new Speaker… well, although the process was somewhat thrilling, the benefits Palpatine had given to those senators didn’t go to waste, and Palpatine was ultimately elected with a high vote count.
Of course, at the inauguration ceremony, Palpatine also declared that he would fight for the prosperity and development of the Galactic Republic, in unity, never yielding to violence or threats, and so on…
Meanwhile, the Jedi Council also received the investigation report on Speaker Valorum.
“Is what it says here true?”
Looking at the report in front of him, Qui-Gon Jinn was puzzled. According to it, after the Senate’s investigation, it was discovered that the fleet was actually covertly supported by Speaker Valorum’s mercenaries. He stated that he had always been attempting to consolidate his position and remove dissidents, thus secretly funding mercenaries and converting freight ships into a fleet. The use of the name ‘Goddess’s Royal Guard’ was merely to attract attention to those mercenaries. Even the previous corruption scandal was determined to be orchestrated by Speaker Valorum because he needed large sums of money to support these mercenaries, hence he resorted to corruption…
The entire report wasn’t unfathomable, but the more Qui-Gon Jinn looked at it, the more he felt something was off. For instance, that fleet, the report stated that to avoid suspicion, Speaker Valorum purchased a large number of second-hand freighters for conversion. But having seen those warships first-hand, Qui-Gon Jinn could confirm they were not converted freighters but genuine warships.
And Speaker Valorum as a person, the Jedi Council wasn’t unfamiliar with him. Could such an incompetent yes-man really pull this off? Deceive even the Jedi Council?
Are you kidding? How does that sound even remotely possible?
But the other races of the Galactic Senate accepted this investigative result. Even if the Jedi Council raised objections, it would likely be futile.
“Regardless of whether it’s true, your task now is to investigate.”
The black Jedi Knight sitting in the chair stared at Qui-Gon Jinn.
“According to this intelligence, those mercenaries are located on Tatooine. Your next task is to go to Tatooine and investigate the veracity of this intelligence.”
“And… if it’s true?”
Qui-Gon Jinn frowned, staring at the other. He knew how formidable that fleet was, and was certain that within the Galactic Republic, there was no force strong enough to suppress them. Assuming everything written was true, what could he, a single Jedi Knight, do? Blow up all those hundreds of warships?
Is that possible?
“Conduct a cautious investigation and act discreetly.”
The black Jedi Knight repeated once more.
“We suspect there are hidden motives behind this matter. In any case, do not act rashly.”
“I understand.”
Having said this, Qui-Gon Jinn had nothing more to add. Whether it was true or false, going there would reveal the truth.