Coruscant basement 20 floors.
In this much more spacious and luxurious residence than before, Francis Underwood stood by the window, watching the almost never-extinguishing feasting lights in the underground layer of Planet Coruscant through the window, one after another Smoking a cigarette.
He had already smoked in the middle of the night, and the ashtray in front of him was full of cigarette butts, and the rising smoke even attracted the public security patrol of the Republic. The people from the inspection team rode over on a hovermoter vehicle, looked at Francis who was puffing away strangely and left without saying a word.
Claire Underwood became a hero as she wished, and now the media and newspapers outside are reporting heavily and, under his secret manipulation and guidance, the media directly portrayed Claire as a hero who resisted the power of the Trade Federation and spoke out for the backward planets in the outer ring.
But Francis Underwood couldn't be happy anyway, because the process of achieving this goal was so tortuous and dangerous that Claire had to risk herself and use bitter tactics to finally achieve the goal.
However, he also knows that the only way for him to repay Claire is to keep going, go further, and become stronger.
It was a promise he made when he and Claire got married.
What Claire needs is not gentle words of comfort, this woman's desire for power is even stronger than his own. If she couldn't stand in the spotlight, it would be worse than death for her.
A figure came over, naturally took a half-smoked cigarette from Francis, put it in his mouth and took a deep breath, and then extinguished the remaining cigarette butts, "This is the last one for tonight. "
"You should rest in the hospital." Francis didn't look back but said lightly.
"Although the position of the miniature bomb has moved a little, my injuries are still manageable. The doctor said I need to rest for a few days, but I can't. I have to show up tomorrow to make a statement so that I can stay with the Trade Federation. There is no room for Rune Haako to leave the stage so early." Claire and Francis stood side by side, looking at the scenery outside the window together.
She paused, then asked, "How about you? How is it going?"
Francis closed the cigarette case and said: "This incident is enough to get our Fourth Civilization more attention. The next thing I need is to talk to Rodia, Jabiim, and Sy Myrth. Further cooperation between these planets that have just established friendly relations. I plan to sell some of the Blade Fighters that have been eliminated from the military to Planet Rodia, and their food routes need more escorts."
"Where's Palpatine?" Claire asked.
"If nothing else happens, he will come to me soon. I have also heard about the wind direction of the Galactic Senate recently. Chancellor Finis Valorum is currently under investigation and impeachment for accepting bribes. His life is very bad. It's easy. So, he intends to push a proposal...to levy taxes in the outer ring star region." Francis said.
"Hehe... Do you know Frank, what surprises me is that the Galactic Republic has been established for more than 20,000 years, and it is still unable to collect taxes in the outer ring star region. What an irony."
"That's because of the Trade Federation and other business giants, the outer ring star area is basically a business district controlled by them. More than 90% of the outer ring planet's external communication and exchanges must go through the Trade Federation and these Giant Enterprises. Therefore, If Supreme Chancellor Valorum can successfully implement this proposal, then it will be a feat for the Republic, and all the quality control against him will become weak." Francis sneered, "But... this proposal is to dig meat from the Trade Federation."
"It's no wonder that the Trade Federation prefers to keep quiet about my Mutual Aid Fund. It seems that they also feel the pressure from the Galactic Senate. If Palpatine came to you, what would he ask you to do?"
"The Supreme Commander still can't get in touch, but he has already made a series of predictions about Palpatine's political strategy. So if his judgment is correct, Palpatine wants to be a peacemaker in this matter. On the surface, neither side should be offended, but secretly helping the Trade Federation has made Finis Valorum lose face." Francis said.
"How about you?"
"After this incident, Palpatine may invite us to participate in this proposal. Because of the existence of mutual aid funds, we also have some say in the outer ring planet. So this proposal will be our entry into the Galaxy, the beginning of the political center." Francis smiled lightly.
"In this case, the pain I suffered is not in vain," Claire said with a smile.
"Oh dear, if there is a second choice, I will never do it." Francis shook his head, but the two of them were still looking at the scenery outside the window side by side and did not hug or anything.
"When you become the Prime Minister of the Empire, come and apologize to me."
...
On Planet Sojourn, two months later.
The extravagant and lively party has long since ended, but there are still some guests staying on the planet. They are all the lucky ones who have reached some agreements with the host here—Hego-Damask II, and further in-depth discussions are still needed.
Hego was holding a wine glass and chatting with the ugly big bug Mrs. Bixi, and they were discussing how to divide up the industry on the planet Marathal. The young leader of the Scarlet Dawn, Dryden Voss, also participated.
Whether it is Bixi or Voss, they are the leaders of emerging organizations in the Galaxy. What they have in common is that they are ruthless, omnipotent, and powerful.
Hego likes to deal with such people very much. His way of life is to constantly support such emerging forces to challenge the old order, keep the turbidity of the Galaxy, and then continue to absorb nutrients from it.
During the conversation, Hego glanced at the ancient castle on the mountain from time to time, with an inexplicable smile on the corner of his mouth.
In his perception of The Force of the dark side, the chaotic dark will in the direction of the ancient castle has long since disappeared, replaced by a dead silence.
Even in the perception of the original force, there is a dead silence over there, as if there is nothing. It seems that there is an existence that absorbs everything in it! Those dark wills left in the broken walls of the ancient castle have all disappeared now!
In that direction, it seems that there is a cocoon wrapped in the power of the dark side, which is constantly converging, converging, converging, and then...
Break out of the cocoon!