Upon hearing Darth Malthael's words, Nute Gunray fell to the ground, and the Neimoidian's flounder-like face even wrinkled up. "How do you know?!!"
Darth Malthael was still drinking wine leisurely, "Of course I know, because you are the...Switch of War that Darth Sidious hid since the Eriadu Business Summit. After the riots among the Battle Droids, you naturally installed this access mechanism and command on all newly produced Droids."
"This... this is... an Emergency System for safety reasons." Nute Gunray still had a sense of luck. Because this matter is indeed his biggest secret, and as the relevant design engineers were silenced by him, there should only be two people in the entire Galaxy who know about this switch!
Him, and Darth Sidious.
But now, how did this Angel of Death know?!
"Let me tell you a story, Nute Gunray." Darth Malthael said slowly: "The War between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems will last two to three years."
He glanced at Nute Gunray, whose body was still shaking violently.
"But this War is fruitless for both sides. As for the Confederacy, their strength will not be able to shake the Galactic Republic after all. The productivity gap between the two sides is too big. When the Industrial Worlds of the Republic operate at full capacity, a steady stream of Warships will completely overwhelm the Poor and Backward Planets of the Confederacy, not to mention...the existence of the Jedi Knights." Darth Malthael said.
"But it is not easy for the Galactic Republic to defeat the Confederacy. The Confederacy of Independent Systems, with Thousands of Systems joining it, and the help of Super Enterprises such as the Trade Federation, the power that explodes cannot be underestimated, especially when the Frontlines is faced with a life-or-death situation." Darth Malthael glanced at Nute Gunray, "In order to cope with powerful enemies and rapidly changing situations, the Galactic Republic will continue to invest funds, expand the scale of debt, and expand the Army more and more. The Supreme Chancellor of the Senate will also use Emergency Ruling Powers again and again to save the Galactic Republic from crisis."
"So under such circumstances, the originally loose and corrupt bureaucracy of the Galactic Republic began to become more efficient, power became more centralized, and Industry and Military became the main core of the Galactic Republic. War was used as an excuse to suppress the Civilians of various Planets creating a high-pressure atmosphere and putting the entire Republic on a fast track."
"Then... as long as he finds a way to get rid of the Jedi Order, he will not be far from his goal, the Galactic Empire. However, if he wants to become the Emperor, his reputation is still one step away. He not only has to win the support of Civilians, he needs to win the support of the oligarchic class, yes, I'm talking about the Industrial Giants like Kuat, Corellia, and Nubia…"
Nute Gunray's mouth twitched when he heard that Darth Malthael did not mention the names of the Trade Federation and the InterGalactic Banking Clan.
"For the people, he needs a result that is significant enough. Defeating the Confederacy of Independent Systems, ending the Civil War, and reunifying the Galaxy are the best-unparalleled feats! Why is this feat so important? Because everyone can see it. The strength of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and its superiority in the early stages of the War implanted fear in everyone's hearts. Everyone knew that it would take at least several years or even decades to defeat the Confederacy of Independent Systems... But... What if he can do it immediately?" Darth Malthael glanced at Nute Gunray and then said.
"Because he has prepared a back-up, a switch for this day. As long as he enters the password, the Confederacy of Independent Systems will immediately lose all its Troops and be defeated in a short period of time, giving this man supreme glory! Because he has accomplished something that no one else can do. He is the wisest and most powerful person in the Galaxy... So, if he becomes Emperor again at this time, will anyone stop him?"
Darth Malthael smiled coldly. A Lightsaber suddenly appeared in his hand, and with a snap, the Blood-Red Plasma Blade stopped less than 1 centimeter in front of Nute Gunray's eyes!
"Tell me, should I destroy this switch?" Darth Malthael didn't even look at Gunray. He was still sitting on the seat, with his legs crossed and a Wine Glass in his other hand. His voice was as eerie as a demon in the abyss.
With a plop, Nute Gunray fell to his knees, trembling all over, but unable to say a word.
Fear has completely dominated his heart!
However, Darth Malthael put away his Lightsaber and continued: "My story is not over yet. Defeating the Confederacy of Independent Systems and unifying the Galaxy can only win the support of Ordinary Civilians, and those powerful oligarchs, they don't care about that. They want something more direct..."
"Money, yes. Interests, very good. Power, perfect." Darth Malthael said slowly, "But the cake of the Galaxy has long been divided. Although the Civil War is over, the cake of the Confederacy of Independent Systems has already been divided. The cake is still the same as before, there is no change. If you want to divide the cake, someone must get out..."
He looked at Nute Gunray and sneered: "Are the people who were eliminated Kuat who made great contributions to the War? Are they Corellia or Nubia? No, because they have continued to expand during the War. Their Industrial Strength has already exceeded that of other Planets in the Galaxy combined. Those who are eliminated are naturally the War Criminals who started the War."
Nute Gunray gritted his teeth and said: "This is impossible! I ended the War! If it weren't for me, the War would still continue!"
Darth Malthael looked at him with pity, "Who would know?"
Nute Gunray was stunned as if he had been hit by a Lightning Bolt!
"As long as all the Insiders, including the Leaders of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, are killed, no one will know the truth of this Manipulated War. The rest is to try War Criminals and use money, interests and power to buy their own life...vomit out the cake they have eaten and give it to those he needs to win over." Darth Malthael slowly lifted his Black Hood, revealing his true appearance, "As for that, killing people...the Jedi Order will naturally be happy to do it."
"You...you...you..." Nute Gunray kept backing away as if he saw a man-eating monster, then sat down on the ground and raised his trembling fingers to point at the powerful, dark Sith opposite. Lord, "You are... Tang Xiao..."