"Smoothly? No! Not enough! Not enough!" Palpatine's expression suddenly twisted into something utterly feral again. He waved his fist forcefully. "More trials are needed to ensure the plan's success! That requires more funding! And more Force-sensitive individuals as test subjects!"
Sate Pestage hurriedly said, "After Ardin Lyn returned to the Empire, the Judicial Department under the Grand Judge has been operating very smoothly. They captured seven escaped former Jedi Knights... All of them have been secretly sent to Byss for testing. But there is indeed still a major funding shortfall. The Imperial treasury is already under unbearable strain. We have diverted a considerable portion of fiscal revenue; if we increase that proportion, it may hasten the collapse of the Imperial treasury."
"Then make those Core Worlds families pay!" Palpatine growled. "They have been sucking blood while lying under the Empire's protection for far too long. I have no time to keep playing games with them! All I need now is money—more money! Once the plan is complete, they will be useless! They can do whatever they want! Hahahaha!"
"Yes... yes..." Sate Pestage shrank back into himself again. Before Palpatine, he was terrified of saying even one wrong word. Because that might mean the end of his life.
"I heard... the patriarch of the Tagge family, Sanya Tagge... once secretly went to Dawn Star Planet?" Palpatine suddenly changed the subject.
Sate Pestage was startled. He looked up and said in disbelief, "Your Majesty, is that true?! If so, the consequences may be extremely serious!"
"Sanya Tagge is in poor health and no longer fit to lead the Tagge family. Let her sons name their prices... Whoever offers the right price will become the next family head. Hehehehe..." Palpatine let out a strange laugh.
"Your Majesty is wise..."
Outer Rim Territories,