The Empire begins with the Fourth Scourge.

Chapter 2495: Illusions and Civil Unrest

2496: Illusions and Civil Unrest

"Take over the command of the Death Star? Is such a thing really possible?" Silas Tag frowned, expressing disbelief.

"The Imperial Army is now clearing out the Geonosians. No Geonosian on the planet Talasia will survive. In other words, there is no one in the entire galaxy who can complete the construction of the Death Star... except us!" Orman Tag said solemnly.

"But building the Death Star requires huge amounts of money and materials, which we cannot afford," said Silas Tag.

"It will be built by the Advanced Technology Alliance, which means it will be jointly undertaken by multiple military-industrial complexes including the Kuat Power Dockyard. No problem." Allman Tag said, "Just now, after the parliamentary meeting, I took the initiative to meet His Majesty the Emperor under great pressure and told him this idea."

At this point, the smile on Allman-Tag's face could no longer be stopped. It was not difficult to imagine the situation at that time. The extremely furious Palpatine scolded and cursed everyone, and even executed several senators on the spot, but Allman-Tag was able to go over and talk to Palpatine alone without being punished.

Doesn't this alone illustrate his completely different status before the Emperor?

"Although His Majesty the Emperor was still very angry at the time, it was obvious that he appreciated my plan very much. He even told me that if I could complete the Death Star plan, then I would get what I wanted! Hahahaha!" When Allman-Tag said this, he couldn't help but dance with joy.

"Hahahaha... I've already mentioned what I want to your Majesty many times! Only I can share your Majesty's worries. I'm the one who is capable and qualified to serve your Majesty! Hahahaha... In other words, once we finish the construction of the Death Star, I'll be second to none in the entire Galactic Empire!" Allman Tag became more and more excited as he spoke. He clenched his fists and waved them fiercely in the air. "Darth Vader, that crazy 'wizard', can only be abandoned in an empty corner with his anti-gravity tricks! The so-called Force is just a lie! Only industry, only industry is the real power!!"

Silas Tag nodded and said, "If we can mobilize the power of the Advanced Technology Alliance, I think it's possible."

"We will hold a high-level company summit tomorrow and announce this matter to everyone. From today on, all resources of the family and the company will be invested in the construction of the Death Star!" Allman Tag said sternly.

"Wow! Should I say this guy is really stupid or is he pretending to know nothing?" A blonde girl in a red dress stood behind Allman-Tagg, covering her mouth and exclaimed.

"Alas... He has completely fallen under the temptation of power. Now he can no longer see anything else. He sees... only power." Sonja Tag, who was wearing a very simple dress made of very simple materials, looked at her eldest son in front of her, shook her head and sighed, "Didn't he realize that Palpatine didn't actually make any promises to him?"

"You will get what you want! Hahahaha!" Luna-Huan, imitating Palpatine's tone in a very exaggerated way, and then laughed out loud.

"I think it's not that he doesn't know, but his enthusiasm for power makes him selectively ignore those judgments that are not good for him." Luna Meng said lightly.

Sonja Tag shook his head and sighed: "But... I think he can still succeed this time."

"Oh? Are all the people in your Tag family such good-for-nothings?" Luna-Huan asked.

Sanya Tag's expression was very heavy. She said: "It's not that they can't see it, but they have to do it."

She covered her chest, which was at least E-sized, with great sorrow, "In order to support Orman Tag's ascension to power, they did not hesitate to murder me, the former chief. And Orman Tag also gave them huge benefits in return... They can't turn back. Once they oppose Orman Tag, their legitimacy will be questioned. If that happens, what awaits them will be the crime of murdering the chief."

"So, compared to being liquidated themselves, they would rather let the entire Tag Company and the Tag family follow Orman Tag's unrealistic ambitions into the abyss." Luna Meng concluded lightly.

"Yes." Sanya Tag took a deep breath to calm her excitement.

"So, are you planning to take action?" Luna Meng turned her head and looked at Sonia and asked.

Sonja Tag nodded and said, "Yes. I will take action after Orman Tag holds a company meeting tomorrow. We cannot let these parasites completely destroy the foundation left by our ancestors."

The three of them stood in front of Orman Tag and Silas Tag and commented on their actions, but the two men were completely unaware and were just discussing the next action plan.

"But I think this matter may be a big obstacle for Adelaide Tagg. She has always held the company's finances tightly, preventing us from expanding quickly," said Silas Tagg.

"Indeed...she won't agree to this plan." Allman-Tag pondered.

Adelaide Tagge is a branch of the Tagge family. She is the niece of Sonja Tagge and the cousin of Orman Tagge. Currently, she and her husband Felix Tagge serve as the Minister of Finance of Tagge Company and are in charge of the financial power.

Moreover, in the management structure of Tag Company, the Ministry of Finance is a relatively independent department. It will not participate in the company's decision-making, but has independent approval authority for all the company's expenditures.

This is also a structure established by Tarzan Tag, the founder of Tag Company 200 years ago, to ensure that the finances of a family company like theirs will not suffer irreversible consequences due to the patriarch's momentary stupidity.

After Allman Tagg took over the family affairs, although he used a lot of family company resources in the process of creating the cutting-edge technology alliance, this project was approved by Adelaide Tagg. She agreed to this huge expenditure only because she recognized the investment, not like others, because she was in collusion with Allman Tagg and therefore covered up for each other.

Adelaide Tagg had no involvement in the murder of Sonja Tagg, and she naturally had no other thoughts about Orman Tagg. For her, there was only the interests of the company.

That's why Allman-Tagg is having a headache now.

Because in order to meet Palpatine's requirements and continue to build the Death Star, it would take a huge amount of family resources, and the only reason he used these resources was for his ambition. In other words, he sold out the interests of the company and the family in exchange for the favor of Emperor Palpatine. Adelaide Tag would never agree to such a thing.

"How about... we kill her..." Silas Tag made a gesture of wiping his neck.

"We can't just kill her. This matter... must be done by her husband, Felix Tagge... You plan this matter, and I will go to discuss it with Adelaide Tagge first." Orman Tagge nodded.

"Bastard!! Are you crazy? How could you do such a thing!!" Sonja Tag couldn't bear it anymore and he yelled at Orman Tag.

However, her voice was not heard by Allman-Tagg at all, and he just walked out with a heavy heart.

“Asshole… Asshole… Why do I have such a son…” Sonja Tag fell to his knees helplessly, covering his face and sobbing. “He will destroy the company and the family… If this continues, all of us will die in this war… Why! Why is this happening! Why!!!”

"Then, shall we follow him?" Luna-Huan said, pointing at Orman-Tag's back.

"I know Adelaide. She will never agree to Orman's wishful thinking. What I am worried about now is Felix Tagg... Adelaide's husband." Sonja Tagg said, "We must understand what Felix thinks, and I don't trust him. All along, it has been Adelaide who has truly held the power of the Ministry of Finance. Felix is ​​just a useless playboy."

……

"I highly doubt what kind of mentality you have in proposing such a project, Mr. Orman. From any angle, this is a suicidal project. I tell you bluntly that if you do this, you will ruin the company." On the other side of the headquarters building, a woman's cold voice cruelly rejected Orman-Tagg's proposal.

Moreover, the very unfamiliar and cold address of "Mr. Orman" also shows her position and attitude.

This is a tall woman in her early 30s, with long golden hair, a beautiful face, and a cold expression.

She is Adelaide Tagg, the head of finance at Tagg Corporation.

Allman Tag had a very ugly expression on his face. He was about to achieve his goal, replacing Darth Vader as Palpatine's top assistant and becoming the second in command of the Empire! But now, this bitch stopped him at the last step! This was absolutely unforgivable!

But he still couldn't turn his face directly, so he patiently explained: "The construction of the Death Star is related to the future of the empire, and it is also related to the future of our family. I do understand that this project will almost take up most of the company's resources, and there will be no short-term benefits... But believe me, the political benefits we will get from it are very huge. Through this project, we will get the command of the Death Star! You know, this is a super weapon that can directly destroy any planet! With this thing in hand, we are the well-deserved first family in the galaxy!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Allman." Adelaide Tag shook his head and said, "All your ideals and expectations for the DS-1 Battle Space Station project are hypothetical. His Majesty the Emperor has not promised to give you the command of the Death Star, nor has he promised to bring any practical benefits to our family and company because of this project."

Her slender fingers, painted with lavender nail polish and as white as jade, tapped lightly on the table. "So if that's the case, from my perspective, all I see is a huge black hole that will drain all the family resources."

"It's not just our family! Kuat Power Dockyard and Corellia Engineering will all be involved! We will promote this project in the name of the Advanced Technology Alliance! The costs will be shared, and we will be stronger!" Orman Tag said loudly.

"Two questions." Adelaide coldly held up two fingers. "First, how can you ensure that the military-industrial complex of Kuat Power Dock will listen to you? Second, the Advanced Technology Alliance is an organization directly under the Empire. This alliance itself does not have any assets. It is an organization promoted by the Empire and then distributed to major military-industrial complexes. So, even if the goal is achieved through this organization and the Death Star is completed, what key role can you play in it? Since you can't play a key role, how can you guarantee that His Majesty the Emperor will give you a super weapon like the Death Star to command?"

"No! His Majesty the Emperor told me! He will meet all my requirements!" Orman Tag raised his voice, he was already furious.

"What request of yours should be met? Give you a raise?" Adelaide Tagg sneered.

Then she stood up, made a gesture toward the door, and said, "That's enough, Mr. Allman. The company's finance department will not approve this project. Please go back."

"You..." Orman Tag clenched his fists, his muscular chest heaving violently, he was completely furious.

But Adelaide still had that cold look on her face, looking at him coldly without any expression.

"Hmph!!" Allman Tag snorted heavily and slammed the door.

After he left, Adelaide let out a deep breath, then slumped exhaustedly in a chair, massaging her temples. She almost fainted.

At this time, a boy about eleven or twelve years old ran in. He looked at Adelaide Tagg and said loudly, "Mother! Domina is so abominable! I liked the crystal decorations smuggled from the planet Christophsis, but she refused to give them to me!!"

Adelaide Tagg said tiredly, "That thing is Domina's birthday gift, not for you. And...even if it was given to you, you would just smash that expensive decoration."

"It's different, mother! The sound of smashing such a valuable thing is even more clear!" The little boy grabbed Adelaide's dress and said, "I don't care! You have to give me this thing! Now!!"