The situation was just as Qui-Gon Jinn feared.

When they reported the existence of the Tribunal, many in the Galactic Senate exploded in outrage.

"Such outrageous acts! Unforgivable! I believe we must have a strong fleet to prevent such things from happening again!"

"That's right! The Galactic Senate must have a strong armed guarantee!"

Sitting in his seat, listening to the impassioned speeches of the various race representatives, Obi-Wan was dumbfounded. You know, his master had just explained everything in detail, including the Tribunal's purpose, strength, and all they had done on Tatooine.

However, it seemed that these people only heard "the Tribunal massacred other non-human races" and "the Tribunal tried to lead humans away from the Galactic Republic." It could even be said that they didn't care about the Tribunal's power at all, and were more interested in using this incident as a breakthrough to forcibly push through the military buildup bill!

Listening to these legislators' speeches, Obi-Wan was dumbfounded.

Were you even listening to Master's report? The Tribunal is very fierce! They're very powerful! And extreme human supremacists! What exactly did you hear? Moreover, wasn't our initial mission to Tatooine to investigate whether there was any connection between the former Chancellor and the Tribunal? Now you all look like you don't care whether the former Chancellor is dead or alive?

Obi-Wan looked at the legislators, then at his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, who sat there like a meditating monk, as if the argument in front of him had nothing to do with him.

"Master... they..."

Finally, Obi-Wan couldn't help but complain, but Qui-Gon Jinn just raised his hand, signaling him not to speak, and then silently shook his head.

"They just need an excuse."

"That's it?"

Hearing Qui-Gon Jinn's answer, Obi-Wan couldn't bear it any longer. He knew the corruption in the Galactic Senate was severe and that bureaucracy was rampant, but he didn't expect it to be this bad! At least they ought to follow the inquiry procedures regarding the former Chancellor! At least this time, they didn't find any connection between the Tribunal and the former Chancellor.

Of course, it was also true that people didn't bother with them.

But you can't just ignore the investigation as if it's a foregone conclusion! It's still unclear whether the former Chancellor had any connection with the Tribunal or whether he ordered the destruction of the Trade Federation's fleet. How can you just proceed with your political agenda as if it's already a fact?

Is this still our Galactic Senate? Where are the processes? Where's the procedural justice? Where did they all go?

Has the Galactic Senate become this corrupt now? Do they disregard right and wrong just for their own agenda?

Obi-Wan felt a surge of anger from deep within, and he started to understand why many races wanted to leave the Galactic Senate. Looking at the mess the Galactic Senate had become, how did it still look like a place that gets things done?

"Master, can't we do anything?"

"The Jedi Council does not intervene in Senate affairs; that's the rule."

"But..."

Hearing Qui-Gon Jinn's answer, Obi-Wan gritted his teeth. He knew this was the rule, and the Jedi Knights also protected the rules. But... look at these politicians, which one of them still follows the rules?

In the end, the development of events was also as Qui-Gon Jinn expected. The Galactic Senate passed a bill to grant Chancellor Palpatine emergency powers in times of crisis. Palpatine reluctantly accepted the decision and stated he would return the power immediately after the separatist crisis was resolved.

Soon, the Galactic Senate passed the bill, approving the Galactic Republic to form a strong army to address the separatist threat.

Fortunately, Palpatine was not as inept as other politicians, and he mentioned the issue of Tatooine at the end, stating that the situation was complicated and would be handled entirely by the Hutt representatives.

Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan were prepared for this decision, as they felt during their discussion that the Galactic Senate had no other solution. The Hutts were deeply rooted within the Galactic Republic, which also explains why the Republic couldn't reach Tatooine to deal with the slave trade.

However, the thought of those slaves who had regained their freedom being likely subjected to suffering under the Hutts again made both of them uneasy. Although the Tribunal's methods were somewhat brutal, they indeed saved people—or, strictly speaking, saved those they identified as "humans," and killed the rest.

While the two were still caught in their thoughts, they suddenly snapped back to reality.

Wait, something's not right?

Isn't there something wrong with their thinking?

The Hutts going against the Tribunal?

With the Tribunal's power, wouldn't they utterly dismantle the Hutts?

Both were aware of the Hutt species, which looked a bit like oversized slugs, and didn't match the Tribunal's definition of human races and would be immediately executed once discovered! With the Tribunal's strength, if the Hutts dared to attack Tatooine, who knows who would actually end up dead!!

".........."

The two exchanged strange glances, speechless.

"What do we do now, Master?"

"... Let's go back and rest. This is not a place we should be."

Qui-Gon Jinn was tired, too, and couldn't do much. He was unwilling about the Galactic Senate's actions, but there was nothing he could do. And the Jedi Knights couldn't intervene in Tatooine, and the Galactic Senate only cared about using the Tribunal as a pretext to push their political agenda. Even the Jedi Knights couldn't interfere with the Senate's political affairs.

What else could be done?

Go home and sleep.

The development of events certainly wouldn't change because of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan's choices.

When Palpatine announced plans to establish a robust army for the Galactic Senate, those separatist factions were the first to get wind of the news.

Of course, this news was deliberately leaked by Palpatine himself through his disciple Count Dooku. As expected, upon hearing that the Galactic Republic intended to form an army to counter the separatists, those factions immediately rose in opposition.

"We must not let the Senate succeed! We must act first!"

The leader of the Techno Union looked like a tin robot, and his words were as forceful as his appearance.

"That's right, we must make the Galactic Senate realize our strength so that they will be afraid."

The leader of the Banking Clan also spoke up.

They led the separatist factions, the Techno Union had technology, the Banking Clan had money, and the Trade Federation had material support. These three major forces working together led to the growth of the separatist movement.

"But what about the Tribunal?"

Only the Trade Federation's Emperor's face was dark at this moment. The Tribunal had destroyed the Trade Federation's fleet, significantly weakening their strength. The Trade Federation always wanted revenge but had no opportunity. Now, they couldn't help but complain, fearing that others didn't take them seriously.

However, the other two representatives didn't care about the Trade Federation's complaints.

"It's just a minor separatist force; there's no need to worry."

"I've heard the Galactic Senate has already tasked the Hutts to deal with them. With the Hutts targeting them, that so-called Tribunal might not die but will surely suffer, so there's no need for us to intervene."

"But..."

"I understand what you're saying, Emperor."

While the Trade Federation's Emperor still intended to say something, Count Dooku interjected at the right moment.

"What the Tribunal did to the Trade Federation is indeed unforgivable. However, we don't have time on our side because Chancellor Palpatine has already signed the order, and the Galactic Senate has begun military preparations. At this point, we can't waste time. We must act first, and as for the Tribunal, we can deal with them after our plan concludes!"

"Yes, yes."

At this, the representatives of the other two factions voiced their agreement. Count Dooku's words resonated deeply with them as they had been preparing for this uprising for a long time. They now had enough warships and the Trade Federation's Robot Army. If they started the uprising now, the Galactic Senate would be caught off guard, and they would have the upper hand.

And if they delayed any longer, allowing the Galactic Senate to actually form the army, then all their preparations would be in vain, wouldn't they?

Seeing everyone support Count Dooku's opinion, the Trade Federation's Emperor had no choice but to shut up, knowing that it wasn't the Federation's fleet being destroyed. Hence, he thought it was more prudent to complete the uprising first and then deal with the Tribunal.

Still, the loss was too much for him to bear!

At this moment, the Trade Federation's Emperor clenched his fists tightly, feeling utterly frustrated.

But there was nothing he could do, really frustrating!

He tightened his fists while remarking that once everything settled, they would not let the Tribunal escape easily. Having found their location on Tatooine, they would not be absolved now. Once they had taken care of the Galactic Senate, they would not spare them.

"""

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