Castle wasn't just worried about another surprise attack for his own sake. Whether it was to avoid further burdening Beckett's NYPD precinct or out of respect for his connections with New York's mayor, he knew he couldn't let another assault happen in the city.
Over the past two years, since his arrival in this world, Castle had been at the center of countless high-profile incidents in New York. If it weren't for his strong relationships with the NYPD and the mayor, the constant media scrutiny alone would have made his life unbearable.
Luckily, Castle's introverted tendencies helped. Unlike the attention-seeking original Richard Castle, this version of him avoided public appearances and rarely left his fortified Long Island estate. Thanks to his Russian bodyguards and state-of-the-art security, nosy journalists had failed to breach his defenses and had given up pursuing him.
However, if another attack were to happen, those same reporters would seize the opportunity to turn him into front-page news. Castle, who valued discretion and "keeping a low profile," couldn't allow that.
Castle sat in his study, going through information J.A.R.V.I.S. had gathered on Stan Aerospace's internal discussions. The company had been plotting to steal his technology, spurred on by the idiocy of a high-caste director, Rajad. The man had even sent mercenaries to New York for a preemptive strike.
Castle shook his head, torn between frustration and amusement.
Who in their right mind would think attacking me in New York—a city where my influence runs deep—is a good idea?
Rajad clearly hadn't read the intelligence report his own company provided. He had ignored the warnings about Castle's reputation for being unyielding and had charged ahead like a fool. Fortunately, Stan Aerospace's leadership had intervened in time, halting Rajad's plans before they could materialize.
Still, Castle mused, how do people this stupid even make it onto a company's board?
While Castle dealt with these thoughts in his study, another key player, President Benjamin Asher, was in the White House. Fresh off his successful handling of the recent White House attack, Asher was riding a wave of public approval. But instead of resting on his laurels, he was plotting revenge against one of the attack's hidden culprits: the Japanese backers who had provided financial and logistical support for the assault.
The White House attack had involved three major factions. The Rockset organization had been destroyed, its members charged with treason and eliminated from American politics and the military. Amir Barkawi, the primary mastermind, had gone underground. Without Castle's intelligence, the U.S. had no leads on his whereabouts.
That left the Japanese faction, which had supported the assault by supplying resources like the modified AC-130 gunship.
Asher turned to one of his closest advisors, Mozzie, now serving as his National Security Advisor, for guidance on how to deal with Japan's covert interference.
Mozzie, ever the realist, revealed a crucial piece of information: Castle had obtained a list of Japanese intelligence operatives in the U.S. during the Hawaii incident.
When Alexis had been kidnapped by Japanese operatives, Castle had retaliated ferociously. Using J.A.R.V.I.S., he had hacked into the Japanese Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office (NAICHŌ), extracting decades' worth of intelligence files. This operation had been devastating for Japan's intelligence apparatus.
Although Castle had only shared the details of operatives in Hawaii and New York, the move had crippled Japan's ability to operate in those regions. Castle had deliberately withheld information on operatives elsewhere in the U.S., opting for a more restrained approach to avoid direct conflict with a foreign government.
Now, Asher wanted to use the remainder of that list to deal a blow to Japan. However, Mozzie was quick to temper his expectations.
"Mr. President," Mozzie began, "while that list was invaluable during the Hawaii incident, it's no longer as effective as you might hope."
Asher, unfamiliar with the nuances of intelligence work, asked Mozzie to elaborate.
Mozzie explained patiently: "Sir, intelligence agencies worldwide operate under the assumption that leaked information will be acted upon. When Castle hacked NAICHŌ, the Japanese would have immediately begun evacuating or reassigning their operatives.
"Back then, Castle had valid reasons for not handing over the full list. First, he didn't want to appear like he was giving the FBI a freebie. Second, he didn't want to jeopardize Japan's ongoing arms deals with Congress. At the time, their military purchases were vital, and Castle didn't want his actions to create diplomatic friction. And finally, let's not forget—you weren't in office yet. Castle didn't owe your predecessor anything."
Asher acknowledged Mozzie's reasoning, though he still harbored frustration at the missed opportunity.
Mozzie continued, "While it's true that some operatives from the list remain active in the U.S., the most valuable targets have likely been extracted or gone deep undercover.
"Of course, the list isn't entirely useless. Roughly 40% of the operatives may still be in place, but we can't expect to find any major players among them."
Asher sighed, recognizing the truth in Mozzie's analysis. While the list wouldn't yield the decisive blow he had envisioned, it could still be leveraged to disrupt Japanese operations.
Mozzie, ever the opportunist, proposed an alternative: "If we can't make a big move with the list, why not use it to rattle their cage? A few targeted strikes could send a clear message. They'll know we're onto them, and it might dissuade further interference."
Meanwhile, Castle was still fuming over the audacity of the mercenaries sent by Stan Aerospace. Reviewing the intelligence from J.A.R.V.I.S., he was appalled by their incompetence.
Do they not know what happened to the Japanese operatives who tried this? he thought, shaking his head.
To Castle, it seemed like stupidity was a universal constant. He couldn't fathom why these groups continued to underestimate him.
Still, he resolved to deal with the threat decisively. He ordered J.A.R.V.I.S. to gather every detail about the mercenaries, vowing not to let history repeat itself.
Castle didn't want to become a spectacle, but he was more than willing to make an example of anyone foolish enough to target him.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.