While Gianna was excited on the plane after learning about Castle's recent schemes, Castle himself was on his way home. He planned to take advantage of the free time to go home, change his clothes, and pack the chubby kid and the drones into the truck sent by Gianna's men. After that, he would have the chubby kid go with the truck to the D'Antonio family estate on Long Island. Meanwhile, he would take this time to change clothes and arrange things at home since he might not be able to return for the next few days.
At this moment, Castle finally had the leisure to check his System. Yesterday, he completed a side mission from the System to prevent Simon from robbing a bank and successfully escaping. The System had issued a reward, but Castle had been too busy to look at it closely. Now, he finally had the chance to see what reward his dormant System had given him.
Driving leisurely toward his house, Castle called out to his dormant System. However, his relaxed mood nearly turned to shock when he saw the specific reward given to him.
"No way, did the System malfunction? It actually rewarded me with this..."
System: "..."
What had caused Castle to react so strongly? It was simple. The System interface showed the reward: "Bomb making and installation experience and skills from the former Hungarian Defense Force bomb expert Faris-Tago, whom the host killed yesterday." Castle was at a loss for words. What was the System trying to make him into?
His System seemed intent on turning him into some kind of super soldier. He already had John Wick's firearms skills, Jason Bourne's incredible spy skills, and now he was being given the skills of a bomb-making genius? Was he supposed to stop writing books and become a mercenary?
However, on second thought, Castle understood the true purpose of his occasionally dormant System. This was to prepare him for his black-market dealings with Vincent Adler.
He couldn't forget that the submarine was rigged with numerous explosives by the German submariners before it sank. If he wanted to quietly retrieve the items from the submarine without Vincent noticing, he had two options. First, he could sneak in while they were still salvaging the submarine and hadn't opened it due to the explosives. Second, he could wait until Vincent forced Neil and Peter to help disarm the explosives and then find a way.
But if he waited until Neil and Peter had witnessed the submarine's contents, the FBI would inevitably become involved. He couldn't afford to let Peter or the FBI discover the submarine's treasures, as it would lead to the same predicament as in the original plot: holding valuable treasures but unable to sell them.
Given the choice, Castle would choose the first option. He could sneak into the warehouse where Vincent had stored the salvaged submarine, disarm the explosives, and empty the submarine before anyone else could investigate.
But to succeed, he needed to handle the explosives expertly, which was where the System's reward came in handy. The bomb-making and installation skills from Faris-Tago meant he could confidently disarm and remove the explosives, allowing him to clear out the submarine's contents discreetly.
Castle had a love-hate relationship with his occasionally dormant but always helpful System. Yet, this side mission reward was truly timely and useful.
With these new skills, Castle could confidently execute his plan to take everything from the submarine before Vincent knew what had happened. He could then destroy the submarine and leave Vincent with nothing but an empty shell, preventing the FBI from discovering the treasures and avoiding the predicament Neil and Mozzie faced in the original plot.
Vincent, who had dreamt of finding the submarine his father sank, would be in for a rude shock. Imagining Vincent's reaction made Castle laugh out loud as he drove.
Before receiving this bomb-making skill, Castle had been worried about how to retrieve the treasures without leaving any trace. But now, with the System's reward, he had a perfect solution.
Vincent's plan to force Neil and Peter to help him disarm the explosives would only reveal an empty submarine, convincing the FBI there was nothing valuable inside. This would shift their suspicion away from Neil and Mozzie, allowing Castle to take the treasures without the FBI breathing down his neck.
Castle's excitement was palpable. The System's timely reward had given him the perfect cover for his heist. Now, all he had to do was go home, take a shower, and explain to his beloved daughter Alexis his plans for the next few days. Since it was Saturday and Alexis was home, why not take her to the D'Antonio estate on Long Island? After all, her godfather was on his way back to New York, and Alexis had never met Gianna. This was the perfect opportunity for an introduction.
Castle returned home to find his beloved daughter complaining about his long absence. But when he told Alexis they were going to Long Island to see her godfather and his pregnant girlfriend, she cheered and hurried upstairs to change.
After Castle showered and changed, Alexis was already waiting impatiently. Castle could only smile and shake his head as he took his excited daughter, eager to meet her godfather's new girlfriend, out the door.
Meanwhile, the new negotiator sent by General Atomics to talk to Castle was boarding a plane at Los Angeles International Airport...
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Read Ahead
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