Everyone entered the dining room and took their seats. Gianna, as the host, gave a brief welcome speech to Castle, Alexis, Mozzie, and the little chubby guy, showcasing the full demeanor of an old European aristocrat. Afterward, everyone indulged in the sumptuous dinner spread on the table.
After dinner, Alexis was taken by the little chubby guy to the small building where he was temporarily staying. Only John and his wife, Castle, and Mozzie remained in the main house. This was when they formally began discussing their plan to counter Vincent and his group.
Neil was already aware that Castle had brought in a powerful ally for their side. However, due to the ankle monitor that restricted him to within a two-mile radius of Manhattan's center, he could only participate in the discussion via video call from the attic of Joan's mansion at 87 Canal Street.
Gianna was the most excited among them. Normally restless, she had been forced to rest and care for her pregnancy under the protection of her family and John. Now, with the chance to take on the mastermind behind one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American history, and to seize a submarine full of treasures looted by Germany during World War II, Gianna could barely contain her excitement.
This was understandable. Unlike Castle, who was in it for the thrill and to help Neil escape Vincent's control, or Neil and Mozzie, who sought revenge against Vincent, the treasure aboard the submarine was especially enticing to Gianna, a woman of old European aristocracy. After all, women, regardless of their status, often have an innate love for shiny things, much like the dragons of European legend.
Neil and Mozzie understood that Gianna's involvement would be a huge asset. Her family's status among European nobility would greatly facilitate the sale of the treasures. Thus, they were more than welcoming of Castle's decision to invite Gianna into their group.
Moreover, with Gianna's inclusion, their combined strength was now on par with Vincent's side. The addition of John Wick, with his reputation as the "Night Demon," significantly boosted their combat capabilities. Despite Castle's past boasts about his close relationship with John Wick, it wasn't until now, facing the reality of the situation, that Neil and Mozzie realized Castle hadn't been exaggerating.
Once the five were seated, Castle began detailing all the information they had on Vincent and his group, including their locations, preparations for retrieving the submarine, and his own plans and strategies.
"Neil, I believe that once Vincent has transported the submarine to the warehouse he rented at the New York port, we must secretly infiltrate before he opens the long-sealed submarine and remove everything inside. This way, we can divert the suspicion of the feds and the FBI from you," Castle explained seriously to Neil over the video call.
Gianna, puzzled, spoke up, "Why do we have to do it this way? Can't we wait for Vincent's people to open the submarine and then raid them to take the treasures? Why make it so complicated with a stealthy infiltration? You mentioned that the submarine's hatches were rigged with explosives by the German crew, right?"
Castle had anticipated such questions. With Neil and Mozzie's consent, he explained Neil's current precarious situation: "Gianna, you don't know this, but Neil is under close surveillance by the FBI. In his effort to find his missing girlfriend, Kate, Neil broke out of prison just a few months before his release date, risking additional time in prison. Now, to avoid an international manhunt by the FBI, Neil has been cooperating with the FBI's elite team in New York on art theft and fraud cases."
Moved by Neil's devotion, Gianna was easily convinced by Castle's plan, understanding the necessity of not letting Vincent or the FBI discover the submarine's contents.
"So, we can't let Vincent or the FBI know what's inside that submarine. The agent working with Neil is aware of his past with Vincent. If they learn that Vincent risked everything to return to New York for this submarine, Neil will be the first suspect. We must remove everything before Vincent or the FBI opens the submarine, leaving them an empty shell to find. This will mislead both Vincent's group and the FBI, diverting suspicion from Neil. Additionally, this secrecy will prevent Uncle Sam from getting greedy and complicating the sale of the treasures by declaring them stolen."
Castle's reasoning was unanimously agreed upon. They all knew how the FBI could complicate matters, and removing the treasures before anyone else could access them seemed like the best course of action.
However, this plan presented a new challenge. John voiced his concern: "Rick, even if we sneak in before anyone else opens the submarine, how do we do that with the explosives rigged on the hatches?"
Castle grinned, "Don't worry about that. I'll handle it. Trust me, just focus on distracting Vincent. John, I might need your help dealing with Vincent's guards at the warehouse. As for the explosives and getting the treasures out, let's just say I have a plan..."
Seeing Castle's confident demeanor, the others knew he must have a solid plan but respected his decision to keep certain details private. They trusted him enough to follow his lead and focus on their assigned tasks.
After discussing the main issues, Neil, still on the video call, casually asked Castle, "Rick, I heard you invented a really impressive drone? And that Mozzie is acting as your legal advisor and negotiator with the aircraft manufacturers? When did you go from being a bestselling author to a craftsman and inventor? That's quite a surprise!"
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