To be fair, LokSat—a secret organization within the CIA made up almost entirely of corrupt officials and agents—did possess impressive intelligence capabilities. Not only had they clearly identified that Castle was the earliest and most significant supporter of Benjamin Arthur's presidential campaign, backing him when few had faith in his chances, but they also knew that Castle had played a key role in Arthur's victory, even joining forces with the Italian D'Antonio family to ensure Arthur's impending win. In just two months, Arthur would undoubtedly be taking office.
They were also aware of Castle's relationship with his father, Sean. But unlike Sean, Castle didn't walk the same dangerous path through the underworld. While Sean wielded considerable influence within the High Table due to his close relationships with its "elders," the High Table, like LokSat, was a hidden entity—unable to operate openly. Sean's position, powerful though it was, didn't free him from his wariness of LokSat, evident in his reluctance to return to the United States.
Castle's case was different. Before LokSat even discovered his connection to Sean, Castle had already made a name for himself as a best-selling author in New York, beloved for his writing talent. His network was astonishingly wide, stretching from the mayor to average citizens and even notorious figures, including close ties with the NYPD. Castle, with his powerful connections and popular appeal, could be considered the real "king" of New York's underground, even without mentioning his more formidable identities.
In addition, Castle's knack for building friendships made both the CIA and LokSat wary of making any moves against him. On top of all this, he had somehow managed to secure the favor of two of the nation's most untouchable entities—Northrop Grumman and Pratt & Whitney, two defense contractors who granted him shares. With such backing, Castle's influence in the upper echelons was indisputable.
This is why Nameless, hoping to intimidate Castle into serving LokSat before Arthur took office, had been so thoroughly rebuffed. Castle, confident in his position, had refused to play along.
LokSat still desperately wanted the tracking software being tested at the 12th Precinct, hoping to leverage it to consolidate their power within the CIA before Arthur's inauguration. However, they faced two obstacles: first, the software was incredibly well-protected, rendering their covert operatives unable to copy it, and second, Castle's stance was too resolute. Castle not only knew of LokSat's existence but also its inner workings—a name, "LokSat," which hadn't existed when Sean was forced to flee years ago. This pointed to one fact: Castle's intelligence was leagues beyond their own. To make matters worse, Castle even knew Nameless's codename upon meeting him, without ever having met him before.
The evidence was clear: this unassuming writer likely possessed more advanced technology than anyone suspected. Perhaps he even had access to an AI—judging from the semi-automated flight control system he'd previously designed for Northrop.
Yet, despite knowing that such valuable technology lay in Castle's hands, LokSat found themselves helpless after Nameless reported the outcome of his visit. Castle's subtle threat to expose their organization to the public was taken very seriously. If it became known that a shadowy group operated within the CIA just as a new president was stepping in, the fallout would be disastrous. And Castle, being Arthur's primary campaign backer, could easily make good on his threat.
For now, Castle's warning had forced LokSat to reconsider, ordering Nameless to stand down temporarily. They couldn't afford to provoke Castle any further—not with Arthur's inauguration only two months away.
Unbeknownst to Nameless, however, Jarvis had been covertly monitoring all his calls at Castle's behest. Even Nameless's supposedly secure internal line was no match for Jarvis, who had infiltrated the CIA's network. As a result, Nameless's communication had inadvertently revealed a high-ranking LokSat figure within the CIA.
Listening in on Nameless's report, Castle felt relieved. At last, LokSat's higher-ups had called off their plans to pressure him. For a moment, he even toyed with the idea of leveraging his role as Arthur's top supporter to angle for the CIA Director's position, just to walk into Langley and shock the LokSat agents firsthand. But the thought of becoming CIA Director reminded him that Arthur was about to become what the public would call the "unluckiest president in U.S. history."
Castle knew the years ahead would be volatile. The White House would soon face a major assault, led by a group backed by an unlikely gang. And not only would the White House be overrun, but in the chaos, an AC-130 gunship would manage to shoot down an F-22 Raptor. No, becoming CIA Director under those conditions would be like volunteering to wear a bullseye.
As someone aware of what was to come, Castle could indeed act preemptively to stop the attack. But at his core, Castle's spirit was that of a spectator, eager to watch the drama unfold. Why would he prevent something so entertaining? In fact, Castle was more inclined to let it happen, if only for the sake of watching the spectacle.
The gears in Castle's mind began to turn as a new idea took shape. Perhaps he could link LokSat to the forces behind the White House attack. After the chaos, Arthur and the other senior officials would likely be inclined to rid the CIA of any suspected internal threats, and this plan would give Castle a chance to take down LokSat without lifting a finger. It could work.
For now, Castle decided to lay low, knowing all the key players in LokSat and planning to deal with them only after Arthur took office. He needed Beckett to understand the stakes and prioritize security at her precinct. Though she had thought her tracking program was securely hidden, the CIA's interest in it was now clear. It was best to remove the program entirely and rely on Jarvis for any tracking needs.
As it turned out, after Castle warned her, Beckett managed to uncover signs that someone had indeed attempted to infiltrate the 12th Precinct the previous night to copy the software. But with no concrete evidence of their involvement, confronting the CIA directly would be pointless. Beckett reluctantly agreed with Castle's advice, opting to delete the program and depend on Jarvis's assistance for tracking cases going forward.
Castle's preparations had paid off. Now, it was only a matter of time before LokSat's long-overdue reckoning would come.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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