Mark chuckled wryly over the phone, saying, "Of course, I told them, but you know how it is. The board doesn't want to get involved in this matter. After all, both GE and Pratt & Whitney are suppliers we can't afford to offend.
"Pratt & Whitney just got lucky. They were the first to discover the hidden potential of the engine on your prototype drone while we were testing it for the police. That's how they managed to secure the rights to your technology early on.
"But GE isn't far behind. They also want access to the same technology. And honestly, their relationship with us might be even tighter than Pratt & Whitney's. Not only do they produce aircraft engines, but they also manufacture marine turbines, which you know we use in our shipyards at Northrop. So…"
Mark didn't finish his sentence, but Castle could easily fill in the blanks. It was clear that GE had set its sights on Castle's engine technology. However, with Castle being Northrop's largest private shareholder, the board didn't want to pressure him into a deal. Instead, they sent Mark, someone with a closer relationship to Castle, to act as a mediator.
"Alright, I won't make this difficult for you," Castle said after a brief pause. "The contract with Pratt & Whitney doesn't include an exclusivity clause. I'll do you a favor—bring GE's people to New York, and we'll talk."
Castle quickly decided to seize the opportunity. Why pass up the chance to strengthen ties with another industry giant like GE? Besides, if there was no exclusivity clause in the agreement with Pratt & Whitney, there was no reason not to extend his influence and gain favor with GE as well.
Mark, overjoyed, thanked Castle profusely before hanging up. Left alone in his study, Castle grinned to himself like a scheming villain. "GE, huh? If I can leverage this engine technology to snag a stake in GE, who cares about the CIA or Rockset? Once I have the support of three major defense contractors, let them try messing with me!"
With that thought, Castle's previous plan to personally eliminate Vulcan Simmons lost its appeal. Since he wouldn't risk killing Simmons while he was in NYPD custody, and with a meeting with GE scheduled for the next day, Castle's motivation for direct involvement waned.
Fortunately, New York had a Continental Hotel—a professional hub for resolving "troublesome" matters. Castle remembered the stack of gold coins from the Continentals in his possession, as well as Winston's close ties to his father. Cursing himself for not utilizing such a powerful resource earlier, Castle resolved to outsource the task.
For a brief moment, Castle considered hiring the Brotherhood of Assassins, whose headquarters he'd bombed previously. However, their absence after his last strike, along with the mysterious disappearance of the sniper known as "Cross," meant they were no longer an option. Otherwise, his mischievous side would've enjoyed hiring them for the job just to see their reaction.
Money wasn't an issue for Castle anymore. Shelling out a few hundred thousand dollars was nothing to him.
Meanwhile, the puppies Castle had arranged to be flown in from Russia arrived in New York. At only two months old, the three Caucasian Shepherd puppies had been transported by plane and cleared customs thanks to Castle's connections with the mayor. The expedited quarantine process ensured their swift arrival at the estate.
The arrival of the puppies aligned perfectly with Castle's plan to keep Alexis active. New York's climate suited the long-haired breed, and their playful nature would naturally require frequent exercise. Castle's goal was clear: to gently coax his increasingly sedentary daughter into a more active lifestyle under the guise of caring for the adorable puppies.
He vividly recalled how Alexis, in the original timeline, gained noticeable weight after running her detective agency post-college. Determined to prevent this, Castle saw the puppies as a clever, indirect solution.
Downstairs, Castle finally saw the four little furballs tumbling around on the lawn. At this age, their charm was undeniable. He could already imagine Alexis squealing with delight when she returned home from school and met them.
The puppies were a strategic choice, but Castle's attachment was genuine. Their innocent antics and fluffy appearance melted his heart. Using his system-enhanced ability to communicate with animals, Castle picked up fragmented emotions like "fun… hungry… wow…" from the puppies. Their simplicity only endeared them to him more.
Three of the puppies would remain at Castle's estate, while two were gifted to Giana's neighboring estate as a token of goodwill. The remaining pair was intended for Onona, a little girl who would soon visit New York with John and Giana. The loyal breed would be both playmates and protectors for the young child.
Sure enough, Alexis fell into Castle's trap. She arrived home in her Ford F-350—a practical choice imposed by her father's paranoia about safety—and immediately fell in love with the puppies. The fluffy balls of energy quickly overshadowed even the small white mice that had previously been the star of Alexis's social media posts. She enthusiastically agreed to take charge of their exercise and care.
Beckett, too, couldn't resist the puppies' charm. Even as a seasoned detective, she found herself mesmerized by their wobbly steps and soft fur. She even contemplated adopting one herself. When Castle explained his true motive—to encourage Alexis to exercise without forcing her—Beckett rolled her eyes at his roundabout tactics. Yet, Castle's confession that he had far more extreme methods in mind piqued her curiosity.
"Extreme?" Beckett asked skeptically, following Castle to his mechanical workshop. There, Jarvis operated the automated machinery to create a polished version of a treadmill Castle had seen in a previous life—a "do-or-die" running machine.
As Castle presented the contraption, Beckett stood frozen, staring at the cage-like structure in disbelief. For the first time, she genuinely questioned the sanity of the man she loved.
"This thing... could kill someone!" she exclaimed.
Castle grinned mischievously. "Not if you keep running."
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I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 79)
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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