Ramsey's little sister turned pale as soon as she heard this, her lips twitching involuntarily. "Mr. Castle, are you saying that Harry and I…
No way! I don't have that much stamina!"
The chubby boy in the cage was already gasping for breath, but when he overheard Castle planning to have Big Ivan and his men throw him into this diabolical contraption to run for at least half an hour every day, he mustered what little strength he had left. "No! Uncle Rick, I'm going to die! Turn off the electricity now!"
Castle ignored the seemingly dying chubby boy, who had collapsed, clutching the cage's bars for dear life. With a steely resolve, he said, "It's precisely because you two have been cooped up in the supercomputer lab for days on end, barely seeing the sun, that I painstakingly designed this treadmill just for you. I'm doing this for your health…"
Since arriving at Castle's estate, both Ramsey and the chubby boy had been putting on weight, thanks to the daily meals prepared by professional chefs. Seeing that Castle wasn't joking, Ramsey trembled with dread, knowing her days ahead would be filled with darkness. Yet, leaving wasn't an option. Where else could she find a place with such unrestricted access to supercomputers and AI? To a hacker like Ramsey, having her own supercomputer was a treasure beyond words.
Meanwhile, the chubby boy, looking like life had drained out of him, dragged his leaden legs across the treadmill, barely making it through the excruciating twenty minutes.
When the timer finally went off, signaling the end of the session, he collapsed completely inside the "do-or-die" treadmill.
Big Ivan and the other burly Russian men nearby were laughing so hard they could barely stand. They hadn't expected Castle to invent such a ridiculous treadmill. Seeing the chubby boy's ordeal come to an end, the energetic Russians eagerly lined up to take a turn on the bizarre yet entertaining machine, pulling the chubby boy out as he lay limp and lifeless.
Ramsey, seeing Harry's pale face and near-death state, felt deeply that if she were to run for twenty minutes like Harry, she might actually die on the spot. Summoning her courage, she pleaded with Castle, "Uncle Rick, maybe Harry and I could start with just ten minutes a day? You know, exercise should be done gradually. Look at Harry—he's barely breathing after twenty minutes. If you make us run for half an hour every day, do you really think our bodies can handle it?"
Big Ivan, having enjoyed enough of the spectacle, finally spoke up for the two tech geeks. "Mr. Castle, Harry and Ramsey are too out of shape. If they start running thirty minutes a day right away, it might be too much. Let them start with fifteen minutes tomorrow and gradually increase the time."
Big Ivan's defense wasn't just out of pity. He and his men had grown fond of Harry and Ramsey, who had been nothing but helpful since arriving at the estate. Unlike the troublemaking young Americans they'd dealt with before, these two had assisted with installing surveillance and weapon systems, earning their respect. Seeing Harry sprawled out, barely able to speak, Big Ivan knew running was an immense challenge for the boy and felt compelled to say something.
Castle's intent in designing the "do-or-die" treadmill wasn't to torment Harry and Ramsey. He genuinely wanted them to get some exercise after spending so much time in the underground supercomputer lab, especially as his daughter was beginning to gain weight. Inspired by a quirky product he'd once seen on Bilibili, Castle decided to build his own version. Realizing Harry couldn't even handle twenty minutes of jogging, and persuaded by Big Ivan's suggestion, Castle relented and agreed to reduce the time to fifteen minutes a day starting tomorrow.
Still lying on the ground, Harry looked like a betrayed soul. "Even if I run, it'll be on a beach. I'm never getting back in that cursed treadmill again! A treadmill that doesn't stop until the timer runs out? No way!"
Hearing Harry's outburst, everyone present, including Ramsey, couldn't help but laugh. The treadmill was indeed absurdly cruel, only unlocking after the set time expired. If this contraption ever hit the market, it would likely spark a mix of fascination and outrage. But considering the obesity epidemic in the USA, it might actually be a lucrative business opportunity.
After leaving Harry thoroughly drained, Castle warned Big Ivan and his men not to break the treadmill with their antics. Ignoring the still-limp Harry and the consoling Ramsey, Castle strolled back to his estate's main residence. He had a meeting with Mozzie later to discuss the "Roxette" organization's targeting of him. Castle planned to hand over the comprehensive list of Roxette personnel he'd compiled to Benjamin, the incoming president, giving him an immediate advantage in his new role. He wanted Mozzie's input to ensure nothing had been overlooked.
Castle had already consulted his father, Sean, about this plan. Initially, Sean had worried Castle might be overestimating himself by going against Roxette, the very organization responsible for his persecution years ago. But learning that Castle was now a shareholder in Northrop Grumman and held stakes in both Pratt & Whitney and GE, Sean felt reassured. Castle's influence as a defense contractor gave him significant leverage within the USA.
Handing over evidence and names to Benjamin wasn't just a strategic move; it was also a way to ensure Roxette's downfall through official channels. Sean fully supported this approach, believing that the new president would have every reason to dismantle a rogue organization within the CIA.
Meanwhile, Castle had also sent a team to protect Neal, who was enjoying a romantic getaway in Venice with Kate. Knowing Neal's lack of combat skills, Castle sought Sean's help in deploying additional security to guard him. Despite the CIA's European division being in disarray after the Jason Bourne fiasco, Castle wasn't taking any chances.
When Mozzie arrived at the estate and heard Castle's plan, he too commended the calculated approach. Supporting Benjamin's crackdown on Roxette not only benefited the incoming administration but also positioned Castle as an invaluable ally, ensuring future reciprocity.
With this clever maneuver, Castle would gain an ally in the White House while eliminating a long-standing threat—without breaking a sweat.
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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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