When Jarvis demonstrated the operation of the new "diet-control refrigerator" on the screen, which was just as diabolical as the treadmill, Harry was utterly devastated.
"Is Uncle Rick sick lately? Why does he keep inventing weird gadgets that seem designed to torture us chubby folks?"
According to the animation, to open the fridge and grab something to eat, Harry would have to engage in a mini workout, akin to using a resistance band. The absurdity of having to exert himself just to open a fridge door left him speechless.
Alexis, meanwhile, admired her father's boundless creativity. She had already heard from Beckett that the infamous treadmill, which nearly killed Harry, had originally been designed for her. The thought of huffing and puffing on that iron-caged contraption, only to have to work her arms for a glass of water, made her secretly grateful her father hadn't subjected her to such cruelty—Harry had been the perfect test subject instead!
Watching Jarvis' animation, Harry and Ramsey quickly resolved to get serious about exercising. Otherwise, who knew what other bizarre contraptions Uncle Rick might invent to torment them out of sheer boredom?
Satisfied with his mischievous antics, Castle finally let Harry off the hook. Leading a still-giggling Alexis and their four lively puppies, Castle left the lab.
---
"Harry, has Mr. Castle been under some kind of stress lately? Why does he suddenly care so much about us exercising?" Ramsey asked Harry after Castle left, still puzzled by the sudden push for fitness.
Harry sighed deeply, his face a mask of regret. "It's because of what happened when we visited the Air Force base in Missouri a while back. I was so excited to see the B-2 stealth bomber up close, and I really wanted to climb into the cockpit. But those blasted planes are designed so that you have to crawl up through the belly.
"When I tried, I got stuck on the ladder because of… well, my belly. It was so embarrassing! Uncle Rick saw the whole thing, and ever since then, he's been determined to make me lose weight."
Ramsey couldn't believe her ears. The mental image of Harry being too chubby to enter the cockpit of a stealth bomber was both hilarious and absurd. But the idea that this incident had inspired Castle's newfound obsession with Harry's fitness made it all the more ridiculous.
Even more absurd was Harry's inability to lose weight despite a week of running. Instead, he'd somehow gained three kilograms. "How is that even possible?" Ramsey mused aloud.
Harry, despairing over his peculiar metabolism, contemplated giving up altogether. "I'm doomed. Running just makes me hungrier, so I eat more. I should just resign myself to being fat… unless Uncle Rick decides to lock me inside that treadmill again. Then I'd really be done for!"
---
As Castle strolled back to the estate with Alexis, they discussed her future plans.
"Have you decided where you want to go after graduating 12th grade? Still thinking about Stanford? Columbia University is great too, you know," Castle suggested.
Alexis rolled her eyes playfully. "Of course you'd say that—our Upper East Side apartment is less than two kilometers from Columbia. Dad, I'm not a little girl who needs you to drop me off at kindergarten anymore. How can I become independent if I go to college right next door?"
"But Columbia is excellent!" Castle protested. "Besides, if you study there, you can live in the apartment by yourself. That's independence, isn't it? Or do you really want to go to some far-off school and only come home during holidays to see your poor old dad?"
Alexis knew her father's overprotective nature would make convincing him difficult, so she deftly changed the subject. "By the way, Dad, my social studies internship is coming up. I was thinking about interning either at Beckett's precinct or with Renee in the forensics department. What do you think?"
Castle was momentarily taken aback. He vaguely remembered Alexis mentioning this before, but he'd been too preoccupied with his work on Northrop Grumman's police drones to pay it much attention.
Now reminded, Castle's thoughts turned to his past life's memories. In the original timeline, Alexis had interned at Beckett's precinct, which had led to her involvement in a case. However, her interest in forensics had surfaced later, during college. Was this an effect of his "butterfly wings," altering the timeline?
Considering her current age, Castle decided against letting Alexis intern in the forensics department. Even if she was interested, he had a better option—Henry Morgan, New York's chief medical examiner and Castle's friend. If Alexis truly wanted to explore forensic work, shadowing Henry would be a much safer and more insightful experience.
After some feigned deliberation, Castle replied, "I think it's better for you to intern at Beckett's precinct for now. You're still in high school, and forensic work can be pretty intense. If you're really interested, I'll arrange for you to intern with Uncle Henry after you start college. He's the best in the field."
Realizing her father was subtly trying to nudge her towards staying in New York for college, Alexis sighed inwardly. But since he'd agreed to her internship at the precinct, she decided not to press the matter further.
---
Later that evening, Beckett returned home and readily agreed to Alexis' internship request. Watching his daughter's excitement, Castle reflected on how his life had strayed from his initial plans. The once-active investigator now spent most of his days lounging in his estate, his advanced system eerily quiet.
"Maybe this system was just designed to help me retire," he mused.
That thought quickly changed the next morning.
---
After Beckett left for work and Alexis for school, Jarvis alerted Castle to alarming developments. The CIA—or more specifically, Roxette—had lost patience. Having confirmed that Castle had distributed limited, uncopyable versions of his software to both the NYPD and FBI, Roxette was furious. Their attempts to negotiate with Castle had failed, and now they were preparing to escalate.
Roxette's desperation led them to devise two plans:
1. Send the IMF (Impossible Missions Force), led by Ethan Hunt, to retrieve the software by any means necessary.
2. Kidnap Alexis or Martha, using proxies to pressure Castle into handing over the software in exchange.
Upon learning of these plans, Castle's blood boiled.
"You want to play dirty?" he muttered coldly. "Fine. Let's see who walks away unscathed."
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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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