Not to mention, this guy has effectively become a member of the upper echelons of the most powerful country in the world today.
Just think about it. He owns the largest private shares in Northrop Grumman, holds stakes in two of the world's three major aircraft engine companies—Pratt & Whitney and G.E. General Electric—and has shares in other cutting-edge tech companies like those under the genius Joe. In just a year and a half, this man has managed to weave such an extensive web for himself.
Even the next President of the USA owes his rise to this guy, who was the first to recognize Benjamin Arthur's potential long before he became prominent, taking a chance on him. If not for him, how could the Dantonio family have ever had the opportunity to connect with a future President of the United States?
But while this man clearly has an extraordinary strategic vision, he can be bafflingly clumsy when it comes to tactics. It's hard to understand how someone who can execute such dazzling strategies ends up making such a mess of things on the tactical level. Take this situation, for example. He was dealt an excellent hand but played it so poorly that it's almost incomprehensible what he was thinking.
Initially, all his moves were spot-on. He was the first to seize critical information—the highly confidential database of covert agents and intelligence personnel from a certain island nation's intelligence agency. Only someone with the world's only artificial intelligence at their disposal could have acquired such a strategic advantage in such a short time. Even Gianna, reflecting on the situation, admitted that her Dantonio family could never have handled going up against a national intelligence agency with such effortless composure as Richard Castle did.
But despite this brilliant opening, his subsequent moves were a series of blunders, turning what should have been a winning hand into a complete mess. This was enough to drive Gianna, who had been groomed with elite family education since childhood, to frustration.
Just look at what he's done. Such a promising situation ruined by his apparent laziness and lack of follow-through. Gianna was convinced by now that Castle's failure to capitalize on his advantages was due to his laid-back, defeatist attitude. How could this not infuriate her?
However, Gianna misunderstood Castle. It wasn't that he wanted things to turn out this way, but rather, he genuinely lacked tactical expertise. Even though he had Neil and Moz—two masters of planning and tactics—by his side, Castle didn't want to lay all his cards on the table, which led to the current mess.
After all, even though Castle had been in this world for a year and a half, he was still fundamentally the same nerdy guy he had been in his previous life. His worldview was already shaped, and he had yet to fully grasp the ruthless "go all in or not at all" mindset of Western nations. Instead, he retained much of the Confucian philosophy ingrained over thousands of years: "Spare others when possible." In this world, especially in this country, such thinking was outdated.
Although Castle sometimes realized that this mindset could lead to his downfall, it still lingered subconsciously.
However, Gianna's remarks today deeply resonated with Castle. He finally recognized his shortcomings: he indeed had significant weaknesses in tactics. But wasn't that what Neil and Moz were for? Why not delegate such matters to Moz and let him handle them?
As for strategy? He was a transmigrator, for heaven's sake! The greatest advantage of a transmigrator wasn't having some system but having foresight. Strategically, he could arguably claim to be the most well-informed person in this world about future events. This inherent advantage meant that as long as he didn't recklessly sabotage himself, he was already positioned for success.
Sigh… What had he been thinking before to make such foolish arrangements?
Fortunately, it wasn't too late now. Gianna's wake-up call had come at just the right time.
Gianna didn't harp on the matter further, as it was mostly resolved. After all, no matter how careless Castle had been, he was her husband's good friend and the primary reason she could enjoy her current happy life. A reminder was enough; the rest was up to Castle to figure out.
Castle's meteoric rise had been so rapid that his foundations were still unstable, and his mindset hadn't fully adapted. He continued to approach increasingly complex situations with the same nonchalant attitude he had in the past. It wasn't entirely his fault—after all, he had been just a novelist before, skilled in writing and interpersonal interactions. But compared to individuals meticulously groomed by long-established families, he still came across as immature.
However, growth is a step-by-step process, and Castle had a significant advantage: he was open to advice. Moreover, he had plenty of safeguards.
In the underworld, Sean, a High Table elder with close ties to Castle, protected him from lower-level troublemakers. On the mid-level, he had a strong personal relationship with the mayor of New York and a girlfriend who was a precinct chief in the NYPD, shielding him from ill-intentioned individuals. At the top level, although companies like Northrop, Pratt & Whitney, and G.E. might exploit him more than they valued him, he was still a significant shareholder in these defense contractors that held enormous influence in the United States. He was also the largest financial backer of the next President. With these advantages, as long as Castle didn't actively seek trouble, no one would dare mess with him lightly.
As for the recent incident with the island nation's government, Gianna didn't see it as entirely bad. By now, it was widely known that Castle was someone who held grudges but had a lazy streak. Unless provoked, he wouldn't bother creating trouble. While Gianna was frustrated that Castle had inexplicably let the island nation off the hook despite holding all the cards, she also had to admit that his actions had made it clear to others: as long as they didn't provoke him, Castle was essentially a harmless slacker with low aggression.
Although this mindset was rare in such a cutthroat country, it was obvious to anyone with half a brain how to deal with Castle going forward.
What's more, Castle wasn't particularly reluctant to share. This was evident from his dealings with Northrop, Pratt & Whitney, and G.E. It would take an exceptionally foolish person to want to antagonize someone like Castle—a man with modest ambitions and a willingness to share his technology.
Of course, there were still plenty of people who wanted to take advantage of Castle, but Sean's influence made a significant difference. The High Table, being the most powerful underground organization in the world, ensured that any attempts to exploit Castle were nipped in the bud by underhanded means.
Still, Gianna's words today left a strong impression on Castle. That evening, after having dinner with John's family, Castle did something unusual—he sat alone in Robin's study, pondering deeply. He realized that if he didn't start changing his mindset and approach, he might not be able to keep up with his own rapid rise.
What Castle thought about that night remained unknown, but by the next morning, everyone noticed something different about him. There was an unmistakable "breaking out of a cocoon" vibe about him. His friends and family could easily tell that Gianna's criticism of his "crude" handling of the situation had struck a chord. The transformative air around Castle was so palpable that even the least observant among them could see it.
Even the butler Higgins, a retired MI5 operative, couldn't miss it. And though the young ones like Fatty and Ramsey might not have the same level of insight, it didn't take a genius to recognize the dramatic change in Castle's demeanor.
Castle, now resolved to reposition himself, didn't concern himself with the odd looks from his friends. After all, it was December 30th, and tomorrow would mark the start of a new year. With his closest friends and family gathered on this beautiful tropical island, the priority was to enjoy the vacation. Of course, once he returned to New York, it would be time to regroup, reevaluate his resources, and start acting with a renewed sense of purpose.
Gianna also planned to attend Benjamin's inauguration ceremony at the White House after their vacation. Castle, who had originally intended to skip the event, now had a change of heart. He decided to go as well, not only to expand his network but also to introduce Beckett to the First Lady, Maggie. He hoped to alter Maggie's tragic fate and steer her toward a better future.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Mutter"]
[Every 50 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]