Frank remained silent, listening carefully as Castle laid out everything he knew about the ongoing political battle between the Republicans and Democrats. He detailed the key players involved, including Senator Charles Hahn of Montana and his henchman, former CIA Africa Division Chief Colonel Johnson, who had orchestrated the attack. On the other side, Vice President Andrew, who had been the target of this attack, was preparing to retaliate.
Castle even recounted Bob Lee Swagger's experiences, sharing how the NYPD had just apprehended Andrew's men. He knew that the more detailed and timely the intelligence these veteran operatives received, the greater their destructive potential would be. Whether out of personal concern or a sense of responsibility, Castle made sure to provide Frank with everything he knew, allowing him to make his own decisions.
Frank was genuinely stunned by how comprehensive and accurate Castle's information was, down to the last detail. This kid was just a writer, wasn't he? How could he have such an impressive intelligence network? What Castle had just shared wasn't just one-sided—it covered both sides of the conflict in intricate detail. Where on earth was this kid getting such intel?
However, being a seasoned veteran, Frank didn't ask any questions that would put Castle in an awkward spot. After finishing the whiskey Castle had poured him, Frank prepared to leave, catching Castle off guard.
"Uncle Frank, are you leaving already? Won't you stay a bit longer?"
"I won't ask how you plan to handle this situation, but I want to give you a piece of advice. Even though the attack on you was orchestrated by Charles Hahn, don't assume that Andrew doesn't have his own reasons to silence those who know too much about his past. It's possible he hasn't acted on it yet, but you should still keep an eye on him," Castle warned.
Frank chuckled. "I appreciate the concern, kid. I know exactly what kind of man Andrew is. Don't forget, it was me and Marvin who brought him back from South America. By the way, how do you know all this classified information?"
Castle flashed a smug grin. "I'm a pretty skilled hacker. Downstairs, I've got a tech expert who's just as good as me. Plus, as a shareholder and chief consultant for Northrop Grumman's drone division, it's not hard to get my hands on a high-level Department of Defense access code. Once I have that, digging through the Pentagon's database is a breeze."
Frank, being from an older generation, didn't fully understand the tech jargon, but he accepted the explanation without further question, despite its absurdity.
Having received his (fabricated) explanation, Frank nodded. "Alright, kid, leave the rest to us. You and your friends can go after that Montana senator and that scumbag Johnson. If you run into trouble, you know how to reach me."
As Frank turned to leave, Castle hesitated for a moment before deciding to offer a final warning. "Wait a second, Uncle Frank. There's something else I need to tell you. I can't verify if it's true, but I thought I should give you a heads-up."
Intrigued, Frank stopped in his tracks. "What is it?"
Castle took a moment to gather his thoughts, then spoke seriously. "While I was browsing the CIA and Pentagon databases, I stumbled across a classified document. Most of it was redacted, but I picked up a few clues. It mentioned you and a man named Marvin Boggs in connection with an operation in Moscow over thirty years ago…"
Frank, usually calm and collected, was visibly shocked. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Staring intently at Castle, he asked, "Do you know what you're talking about? Where did you see this document? Are you sure you're not joking? This is more serious than you think, kid—don't mess around!"
Castle, being the smooth operator he was, wasn't fazed by the intensity of Frank's questioning. Continuing his performance, he said, "When I first saw the file, I didn't think much of it because I didn't know you and my father were connected. Now, I'm not sure if I could find it again—after the Pentagon noticed me snooping around, they revoked my access. But the document indicated that a man named Dr. Bailey, presumed dead in Moscow, was actually being held in secret by the British all these years."
Frank was floored. "What? Dr. Bailey isn't dead? He's been imprisoned by the British this whole time?"
Castle shrugged. "I only saw it briefly. If my father hadn't told me about you, I wouldn't have remembered the document at all."
Frank, the cunning old fox that he was, asked a probing question. "Do you remember if the operation had a name?"
Castle knew immediately that Frank was testing him. It made sense—back then, very few people had been aware of the operation's details or codename, not even Castle's father, Sean. Frank had every reason to be suspicious.
But Castle, ever the actor, pretended to think hard before replying with a hesitant tone. "I remember glancing at the file… I think the codename was… something like… Dragon… Nightshade! That's it—Operation Nightshade! I'm pretty sure that's what it was called."
Castle continued, "Unfortunately, the specific details were all redacted, except for your name, Marvin's, and Dr. Bailey's. The operation took place in Russia, and the only other thing I saw was an analysis suggesting that Dr. Bailey didn't die—he's been secretly held by the British ever since."
Frank's doubts began to fade. Castle had correctly identified the operation's codename, which meant he had indeed seen the document. Frank knew how crazy the mission had been at the time, but he still didn't realize just how insane it actually was. Back then, Frank and Marvin had gone to Russia thinking they were placing a locator device in the Kremlin. In reality, that box had contained a red mercury bomb with a yield comparable to a nuclear explosion.
During the Cold War, they had done everything in their power to save Dr. Bailey, only to believe he had died. But now Castle was telling him Bailey was alive? Being held in a secret British facility?
Frank remembered that Bailey was a textbook example of an antisocial, misanthropic genius, obsessed with designing and witnessing the use of increasingly devastating weapons. Sure, he was dangerous, but locking him up for decades? Wasn't that a bit much?
Before Frank could say anything, Castle cut him off. "I have no idea what you and Marvin were doing with Dr. Bailey in Moscow. I just thought I should give you this heads-up so you don't get blindsided. As for everything else, we don't know enough yet. For now, let's focus on the present situation. What do you think, Uncle Frank?"
Frank couldn't help but develop a liking for this kid. Not only was Castle considerate, but he was also respectful, giving the older generation space and discretion. Sean had clearly raised a good son. Then again, Frank wasn't doing too badly himself—he had a girlfriend, Sarah, who was much younger, and if he worked hard enough, maybe he could have a son like Castle too.
With that amusing thought in mind, Frank left Castle's estate. Other than Ivan and Castle, he didn't interact with anyone else. He drove back to his safe house in New York, needing time to process everything he had just learned.
Most of all, Frank needed to think about Operation Nightshade and Dr. Bailey. A man with his experience didn't take Castle's warnings lightly. There was no way Castle would have mentioned something that happened over thirty years ago without a good reason, especially with his final warning not to let himself be caught off guard.
The implications were clear.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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