Upon receiving a notification from the Senior Vice President, the board of directors at Northrop Corporation immediately agreed to assist Castle—an exceptionally talented drone designer they had just invested heavily in. Castle requested the company's help in purchasing a supercomputer to aid in the design of more advanced drones. When they saw the specs Castle provided, revealing his intention to acquire a machine that could rank among the top at national research institutes, the board was even more impressed. They couldn't believe Castle was willing to spend his own money on a supercomputer just to design better drones.
This was truly an example of selfless dedication!
As for Castle's real motives? The capitalists didn't care in the slightest! First, Castle was one of their own, fully aligned with the company. Second, he had already demonstrated unparalleled skill in drone development, meaning he would be Northrop's cash cow for a long time. So, if Castle wanted a supercomputer and was willing to pay for it himself, why not help him out?
Even if Castle only casually shared a bit of drone technology in return, it would be enough to repay Northrop's favor in helping him acquire the supercomputer.
Additionally, as a military enterprise, Northrop could purchase supercomputers from any domestic company without Congress or intelligence agencies intervening. It was simply a matter of convenience—why not lend a hand?
Moreover, setting up a supercomputer is not as simple as assembling a home computer. Castle also intended to install the machine in his Long Island estate, which required extensive modifications, electrical upgrades, and network infrastructure. This is why he hadn't yet started coding the AI core on the laptop he usually used for writing novels.
Castle was surprised when, not long after calling the senior vice president, he received a return call informing him that the entire upper management at Northrop-Grumman had eagerly agreed to his request. Apparently, this enthusiasm was sparked by his casual mention that the supercomputer would make it easier to modify and develop more advanced drones for the company. What a pleasant surprise!
Ordering a supercomputer through Northrop would be worlds apart from trying to order one himself from IBM. The price difference alone would be astronomical, and the performance of a machine ordered through a personal connection wouldn't even compare. IBM might not even give him the time of day, given his modest fame in New York, but Northrop, a company that even built nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, had clout.
Northrop's involvement meant Castle's supercomputer would exceed his expectations in terms of both performance and priority. The manufacturer would likely prioritize Northrop's order, and the configuration would be top-tier. If Castle tried to order a supercomputer himself, it could take ages just to get a spot in the queue. But with Northrop's support, the process would be much smoother.
So, when Northrop confirmed they would help, Castle was overjoyed! After learning that he would soon have a brand-new supercomputer, Castle drove to his estate to determine where to install it before taking Alexis to Europe.
Since his estate was by the sea, his first instinct was to install the supercomputer near the shore. However, his head of security, Big Ivan, had a different opinion when he learned about Castle's plan.
"Mr. Castle, I don't know why you're bringing a supercomputer to your estate, but whatever your plans are, I strongly advise against placing it near the sea," Big Ivan said seriously as he followed Castle during the site survey.
Castle was puzzled. "Why? What's your reason for suggesting I avoid the seaside?"
Big Ivan didn't hold back. "When I worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, I had some experience with supercomputers because we were responsible for protecting them. So, I know a little about them.
First of all, supercomputers are delicate equipment. If you place it near the sea and there's a natural disaster, like a tsunami or an earthquake, what then?
Secondly, the air here is humid due to the proximity to the sea. If you place the supercomputer too close, what if moisture seeps in?
Finally, I know you're thinking about using seawater to cool the servers, but that doesn't mean you have to place the supercomputer right by the shore!
Especially if you're using this supercomputer for something important. If someone decides to infiltrate your system from the sea, the security risks would be enormous. That's my personal opinion, and I hope you don't mind."
Castle was not someone who ignored good advice, especially when Big Ivan's concerns made sense. The supercomputer would be the foundation for his AI's main program, so security was paramount.
If anyone found out that he had the world's only perfect, operational AI, the consequences would be obvious. So, while Castle wasn't swayed by the natural disaster concerns, he did take Big Ivan's security warning to heart.
He abandoned the idea of placing the supercomputer near the shore and instead chose a secluded area deep within his estate. Moreover, Castle found the perfect tool for setting up his supercomputer lab—Harry, the chubby guy who was still lazing around in the estate.
As expected, when Castle told Harry about the supercomputer he had ordered through Northrop-Grumman, Harry went wild with excitement.
A supercomputer! For a nerdy hacker like Harry, it was the ultimate treasure!
Harry couldn't care less about anything else. The moment Castle mentioned he would be taking Alexis to Europe and wouldn't have time to oversee the estate renovations, Harry immediately volunteered to handle all communication with the designers and construction team. He didn't even wait for Castle to offer any incentives.
After all, once Castle's supercomputer arrived, Harry knew it would be at his disposal thanks to his relationship with Uncle Rick. For a hacker, having access to a supercomputer was a dream come true. What other hacker could boast such cutting-edge equipment?
So, not only did Harry eagerly agree to oversee the project, he would've been willing to do the work himself if needed.
The two men wasted no time. They drove to a top-tier architecture firm in New York that had experience building supercomputer labs, including one for Columbia University. With Harry's recommendation, Castle brought the enthusiastic young man along, and after explaining their needs to the firm's representatives, Castle called in Moz from Brooklyn to help with negotiations. Meanwhile, Castle headed to Northrop's New York office to expedite the supercomputer deal.
After entrusting Moz with negotiating the lab's design and construction, and assigning Harry to handle the technical review, Castle drove to Northrop's office. There, he would meet with the senior vice president handling his request and hopefully finalize the deal with the supercomputer manufacturer as quickly as possible.
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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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