However, John's psychological resilience, once the world's top assassin, quickly brought him back to his senses. While the events Castle described were thrilling, to someone like John, who now only wished for a peaceful life and was about to become a father, it was merely exciting to listen to.
If Castle ever found himself in danger, John Wick might not hesitate to don his bulletproof suit and become the unstoppable "man in the suit" once again, wielding dual pistols and re-entering the fray. But in this case, Castle wasn't the one in danger—he was the one stirring up trouble. What shocked John even more was that Castle, increasingly resembling a mastermind, had managed to orchestrate events like a senator's death and a vice president's resignation without getting his hands dirty. Instead, he had operated behind the scenes, supporting the so-called "World's Best Sniper" and a few retired CIA operatives with intelligence.
When Castle introduced Bob Lee Swagger, John did feel a rare spark of interest. For a brief moment, he even considered testing his skills against the legendary sniper, but he quickly dismissed the thought. John wasn't the competitive type, even back when he was an assassin. If he wanted someone dead, he'd go after them directly, without any theatrics. That brief moment of excitement had been nothing more than a reflex, a fleeting reaction to encountering another top-tier gunman.
But that urge faded as quickly as it appeared. Now, John was enjoying a happy life and was about to become a father. Why would he seek out unnecessary battles? It was far better to relax and listen to Castle boast about his latest antics.
As the two men chatted in the living room, Alexis, who had recently developed an interest in European art history, toured the historic castle with a very pregnant Gianna. Gianna, in full maternal mode, eagerly pointed out the priceless paintings on the walls and the numerous sculptures with deep historical significance. Upon learning that the baby she was expecting was also a girl, Gianna immediately thought of Alexis as the perfect role model for her future daughter—gracious, intelligent, and quick-witted. The two shared a lively, warm atmosphere as they explored the castle together.
After the brief tour, Gianna returned with the energetic Alexis to the hall, where they joined John and Castle for a simple yet elegant lunch. They didn't indulge too much, as the grand banquet welcoming Castle's family later that evening would be the real highlight. The plan was to eat lightly and allow the father and daughter some rest after their long flight.
While Castle and Alexis were enjoying themselves in Rome, in a London safe house, Frank Moses stared grimly at a recent online report. The usually composed Frank was furious. The report, sent from a phone held in London Tower, detailed the events of the "Dragonberry Project" from over 30 years ago. For the first time, Frank realized that he had been deceived all those years ago.
Back then, Frank had personally escorted Dr. Edward Bailey to the Kremlin in Russia, believing he was delivering a positioning system. But now he understood that the briefcase he had delivered was no ordinary piece of technology—it contained a red mercury bomb, a device with the destructive power of a nuclear bomb but without the radioactive fallout.
The thought that such a bomb was still hidden in a secret chamber within the Kremlin sent a chill down Frank's spine. If someone learned of its existence and decided to detonate it, World War III would erupt immediately. And the worst part? Frank and his partner Marvin had personally escorted Dr. Bailey and that bomb into the Kremlin. If the bomb went off, there would be no explanation good enough for the Russians. They'd retaliate without a second thought, likely launching their arsenal of nuclear missiles at the USA in revenge.
Anyone familiar with the Russians' notorious vengefulness knew exactly what the outcome would be. Even though the red mercury bomb was a product of Cold War-era collaboration between the USA and the UK, Frank, now just a retired old man, had no chance of explaining that to the Russians if their presidential palace were reduced to rubble.
The only viable option was to break Dr. Bailey out of the psychiatric facility where the British were holding him, then head to Moscow to deactivate the bomb. But that would involve infiltrating a heavily guarded UK facility, breaking out a mad scientist, and then smuggling him into Moscow. To make matters worse, Frank would have to do all this while accompanied by his thrill-seeking girlfriend, Sarah, who loved chaos.
Just the thought of it made Frank's head throb. As Sarah brimmed with excitement about the upcoming mission, Marvin and Victoria sat nearby, looking equally troubled. Both knew just how deep the waters of this situation ran. While Frank had contacted Sean in advance for some assistance, the escalating situation now made it clear that they might need to ask Sean for more than just a little favor.
Victoria, ever the sharp observer, was the first to speak up: "Frank, wasn't it Castle's son who first alerted you to this? Do you think he knew things would turn out this way?"
She continued, "Why else would he bring up Dr. Bailey's supposed death out of nowhere at that particular time?"
Frank had long suspected that Castle had access to an incredibly efficient, but deeply hidden, intelligence network. He had his doubts about Castle's explanation at the time—how could anyone stumble upon top-secret information from the Pentagon's archives with just a high-level clearance? Even back then, Frank hadn't fully believed it. Now, with the current situation, it was clear that Castle had deliberately planted the idea in their minds. A veteran field agent like Frank wouldn't have survived this long if he hadn't caught on to such things.
Frank responded directly to Victoria's question: "I believe that was exactly Castle's intention. His sudden mention of Bailey was a way of letting us know the doctor wasn't dead and was still being held by MI6. And I think Castle anticipated things reaching this point. Why else would he bring it up the first time we met?"
Marvin immediately brightened up. "If that's the case, then we might be able to get his help again! Back in New York, when we took down Andrew, I got a real sense of how powerful Castle's network is. He could be a huge help to us."
Frank rubbed his temples. They had only three people on their side with actual combat skills, and Sarah, who seemed more interested in causing trouble than helping. Frank was well aware that storming London Tower was beyond their current capabilities.
What Frank didn't know was that his former lover, a former KGB agent now serving as Russia's interior minister—portrayed in the original film by the stunning Catherine Zeta-Jones—was already en route to London. The Russians had learned about the red mercury bomb after Bailey leaked the information online. Upon hearing that such a bomb had been hidden in the Kremlin's presidential palace all this time, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs was in an uproar.
Recognizing the name Dr. Edward Bailey, the minister immediately knew Frank was involved. Adding fuel to the fire was the fact that Frank and Marvin had just stirred up trouble with the U.S. vice president in New York and were now headed to London. Fully aware of Frank's intricate ties to Bailey and MI6, the Russian agent, Kaya, was flying to London with her team.
She wasn't just bringing bad news for Frank—there was also something bound to drive Sarah wild.
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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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