Castle didn't expect the chubby guy to ask such a question at this moment. Of course, he could never reveal the secret of his personal space, not to anyone. He hadn't even told Beckett, with whom he had an intimate relationship, so how could he reveal the truth now?
Luckily, Castle had already prepared a backup plan. Calmly, he explained: "Don't be fooled by the fact that Gates found this spot behind a coffin with a narrow entrance and exit. Actually, there's a more hidden entryway in this secret chamber. That night, I found that hidden exit and was able to transport everything out within just over three hours!
Now, are you more interested in how I moved so much stuff that night, or in watching Mr. Gates' reality show?"
Castle's explanation didn't attract much attention from the others. After all, everyone has their own secrets. People like Gianna and Moz didn't care much about these things. Rather than being concerned about this, they were more excited to witness the treasure Gates was about to uncover.
In fact, after Castle informed Beckett that Gates would appear at Trinity Cathedral, Beckett accepted a suggestion from him. She discreetly installed numerous hidden cameras in the cathedral's underground crypt. These cameras would later serve to explain why Gates was actually treasure hunting and also win favor with the Freemasons, whose stance was still unclear.
Castle, being the cunning person he was, had foreseen the course of events and made sure his girlfriend was prepared. Not only were the police watching the footage, but Castle had also made arrangements with Beckett's tech team, which explained why they could watch the live feed from Long Island.
Unaware that he was becoming a reality TV star, Gates wasn't famous for nothing. After solving the secret behind the Declaration of Independence, he actually found the entrance to the hidden chamber.
The live broadcast they were watching ended there, as Beckett hadn't arranged for cameras inside the secret room. Once Gates and his team went through the hidden door behind the coffin, they faced a decaying staircase five stories high. Unlike Castle, they didn't have the skills to navigate it without any trouble.
Seeing Gates and his team crawl through the hidden door, Castle knew it was time for his girlfriend to make her move. He also called Winston, telling him to inform the Freemasons that the treasure they'd been searching for over 200 years was about to be uncovered in New York. This would allow Winston to gain significant favor with the organization.
What Castle didn't know was that while the UK was in turmoil over the big news involving Dr. Bailey, he had already caught the attention of the CIA. Despite their frequent portrayal as bumbling in movies and this book, the CIA is still the world's largest intelligence agency with formidable capabilities. Once they retraced Frank's actions following the attack by Colonel Johnson, they quickly identified Castle, thinking he had kept himself well hidden.
However, even though the CIA discovered that Castle had been aiding Frank's operations in New York, when they delved into his background, they hit a dead end. This bastard turned out to be the son of their former legendary field agent director, Sean? And not only that, Castle was also a famous bestselling author in New York, a major shareholder in Northrop Grumman, and the designer of their latest drones and missiles? How could the CIA not be cautious?
If he were only a bestselling author, that wouldn't be a big deal. But being a shareholder in Northrop Grumman and dating New York's youngest police precinct chief made the CIA reconsider. Even if they had authorization to operate domestically, they wouldn't dare move against a military contractor of this stature. Frustrated, the CIA reluctantly put aside their plans to use Castle as a potential target.
Unaware that he had narrowly avoided trouble, Castle was happily chatting with Beckett via radio. Beckett, who was following close behind Gates, was leading her officers through the passage behind the coffin. Since Castle already knew there was no danger ahead, he and Beckett discussed the possibility of calling in the press to hold a live press conference. This would not only foil the Freemasons' schemes but also give Beckett a moment in the spotlight, aiding her career ambitions.
Castle had long been quietly orchestrating publicity campaigns for Beckett in high-profile cases, and now, many New Yorkers knew of the tough, beautiful, long-legged young female captain of the 12th Precinct. Beckett had gained quite a reputation, particularly among women's rights groups.
All of this was part of Castle's grand plan for Beckett's political career, ensuring her future as a city council candidate. For Beckett, Castle had put more thought into her career than his own. After all, Castle just wanted to be a contented slacker, but the world kept throwing unexpected troubles his way. To ensure that Beckett could grow into a sturdy tree and become the powerful ally he could cling to, Castle decided to double down on his investments in her future.
While the CIA pondered their next move regarding Castle, he was at his Long Island estate notifying the press and journalists of the sensational news that America's long-lost Freemason treasure, hidden since the Revolutionary War, had been found by none other than the fugitive Ben Gates at Trinity Cathedral in New York. He warned them to act fast, or they'd miss the scoop of the century.
Thanks to Castle's tip-off, just as Beckett led her officers into the secret chamber, the media swarmed the command vehicle outside. Meanwhile, Freemason bigwigs in New York, alerted by Winston, rushed to Trinity Cathedral. After all, if what Winston said was true, the treasure their organization had sought for two centuries had suddenly surfaced in New York and was found by none other than Ben Gates.
The thought of this enormous treasure, rumored to include priceless artifacts from the Crusades, made the Freemason leader chuckle with excitement. Without lifting a finger, he was about to receive an immense reward within the organization.
As the journalists and Freemasons gathered at Trinity Cathedral and Beckett entered the hidden chamber, Castle, knowing the remaining treasure would soon see the light of day under the watchful eyes of the press, police, and Freemasons, lost interest. He told everyone to rest up, as tomorrow he planned to meet with Gianna and Moz to discuss their dealings with the third-ranked candidate on the donkey side, Benjamin Arthur.
Meanwhile, Neal, who had obtained damning evidence against the last senator in New York, Pratt, was getting impatient. Had it not been for Castle's more pressing matters and the payday involved, Neal would have long since used his dirt on Senator Pratt for revenge.
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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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