Castle couldn't help but wonder if the "Jarvis" AI he received as a system reward had been intentionally optimized. Without needing specific instructions, the AI had already started covering up certain activities for him. Still, despite this, Castle realized that even with an AI butler like Jarvis, he was far from the seamless control that Tony Stark enjoyed in the Marvel universe.
For instance, while Castle wished to use Jarvis to control all his cars like Tony, the outdated onboard computers in vehicles made that impossible. Jarvis could only manage the security systems of Castle's estate because they had been specifically upgraded when he purchased the property. However, to reach the level of control Tony had over his home's surveillance and weaponry systems, Castle would need to invest significant time in upgrades.
His previous fantasy of being able to delegate all tasks to his AI butler now seemed laughable. Achieving such autonomy would require an extensive overhaul of his entire estate.
The sheer amount of work ahead made Castle, notorious for his laziness, feel overwhelmed. But, since he had already committed to his plans, he had no choice but to press forward. Once again, Castle descended to the basement supercomputing lab. For now, with no holographic interface, communicating with Jarvis had to be done through more conventional means. Though Jarvis could interact with him from the second-floor study, Castle preferred to stay in the supercomputing lab, where calculations or other tasks could be handled if needed. Since the estate's security was handled by Big Ivan and his team of thirty former Russian special forces, and Beckett wasn't coming over tonight, spending the night in the lab seemed like a productive use of time.
But, as often happens, things didn't go as planned. Just as Castle was about to focus on his plans for upgrading the estate with the help of his new AI butler, Jarvis suddenly sounded an alarm.
"Mr. Castle, there appears to be a problem with Mr. Neal Caffrey, whom you asked me to monitor…"
Startled, Castle quickly looked up at the large screen displaying the intelligence Jarvis had just gathered.
Jarvis had intercepted information about Neal's recent collaboration with the FBI to investigate New York State Senator Pratt. Neal hoped to use evidence left behind by his father's former partner, Ellen, to bring down the senator. However, Castle, Neal, and even the FBI had overlooked one crucial detail: Senator Pratt wasn't as vulnerable as someone like William Bracken, whom Castle and Beckett had previously taken down with relative ease. Pratt, who had been a senator for nearly two decades, had much deeper and more powerful connections.
Pratt's surname was significant, as he was part of the famous Pratt & Whitney family. While many might not be familiar with the company itself, they would recognize its products: the engines powering the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II jets, among others. Pratt & Whitney manufactured the F-series engines, including the F119PW-100 used in the F-22, considered the world's best low-bypass turbofan engine. If not for the U.S. government deciding to limit the production of F-22s, these engines would have powered far more aircraft.
Pratt & Whitney's influence in the aerospace and defense sectors was undeniable. As an upstream supplier of military jet engines, the company was indispensable to aircraft manufacturers like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. Jarvis had raised the alarm because Castle had instructed him to monitor a small number of close friends, including Neal. This allowed Jarvis to detect that Senator Pratt had become aware of Neal's investigation with the FBI and was planning retaliation.
Castle was floored by this revelation. He had no idea that Senator Pratt, who in the original series had been so easily killed by Neal's father, had such significant backing. This wasn't some small-time politician—Pratt was a powerhouse with deep ties to one of the most important defense contractors in the country.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Castle immediately halted his current tasks and instructed Jarvis to focus on investigating the senator. Within minutes, Jarvis had compiled a detailed report on Pratt's background. Castle now understood he had grossly underestimated the man, who was far more formidable than he had anticipated.
Pratt's early corruption, involving bribes and dirty money, stemmed from his desire to rise through the ranks when his family business hadn't yet reached its current prominence. Though Pratt & Whitney had been a respected name since its founding in 1925, it wasn't until after the Cold War, when the company began providing civilian engines to Boeing and Airbus, that it became a global powerhouse. In the 21st century, Pratt & Whitney had solidified its position as one of the top three engine manufacturers, alongside General Electric and Rolls-Royce. The company's prominence had only strengthened Senator Pratt's political career, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the two.
So, when the FBI began sniffing around Pratt's past corruption, the senator and his family were enraged. Their plan was simple: eliminate Neal as a warning to anyone else who might threaten their interests.
Castle was caught off guard by this turn of events. If not for Jarvis's timely intervention, he wouldn't have known about this until it was too late.
The Pratt family wasn't just any ordinary family. Their company supplied engines for military drones, including the ones Castle had helped develop for Northrop Grumman. While there were other engine manufacturers, Pratt & Whitney's military engines were unparalleled, with few alternatives available.
This made Senator Pratt, backed by such a powerful family, a dangerous adversary. Silencing Neal wouldn't be difficult for someone with his resources. If not for Jarvis's active surveillance, Pratt might have already set his plan in motion without anyone noticing.
Neither Castle, Neal, nor the FBI had anticipated that Pratt would choose to deal with the problem by eliminating the person behind it rather than addressing the evidence itself. Neal, despite his intelligence, wasn't physically capable of defending himself against an assassination attempt. If Pratt sent someone after him, Neal wouldn't stand a chance.
Looking at the dire situation Neal was in, Castle felt a headache coming on. He couldn't afford to get personally involved in this matter, as his ties with Northrop Grumman could complicate things. If Northrop had to choose between siding with Castle or Pratt, it might not be a straightforward decision.
The best course of action was for the FBI to move quickly and wrap up their investigation. Castle was frustrated with the FBI's incompetence—Neal had handed them the evidence against Pratt ages ago, yet they still hadn't managed to take down the senator. Now, their inaction had led to a leak, putting Neal in danger. It was infuriating.
Castle knew Neal wouldn't back down, even in the face of danger. But with the FBI proving useless, Castle was beginning to wonder if things would play out like they had in the original series. Would it come down to Neal having to kill the senator and then go on the run?
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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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