At this point, Castle saw no need to hide anything from John. After all, John already knew he intended to help Neal eliminate his nemesis, Senator Pratt, and the senator's death would soon be all over the news. Bragging a bit to the former world's top assassin felt pretty satisfying. While John had earned a fearsome reputation for his straightforward, gun-wielding approach, Castle's clever and inventive methods had taken this assassination to a whole new level.
Sure enough, John, the legendary "Night Demon" in the assassin world, was stunned when he heard Castle had used a blue-ringed octopus and a sea snake, two of the most venomous creatures in the world, for this assassination plan.
"You're serious? You really think a blue-ringed octopus can kill him? How did you control it to make sure it bites the right person?"
Castle, of course, couldn't reveal that he had a way of communicating with animals. He had already prepared an answer: "Did you forget? I also have a sea snake as a backup plan. I didn't want to rely solely on the octopus, as it would lower the odds. But adding the snake increases the chances of success to at least 80%.
According to my research, neither the octopus nor the snake belongs in the Atlantic Ocean. By releasing them close to the senator with my miniature submarine, they'll likely be agitated by the sudden change in environment, making them more aggressive.
Now, imagine the senator splashing around in the water. Wouldn't that immediately attract the attention of these already irritated creatures?
Plus, I've taken steps to make sure no medical help reaches him in time. I had Jarvis take control of the Long Island highway's traffic system and the emergency call channels for rescue helicopters. Senator Pratt won't receive any help in time after he's bitten!"
John was floored. Cold sweat ran down his back as he realized the depth of Castle's plan. He couldn't help but admire the sheer ruthlessness of it. Castle had calculated everything: using the aggressive behavior of displaced animals, controlling traffic systems, and even delaying the arrival of medical teams. There was no way Senator Pratt would survive this.
"This guy is absolutely determined to ensure the senator dies on Long Island," John thought, deeply impressed. Who would've thought that a writer could devise such a deadly plan?
Curiosity got the better of him. "How did you even come up with this idea?" John asked.
Castle, looking very proud of himself, responded, "Buddy, don't forget, I'm the one who sought out the world's top assassin to help me with my novel ideas! And I've written 26 bestselling detective novels. This is just one of the many ideas in my head.
Even if the senator somehow manages to avoid being bitten, no one will suspect me. I'll just think of another way to deal with him. But the tricky part is making sure the Pratt family doesn't connect this assassination to Neal. Everything else is secondary.
Besides, this senator has plenty of enemies. If my plan doesn't work today, I'll figure out another way to take him down.
The reason I'm telling you this is so you don't get involved, understand?"
Castle cast a glance at John, who was still processing what he had heard. The unspoken message was clear: Castle found John's "brute force" approach too simplistic. John, who had made his mark as a killer known for storming through enemies with a gun, suddenly felt a pang of embarrassment. Apparently, in this day and age, even assassins needed a higher level of intelligence to avoid being looked down upon.
While Castle was internally mocking John, Senator Pratt was blissfully unaware of his impending doom. He had already arrived at his Long Island estate and boarded his yacht, as his staff had prepared everything for his usual swim. The five bodyguards who always accompanied him were on the yacht, ready for his routine, and completely unaware that Jarvis had already positioned the miniature submarine carrying the octopus and snake beneath the boat.
The senator, eager to get into the water, quickly boarded the yacht, which then headed out two kilometers from shore. As soon as they reached a safe distance, the senator, who had been warming up on the deck, prepared to dive in, while the bodyguards stopped the boat.
Jarvis, monitoring the yacht through drones hovering over the estate, confirmed that the senator was on board. As soon as Pratt jumped into the water, Jarvis opened the submarine's hatch, releasing the octopus and sea snake.
The octopus, eager to return to its fantasy of building a harem, and the sea snake, dreaming of going back to its home waters in Australia, immediately spotted their target. They swam toward the senator, who was practicing his freestyle stroke, and each bit his leg before quickly retreating back to the submarine. The senator's cries of pain caught the attention of the bodyguards just 30 meters away.
However, by the time the panicked bodyguards dove into the water and pulled the senator onto the yacht, it was already too late. The octopus and snake had returned to the submarine, which was now heading back to Castle's beach under Jarvis's control.
Between the octopus's venom and the snake's deadly bite, there was no hope for the senator. Despite the guards knowing he had been bitten, they had no idea what had attacked him or what antidote to use. Before they could even reach the shore, Senator Pratt, Neal's greatest enemy, had taken his last breath on the yacht's deck.
Castle, who had been listening through Jarvis's communication with the guards, smiled when he heard the outcome. Turning to the still-shocked John, he simply said, "It's done."
John was now genuinely terrified. This man had just nonchalantly taken out a sitting U.S. senator using two animals, all while casually chatting with him. "The world's gone mad!" John thought.
Barely ten minutes later, the quiet Long Island neighborhood erupted in chaos as police cars swarmed the area, shattering the peaceful weekend afternoon. The news that New York's last remaining senator, Pratt, had died while swimming at his estate had sent the FBI into a frenzy. Helicopters were dispatched, rushing to the scene before any other vehicles could even arrive.
Beckett, who had been relaxing with Gianna on the lawn, immediately stood up, curious about the constant sirens. She and Gianna watched as countless police cars and black Suburban SUVs raced down the nearby highway toward one of the neighboring estates.
Castle and John, however, remained calm as they walked over. While Gianna didn't seem particularly interested, Beckett's curiosity was a problem. Castle knew he had to keep her from investigating further. If she got too close to the scene, she might pick up on something, which would spell trouble for him. He needed to find a way to keep her from leaving the estate.
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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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