But no matter. The fact that Northrop Grumman sent someone to see Castle today meant something important. It indicated that the Pratt family didn't have any concrete evidence against him, and since Castle was still in the "honeymoon phase" with Northrop, the visit was essentially a reassurance. Officially, they wanted him to continue working on upgrading or developing the next generation of drones, but the subtext was clear: as long as Castle kept delivering innovative tech, Northrop would continue to protect him.
It wasn't hard to decipher. If the Pratt family had hard proof, Northrop wouldn't be sending a senior executive to subtly remind him to keep his value high by producing more groundbreaking technology. They were essentially saying, "As long as you keep coming up with new ideas, we'll have your back."
Castle wasn't offended by this realization. His relationship with Northrop was built on mutual benefit, not friendship. In a country as cold and pragmatic as the USA, no one could expect to maintain connections with a company like Northrop Grumman without offering something of substantial value.
With this understanding, Castle wasn't annoyed but rather grateful for the reminder. At least it kept him alert and cautious about the Pratt family's intentions, helping him avoid any unforeseen pitfalls.
What's more, the timing of the senior vice president's visit was perfect. Last week, Castle had decided to leverage his supercomputer lab to establish an independent research lab focused solely on development, without handling production. This lab would license its creations to gather allies from all corners. And now, Northrop's executive had walked right into the opportunity.
Of course, Castle didn't need to mention his plans for the independent lab just yet. However, the idea the executive mentioned—installing miniature missiles on drones—was something Castle could work with. He already had the concept in his mind, inspired by the original version of the "Ex-Wife" missile from Tony Stark's world (although in this reality, the name "Ex-Wife" carried an extra layer of dark humor—it was the most dangerous thing in the world, capable of costing you half your fortune or even leaving you penniless, just like a real ex-wife).
Castle didn't know why Justin Hammer had chosen such a ridiculous name when he copied Stark Industries' micro-missile, but it didn't matter. The point was that Castle could create a missile roughly the size of a cigar, with significant explosive power. Imagine a drone that could typically carry only four Hellfire missiles or Castle's own Jericho missiles suddenly equipped with dozens of these micro-missiles. The drone's combat endurance would skyrocket. Such a breakthrough would delight the American military, especially those units struggling against guerrilla forces in the Middle East, and orders would pour in.
And for Castle, this project wasn't even that difficult—he just had to "copy" the designs from his mind.
Since the executive had already mentioned that further contributions wouldn't lead to additional shares in Northrop, Castle decided to use this micro-missile project as the debut product for his planned lab. He would also make a show of staying home and playing along with Northrop's expectations to lay low and avoid unwanted attention from the Pratt family.
The more Castle thought about it, the more convinced he became that this plan would work. Without hesitation, he opened his laptop and pulled up the design document for the micro-missile, which he had worked on in his spare time. He showed it to the senior vice president sitting across from him.
The executive, full of skepticism, leaned over to look at the screen. What he saw stunned him.
What on earth was this writer thinking? He had come here on behalf of the company to encourage Castle to upgrade the drones he had designed, only to be shown a missile design that defied belief. According to the document, the missile was not only many times smaller than any currently in use, but when equipped with a specialized high-energy explosive developed by Castle, its power was comparable to a regular Hellfire missile. How was that even possible?
Moreover, the document explained that this missile would dramatically enhance the firepower of existing combat platforms. But could Castle really build something like this? It wasn't just a matter of shrinking a missile; it involved developing a whole new technology. The precision required to make such a small missile engine, let alone the miniaturized guidance and electronic systems, would be immense. Could Castle really pull it off?
The senior vice president was in disbelief as he asked Castle, "Are you sure you can build this micro-missile you've designed?"
Castle flashed a bright smile. "Of course. If I wasn't confident, why would I show you this design? In fact, you can take this document back to the company when you leave today. Let the board know that I won't be working on upgrading the drone or developing the next generation for now. My focus will be on this micro-missile project."
He continued, "You mentioned earlier that I wouldn't be getting any more shares in the company, right? Well, I understand that my current holdings are among the largest for a private shareholder, so I won't push for more. But I do have a new idea for our collaboration."
The senior vice president, who had expected Castle to focus on drones, was taken aback by his sudden change in direction. However, given the groundbreaking potential of the micro-missile, he remained attentive. "What idea do you have in mind, Mr. Castle? After all, you're already our senior research consultant."
"Indeed," Castle replied. "But let's be clear—my role as a consultant was tied to the shares I received from Northrop Grumman. Now that there won't be any more shares, we need to clarify ownership. If I develop this micro-missile, who will own the patent and intellectual property—me or Northrop?"
Before the executive could respond, Castle continued, "I recently bought a supercomputer for personal use. I'm thinking of setting up a private research lab, independently funded and focused solely on development. Going forward, all of my inventions will be licensed through this lab. That way, neither side has to worry about who owns what, and both parties win. What do you think?"
The senior vice president hadn't anticipated this at all. Northrop's original goal had been to keep Castle firmly tied to their company, ensuring that any of his innovative designs would benefit them exclusively. If Castle established his own research lab, it would mean that any defense contractor with enough money could potentially buy the rights to his inventions. That was a nightmare scenario for Northrop.
But the executive had no authority to prevent it. With a helpless smile, he could only plead with Castle to hold off on starting the lab until he had a chance to report the idea to the board.
Castle, recognizing the goodwill this executive had shown him—helping him acquire top-tier equipment for his drone upgrades and even securing military IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) codes for his drones—agreed. He promised not to rush into setting up the lab right away and to give Northrop some time to respond. In the meantime, he assured the executive that his focus would be on the micro-missile project.
The senior vice president left the estate in a state of mixed emotions—excited about the potential game-changing micro-missile but worried that Castle might one day break away from Northrop and sell his designs to the company's competitors.
But that was a problem for the higher-ups to deal with later. For now, his job was done.
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
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)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]