After seeing off the senior vice president from Northrop Grumman, who left with a head full of concerns, Castle sat on his couch, contemplating how to develop the miniature missile project—the "Ex-Wife"—originally copied by Hammer.
Now that Northrop was no longer willing to exchange shares for Castle's new technologies or products, he knew he couldn't just depend on them forever. However, using the independent research lab he was planning as a platform to collaborate with Northrop allowed for a more flexible and advantageous partnership. The first hurdle, though, was acquiring the machinery and raw materials needed for the lab's operation. It wasn't like his previous experience at Northrop's advanced lab, where he could use their materials without a second thought. Now, everything would have to be purchased and maintained by him.
Fortunately, with the help of Jarvis, Castle could manage most of the purchasing and planning, cutting down the workload significantly. Once the equipment arrived and was modified for intelligent control, Jarvis could oversee much of the operation, which made the entire endeavor seem far less daunting.
As for where to place this new machinery, the solution was simple—his estate. Covering 12 acres (about 80,000 square meters), there was plenty of room to build a workshop, similar to Tony Stark's iconic underground lab in Malibu. Castle could design a custom building to house all the machinery and tools, with a design firm and construction company brought in to make it happen. He just needed to contact them and get things moving.
With all these thoughts in mind, Castle couldn't help but groan at how much work was involved in recreating Tony Stark's lab. "Good thing I was lucky enough to get Jarvis as a system reward," he thought with a smug grin.
The following days saw Castle fully commit to his new strategy of laying low at his estate. Besides occasionally visiting Gianna to play with the increasingly adorable baby Onona, he spent most of his time working with Jarvis to create a detailed list of the equipment and tools needed for his mechanical lab and placing orders around the world.
In the USA, Castle's position as a Northrop shareholder and senior research consultant meant he could acquire almost anything he wanted—except for restricted materials like nuclear components or highly controlled strategic items.
Thanks to his recent financial windfall from the treasures looted from Vincent's vault, Castle could finally flaunt his wealth without hesitation. "I've got money, and money buys everything!" he thought with satisfaction as he placed order after order.
Soon, the fruits of his "checkbook power" began to arrive in droves. From advanced multi-axis high-speed machining centers to exotic materials that couldn't be openly discussed, everything poured into his estate, transforming it from a wealthy retreat into a high-tech industrial hub.
Even Gianna joked about it during a gathering with Castle and Beckett, holding baby Onona as she quipped, "This must be the time when Castle's neighbors see the most shipping containers arriving at his estate."
The joke highlighted just how many deliveries Castle had been receiving recently. After his meeting with the Northrop vice president, the executive had returned to the company and immediately relayed Castle's plans and the technical specifications for the micro-missile to the board.
Initially, the board had only wanted to see if Castle had any more useful ideas. But after reviewing his proposal for the micro-missile, they were stunned. Castle wasn't just suggesting upgrades to the drone—he had presented a project that could fundamentally change the nature of warfare.
After deliberation, the board agreed to Castle's request for an independent research lab partnership. Northrop could no longer afford to grant Castle more shares—his 4% stake was already an impressive holding for a private shareholder in a defense contractor as established and complex as Northrop. This stake had been earned during a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, when Northrop desperately needed to compete against General Atomics, maker of the Reaper and Predator drones, for the next-generation military drone contract. Castle's groundbreaking technology had been their golden ticket, and in exchange, he had received his shares.
Now that Northrop had secured the drone contract and was recovering from the financial crisis, they couldn't afford to offer any more shares. However, Castle's request to operate an independent lab and collaborate with Northrop under different terms was acceptable. After all, with his 4% stake, Northrop had a first-right advantage over other defense contractors like Lockheed Martin when it came to acquiring licenses for Castle's inventions.
Meanwhile, Castle couldn't help but notice that Northrop was subtly helping him with his purchases of equipment and materials. It was clear that they were invested in his success, knowing that his micro-missile project would likely end up benefiting them. Castle gratefully accepted their assistance, knowing that the missile would eventually be produced by Northrop, boosting the company's resurgence.
The miniature missile, nicknamed the "Ex-Wife," was a fraction of the size of a Hellfire or AIM-120 missile but just as powerful. Northrop's executives were already imagining the potential: what if a fighter jet that could previously carry four missiles could now carry 100? This would be a game-changer for the U.S. military, especially in conflicts where overwhelming firepower was crucial.
And what about drones? One drone equipped with these micro-missiles could outperform a squadron of ten current models, significantly enhancing both combat endurance and firepower. AC-130 gunships could carry thousands of these missiles, turning them into flying arsenals capable of delivering relentless strikes.
As Castle immersed himself in these plans, what was he doing?
He was back to writing novels.
Yes, Castle had returned to his primary profession—writing.
After the first two books in his Nikki Heat series, inspired by Beckett, became bestsellers, his agent, Paula, and his ex-wife, Gina, tracked him down at his Long Island estate. They pressured him into writing the third book, using every tactic they could think of. They even argued that featuring Beckett as the main character had significantly boosted her public profile. This could benefit her future political career, making her well-known to voters who would support her when she transitioned from law enforcement to politics.
Castle eventually agreed to write the next book, partly due to their relentless persuasion and partly because his new lab was still under construction. Many of the materials and equipment he had ordered were on backorder, with some high-end items, like the Hanscat high-speed multi-axis machine tools, requiring long lead times. These precision machines weren't something you could just order off the shelf; they had to be custom-built, with even the steel used in their construction requiring months to relieve internal stresses.
So, despite the constant stream of trucks delivering materials to his estate, Castle's lab was far from ready. That was one reason he agreed to Paula and Gina's demands to finish the third Nikki Heat novel. He was bored waiting for the equipment to arrive.
Besides, his agent had made a valid point—using Beckett as the model for his heroine had brought her widespread recognition. This could only help her future career aspirations, giving her a built-in fanbase among readers who admired her as both a character and a real person.
With everything falling into place, and with plenty of time to kill while his lab was under construction, Castle saw no reason not to return to his roots as a novelist. After all, when better to work on his craft than now?
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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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