Given all these factors, Castle, as a protagonist armed with foreknowledge and an understanding that the upcoming events remain within acceptable deviations, found it impossible to feel genuinely nervous.
However, what Castle didn't anticipate was that his relaxed demeanor, stemming from his confidence in the plot's predictable course, would be noticed by Gianna. Unlike Beckett, who was too emotionally invested and distracted by her own concerns, Gianna's sharp and objective perspective immediately picked up on Castle's unusual attitude.
Gianna's inquisitive gaze, practically demanding an explanation, made Castle uncomfortable. Faced with her scrutiny—and hoping to alleviate Beckett's escalating anxiety—Castle finally conceded with a sheepish smile.
"Alright, Beckett, calm down for now," he said soothingly. "Look, we're in a very advantageous position here. Not only do we know about the alliance between the Japanese intelligence agency, Amir Barkawi, and the infiltrators from Roxette, but we also know the identity of their main operative, Kim Yan Kang, and their plan to exploit the South Korean prime minister's visit to President Benjamin next month as a cover for their attack.
Given this, we're already ahead of the game. Yes, Roxette has managed to infiltrate some parts of the military, but their reach is limited to someone like a colonel at Andrews Air Force Base. They haven't embedded anyone at the level of a general or even a brigadier general. With this kind of intel, their plan might get prepared, but there's no way we'll let it succeed, right?
Still, we can't afford to jump the gun and alert Homeland Security or Benjamin just yet. If we do that now, we risk tipping off the Roxette operatives still embedded in various departments. These leaks could undermine everything. The best way to deal with this is to let them play their hand a little longer, observe their moves, and figure out who else might be part of their network. When the time is right, we'll secretly warn Benjamin and a select group of trustworthy people to prepare."
While Castle's words were aimed at calming Beckett, internally, his thoughts were far less noble.
"Damn it, I'm the protagonist, aren't I?" Castle realized. "What's the first law of being a protagonist? If you don't go looking for trouble, trouble will come looking for you!"
The epiphany hit Castle like a lightning bolt, and he suddenly understood why he had been dragged into this mess despite wanting nothing to do with it. His predicament wasn't random—it was his protagonist aura drawing chaos into his life, as always.
Truth be told, Castle was inherently lazy. His personality was that of a classic slacker who preferred peace and quiet. Unless provoked, he wasn't the type to stir up trouble. In the early days after his transmigration, he had actively helped Beckett solve cases—but only because he wanted to woo her. Once Beckett became the captain of the 12th Precinct and they officially got together, Castle had reverted to his natural state of inactivity.
If not for circumstances constantly forcing him into action, Castle would likely be spending his days tinkering in his lab like his hacker friends, Harry and Ramsey. He had no particular ambition beyond enjoying a laid-back life.
Unfortunately for Castle, the world seemed determined to keep him on his toes. Whether it was fate, the universe's sense of irony, or just plain bad luck, trouble always seemed to find him.
This time was no different.
Despite Castle's persuasive arguments, Beckett remained agitated. "So, you're saying we do nothing for now? Just sit back and watch as these people carry out their plan to use the South Korean prime minister's visit as cover to attack the White House? What are we waiting for?"
Before Castle could respond, Gianna interjected with a chuckle.
"Kate, I think Rick's plan is to use this opportunity to force Roxette's hidden operatives in the government and military to expose themselves. After all, compared to the Japanese intelligence agency, Roxette is a much bigger threat.
And don't forget—Rick has a personal vendetta against Roxette. They're the ones who want him dead more than anyone. Isn't this the perfect chance to flush them out and deal with them once and for all?"
Castle gave Gianna a surprised look. He hadn't expected her to so accurately deduce his intentions. Indeed, that was precisely his plan.
Though the Japanese intelligence agency posed a threat, Castle viewed Roxette as a more immediate and insidious danger. The Japanese might hate him for the humiliating defeat he had dealt them during the Christmas incident, but they were ultimately an external enemy. Roxette, however, was embedded within the U.S. government and military, making them far more dangerous.
Castle had underestimated Roxette. His assumptions, shaped by his memories of the TV show, had initially led him to dismiss them as just another shadowy organization. But this was no scripted drama—this was reality. In this world, Roxette wasn't just a rogue faction within the CIA; it was a sprawling network with tendrils reaching into politics, the military, and beyond.
When Castle realized that providing Benjamin with the list of Roxette operatives in the CIA hadn't eliminated the organization but had instead provoked them into a vendetta, he knew he had to change tactics. This time, he needed to hit them where it hurt.
That's why Castle had been so quick to dismiss Beckett's initial impulse to notify Homeland Security. Instead, he wanted to watch Roxette's operatives closely, allowing them to reveal themselves through their actions.
By leveraging their involvement in this conspiracy with Amir Barkawi, Castle planned to collect enough evidence to expose and dismantle their network.
His ultimate goal? To hand Benjamin a golden opportunity to take credit for uncovering and neutralizing a major national security threat, while simultaneously earning the president's gratitude.
Castle's strategy was simple: let Roxette think they were in control, gather proof of their treachery, and then unleash the full force of the government on them.
And in the meantime, Castle intended to personally ensure Benjamin's family was safe during the attack on the White House. With Michael Banning protecting Benjamin, Castle had no doubt the president himself would survive. But he wanted to eliminate any unpredictable variables—like Benjamin's wife and son, who were still alive in this timeline.
Castle also had a secondary concern: if he intervened too heavily, it might disrupt the events that were supposed to unfold years later in "London Has Fallen." He needed Michael Banning to remain by Benjamin's side, ready to save him again when the time came.
So, Castle resolved to tread carefully. He would let the conspiracy play out just enough to achieve his objectives, but he would never allow it to spiral out of control.
As for the Japanese and Roxette operatives planning to exploit the chaos to settle their scores with him?
Castle smirked to himself. "Let them try."
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Mutter"]
[Every 50 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]