To prevent Beckett from catching wind of the situation and immediately dispatching NYPD officers to arrest the three assassins, Castle and John left the Long Island estate as discreetly as possible. Before departing, Castle instructed Big Ivan to assign an additional security team to covertly protect Alexis at school, just in case the assassins decided to shift their focus to her.
Driving an inconspicuous car, the two men—both nearing their forties but still full of energy—headed to Brooklyn's Red Hook district, where the assassins' safe house was located. Their plan was to conduct a thorough reconnaissance of the site before deciding whether to storm the building or let the situation escalate to draw out more targets.
After circling the area and carefully observing the safe house from all angles, Castle parked the car on a nearby street. He turned to John, who was already prepping his Glock 17, fully intending to storm the building and take out the assassins for some much-needed stress relief.
"John," Castle began, his expression unusually serious. "I've been thinking—don't you think it's a bit too easy if we just charge in and kill these three? I have another idea. What if we use these idiots to stage something bigger—like bait for a larger catch?"
John paused mid-motion, his hand resting on the door handle. He gave Castle a strange look, his mind racing with skepticism. What now? he thought. This guy always has to make things complicated.
Instead of trying to decipher Castle's convoluted thought process, John decided to cut to the chase. "Alright, what's your plan? Weren't we going to kill two of them and leave the last one alive to testify against the Watanabe Consortium? What changed?"
Castle shook his head. "Listen, John. I just realized something. These Japanese assassins don't think the way we do. Remember, during World War II, their country had the mindset of 'one hundred million noble sacrifices.' They don't value survival the way we do—they see surrender as shameful. They're brainwashed by that bushido nonsense.
"These guys aren't going to flip on the Watanabe Consortium, no matter what we do. Leaving one alive to testify is wishful thinking."
John considered this. Though he wasn't an expert on cultural differences, Castle's reasoning made sense. Western soldiers often saw surrender as a tactical decision; in contrast, the Japanese historically viewed surrender as dishonorable. Even in modern times, stories of Japanese soldiers committing suicide rather than being captured were well-known.
"So, what's your new plan?" John asked, his curiosity piqued.
Castle's face lit up with excitement. "Here's what I'm thinking. If we just kill these three now, who's to say Watanabe will send more? What if this was their one shot, and we're left with no further leads?
"Think about it—Powell himself said that if it weren't for that homeless vet who happened to understand Japanese, we might never have found out about this plot until it was too late. We got lucky this time. Next time, who knows?"
John nodded slowly, still processing Castle's point. "So, you want to use them as bait. How exactly?"
Castle grinned mischievously. "Simple. Instead of killing them outright, we keep them under pressure—chase them, harass them, but don't finish them off. Make them desperate enough to call for reinforcements.
"And when their backup arrives? We pounce. Turn this whole thing into a massive trap. A 'New York Battle Royale,' if you will."
John couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of the idea. "So, we're going to 'hunt' them across New York, is that it? Like herding sheep into a slaughterhouse?"
"Exactly!" Castle's excitement was palpable. "Think about it—every night, we come back home for a drink. Gianna won't mind as long as you're home for dinner, right? Plus, it gives you a few days to decompress."
John shook his head in disbelief. "You're really just doing this because you're bored, aren't you?"
Castle leaned back in his seat, feigning an air of seriousness. "Of course not. This is about strategy, John. Strategy!"
John sighed. He wasn't buying Castle's excuses, but he couldn't deny the appeal of the plan. A multi-day hunt across the city would indeed be more fun—and give him some much-needed time away from Ohnona's relentless energy.
With John's reluctant approval, Castle drove them back to the Long Island estate, where he immediately summoned Big Ivan to the study. The burly former Spetsnaz officer entered the room, his imposing presence filling the space.
"Big Ivan," Castle began, "we've got a mission for you and your team. Three Japanese assassins are hiding out in Red Hook. Instead of taking them out immediately, we want to keep them on edge—chase them, make them panic, but don't kill them. Let them call for reinforcements, and we'll deal with the whole lot at once."
Big Ivan's eyes lit up with excitement. "Understood, sir. You want us to apply just enough pressure to keep them running, correct? And wait for their reinforcements to arrive before striking?"
"Exactly," Castle confirmed. "We need to play this carefully. The goal is to draw out as many of their allies as possible while keeping these three alive—at least until we're ready to spring the trap."
Big Ivan grinned, his enthusiasm evident. As a former Spetsnaz officer, he relished the opportunity to engage in a high-stakes hunt. The prospect of toying with Japanese assassins, combined with the chance to strike a blow against the Watanabe Consortium, made this mission all the more appealing.
"Leave it to me, sir. We'll make them feel the pressure without breaking them—just like you said."
After Big Ivan left to brief his team, John turned to Castle, sipping his whiskey thoughtfully. "Rick, I can't shake the feeling that you're overcomplicating this. Are you sure this isn't just an elaborate way to entertain yourself?"
Castle feigned indignation. "Of course not! This is about strategy and ensuring we gather as much intel as possible. Besides, we can't let them think they can send more assassins without consequences."
John rolled his eyes. "Right. Sure. You're definitely not doing this because you think three assassins aren't enough fun."
Castle laughed, knowing full well that John had seen through him. "Okay, maybe there's a little truth to that. But hey, when's the last time you got to hunt assassins across New York? Come on, it'll be fun!"
John sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Just don't get us into too much trouble, alright?"
With that, the plan was set. The "New York Battle Royale" was about to begin, and neither the assassins nor their reinforcements had any idea what was coming.
Jarvis had already marked the assassins' location, and Big Ivan's team was assembling for the hunt. The stage was set, and Castle couldn't wait to see how it would all play out.
(End of Chapter)
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