At this point, Castle's focus had shifted away from whether the bait-and-trap plan would work. His real concern now was his relationship with Northrop Corporation.
In just a short while, Jarvis had successfully uncovered the identity of the Northrop employee who had been heavily bribed by the Watanabe Corporation during the last military procurement negotiations. The individual turned out to be a mid-level HR manager—not someone with strategic power but still in a position to influence logistical aspects such as credentials and personnel access.
Despite this, Castle couldn't shake the suspicion that Northrop's sudden eagerness to meet him in New York wasn't as straightforward as the senior vice president had claimed. Could it really just be about mending their fractured relationship? Or was it possible they intended to take advantage of Watanabe's assassination attempt to get rid of Castle altogether?
Castle had no illusions about the ethical standards of corporate elites. History had taught him plenty about how far they were willing to go. The case of DuPont's ruthless handling of a former employee-turned-competitor still stood out vividly in his mind—a factory blown sky-high along with its owner just because he dared to challenge the corporation.
Could Northrop, like DuPont, decide that eliminating Castle would be the simplest solution? After all, Castle had already transferred several groundbreaking technologies to Northrop. If they believed that Castle's new project—his optical cloaking technology—might fall into the hands of their archrival, Lockheed Martin, they could decide it was better to "cut their losses" and get rid of him.
Sure, eliminating Castle would mean losing future technologies, but the advancements he had already provided would keep Northrop ahead of competitors for at least a decade. On the other hand, if Castle handed over the optical cloaking technology to Lockheed Martin, it would spell disaster for Northrop's flagship project, the Super Tomcat. This was a failure Northrop couldn't afford.
Castle couldn't help but feel that Northrop might view his assassination as an acceptable collateral damage. After all, Watanabe would take the blame, and Castle's death would remove a disgruntled former ally who was now negotiating with their fiercest competitor.
"Better safe than sorry," Castle muttered to himself. Northrop had already shown their true colors during the Christmas incident when they prioritized profit over loyalty. Their willingness to side with the Japanese to secure a lucrative defense contract had left no doubt in Castle's mind about their cutthroat nature.
And now? They suddenly wanted to meet him after learning about his collaboration with Lockheed Martin and his development of the revolutionary optical cloaking technology. The timing was too convenient to ignore.
Castle's paranoia wasn't entirely unwarranted. He was in the early stages of what could be described as a mild case of delusional thinking—but it was grounded in logic. Despite his misgivings, he ultimately decided to meet with Northrop's representatives. If nothing else, he wanted to see what they were up to.
Of course, this decision was backed by his confidence in his abilities. Thanks to the system, Castle had been rewarded with top-notch combat and espionage skills, including those of John Wick and Jason Bourne. But more importantly, the system had enhanced his physical abilities to peak human levels.
Though Castle still looked like a middle-aged, slightly unkempt man, his strength, endurance, and reflexes were unparalleled. Combined with the arsenal of weapons and gadgets in his personal inventory, Castle felt more than capable of protecting himself—even if Northrop's meeting turned out to be a trap.
"Let them try," Castle thought with a smirk. "We'll see who ends up killing whom."
Meanwhile, John was monitoring Big Ivan's pursuit of Sugiyama Hachi and the remaining Yamaguchi-gumi thug. When he confirmed that the Russians had successfully tailed the panicked escapees, John shook his head in disappointment and returned to the neighboring room.
The look on his face was so dark that Gianna, who was waiting for him, couldn't help but be puzzled.
When John explained the situation—the ridiculous ineptitude of the so-called assassins and the absurdity of their plan—Gianna burst into laughter. After regaining her composure, the future head of the D'Antonio family offered her thoughts.
"This is what happens when you and Rick fail to do your homework," Gianna said with a teasing smile. "Did you really not know that in Japan, there's a long-standing symbiotic relationship between the yakuza, politicians, and corporate entities?
"Sure, the yakuza might seem like a big deal, but their influence is mostly bluster. Thanks to Japan's strict gun control laws, they rarely use firearms, even in conflicts with rival gangs.
"And here's something you might not know: in Japan, the yakuza sometimes assist the government during disasters. They organize relief efforts, provide aid, and even help with rescue operations. It's a uniquely Japanese phenomenon, but it's normal there.
"So, is it really that surprising that Watanabe sent a few yakuza thugs to act as assassins? For them, it probably seemed like a logical choice. They just underestimated Rick's control over New York. That's why their operatives were exposed almost immediately after arriving.
"But you and Rick," Gianna continued, shaking her head, "you two really thought those three were professional killers? You acted like you were dealing with someone at your own level, made all these careful plans, and then discovered they were just clueless gangsters? That's hilarious!"
Had anyone else dared to mock him like this, John's old temper would have flared. The former "Baba Yaga" wouldn't have wasted time arguing—he would have simply drawn his gun and put an end to the mockery.
But this was Gianna, his wife and the mother of his child, their little "devil spawn." What could John do? He could only sigh deeply, lamenting his poor choice of friends. After all, none of this would have happened if Rick weren't such an unreliable troublemaker.
Seeing John, the infamous "Boogeyman" who had once struck fear into the underworld, now reduced to helplessly enduring her laughter, Gianna couldn't help but find it all incredibly entertaining.
"New York really is so much more fun than Italy," she thought. Back home, John had been stoic and reserved. But here, he was constantly finding himself in ridiculous situations, showing expressions Gianna never thought she'd see on his face.
It wasn't just entertaining—it was enlightening. Gianna had already decided that the D'Antonio family needed to expand its influence in the U.S., especially on the East Coast. Her experiences in New York had only solidified this resolve.
Her father, the current patriarch of the D'Antonio family, seemed to have been revitalized by the birth of his granddaughter, the third-generation heir. His health, once failing, had shown remarkable improvement. With her father likely able to maintain his position for at least another year, Gianna felt she had enough time to establish a foothold for the family in New York.
And why not? New York offered opportunities that Italy simply couldn't.
For one, Rick's influence had opened doors she never thought possible. Through him, Gianna had attended the presidential inauguration and even contributed to Benjamin Arthur's campaign. These connections weren't just advantageous—they were transformative for the D'Antonio family's ambitions.
Gianna had always been a sharp strategist, trained from a young age to inherit the family legacy. She saw in Rick not just a friend to her husband but a powerful ally with immense untapped potential.
And now? Watching John and Rick stumble through their amateurish handling of the yakuza assassins, Gianna couldn't stop laughing. It was just too funny. The two of them had built up the situation in their heads, only to have it unravel into a comedy of errors.
"Men," she thought with a smirk. "Even the most dangerous ones can be so utterly ridiculous sometimes."
(End of Chapter)
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