As dawn broke over Long Island, the media circus outside Castle's estate showed no signs of dissipating. The throng of reporters and camera crews seemed to multiply by the hour, all determined to catch a glimpse of the man at the center of one of the most sensational stories in recent memory.
The headlines practically wrote themselves:
"Renowned Novelist Castle Repels Mercenary Attack with Heavy Machine Guns and Armed Drones!"
"Castle's Drone: World's First with Visual Cloaking Unveiled in Stunning Assault!"
"Private Beach Turns into Battlefield: Police and FBI Witness Devastation as Castle Defends His Home!"
For the journalists, this was a story that ticked every box: a mysterious team of mercenaries armed with U.S. military-grade equipment, an eccentric millionaire writer who turned his home into a fortress, and a dramatic climax featuring missile-armed drones obliterating the attackers. How could they not camp outside Castle's estate, hoping for a soundbite from the man himself?
Despite the joint press conference held the night before by Joe representing the FBI and Beckett speaking for the NYPD, the journalists weren't buying the official narrative. Their skepticism had only grown after footage from two helicopters showed Castle's armed drone decloaking to fire missiles, and police only arriving after the mercenaries had been neutralized. To them, it was clear: the mercenaries weren't stopped by law enforcement but by Castle's personal arsenal.
Adding fuel to the fire were rumors about the aftermath: whispers that at least five mercenaries had been blown to pieces by Castle's .50 caliber heavy machine guns, leaving such gruesome remains that NYPD officers and FBI agents had reportedly vomited on the beach.
Inside his estate, Castle sat at his desk, watching his name trend online as he scrolled through the seemingly endless flood of news reports and social media chatter. He was already exhausted from dealing with the fallout of last night's events, but now he had a new headache: online debates about whether his actions were justified.
Some praised him as a hero defending his home, while others—particularly white-knighting liberals and sanctimonious activists—questioned the morality of his methods. A vocal minority even accused him of violating gun laws, ignoring human rights, and trampling on principles of "proportional response."
The loudest detractors were members of anti-gun organizations and so-called "peace advocates," some of whom had previously targeted Castle for his stance on the Second Amendment. They wasted no time in labeling him a "trigger-happy warmonger" and a "danger to public safety," fueling a narrative that Castle's arsenal of heavy weapons and armed drones was a threat to society.
Castle groaned and resisted the urge to throw his phone across the room. He briefly considered having Jarvis hack into the forums to steer the conversation, but he knew that engaging with these trolls would only make things worse.
And then, unexpectedly, salvation arrived.
The National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the most influential organizations in the United States, issued an official statement in support of Castle.
The NRA's spokesperson praised Castle's actions as a shining example of the Second Amendment in action. According to their statement, the right to bear arms was precisely about protecting life, liberty, and property, as Castle had demonstrated.
The spokesperson went on to remind critics of America's origins: "This country was founded on the principle of self-defense. It was a farmer in Lexington, defending his property, who fired the shot heard 'round the world. Castle's actions are no different. He defended his home and family against a clear and present threat."
The NRA also emphasized that Castle's heavy machine guns were installed for defensive purposes within the boundaries of his private property, making them perfectly legal. As for the armed drone, the association noted Castle's official role as a lead developer for Northrop Grumman's next-generation drone project.
"Castle's drone isn't a weapon of war; it's a prototype for a cutting-edge technology that he was testing," the spokesperson said. "Critics accusing him of misuse need to look at the facts. This was self-defense, plain and simple."
To cap it off, a senior NRA figure from Texas publicly declared: "Castle's actions embody the spirit of Texas! If he's tired of New York's nonsense, we'd be happy to welcome him to the Lone Star State!"
The comment sent shockwaves through political circles. New York officials, who had been caught flat-footed by the situation, suddenly scrambled to prevent Castle from being poached. Senator Rutledge, whose political career was partly funded by Castle, quickly issued a public statement praising the novelist's actions as "a textbook example of self-defense in the face of a grave threat."
With the NRA and prominent politicians lining up to defend him, Castle suddenly felt the weight on his shoulders lighten.
But if he thought the reporters camped outside his estate would pack up and leave, he was sorely mistaken. On the contrary, their numbers had grown. By morning, the crowd had swelled so much that the CEO of Lockheed Martin, who had flown in to meet Castle, was forced to land his helicopter directly on Castle's lawn because the main gate was completely blocked.
Even Castle's neighbors weren't spared.
One particularly aggressive group of reporters had approached Castle's next-door neighbor, whose private beach was adjacent to Castle's, hoping to gain access for better footage of the aftermath. Fortunately, the neighbor—a member of a prominent family—wasn't home, and their butler refused all requests.
On the other side, Gianna had already made it clear that no journalist would be allowed to use her property to film Castle's beach. By this point, all the police and FBI agents who had been stationed at Gianna's estate had relocated to Castle's, but her loyalty remained unwavering.
As Castle reluctantly prepared to meet the head of Lockheed Martin, his mind was consumed by a growing sense of unease. It wasn't the reporters, or even the politicians and defense contractors, that troubled him most.
It was the missing weapons: the two TOW anti-tank missiles and four RPG rounds.
From the intercepted conversations between Watanabe and the mercenary leader, Castle knew the weapons had been split into three separate shipments handled by different Yakuza groups. While Castle had eliminated Watanabe and the mercenaries, the shipment of heavy weaponry had vanished without a trace.
What if those weapons were still en route to New York? What if the Yakuza operatives decided to continue the attack on his estate, unaware of their employer's demise?
Unable to personally investigate, Castle passed his concerns to Joe and Beckett, asking them to notify every officer and agent stationed near his estate to remain on high alert. He also instructed Jarvis to quietly monitor the reporters' electronic devices, ensuring nothing suspicious slipped through the cracks.
But even as he tried to focus on his unwelcome guest from Lockheed Martin, a sinking feeling settled in his gut.
Meanwhile, Hiroshi Kuwahara, aka Hiroshi Broad, had finally arrived in New York during the early hours of the morning. With him was his younger brother, Taichi, and their deadly cargo: two RPG rounds and two TOW anti-tank missiles.
Hiroshi's partner, who had traveled separately, was already on a rented yacht with another group, armed with two additional RPG rounds. As the yacht slowly approached Castle's private beach from the sea, Hiroshi parked his car a short distance from the estate's main gate.
Unlike the mercenaries who had died the night before, Hiroshi and his group had no intention of retreating.
For Hiroshi, this was personal.
And the battle wasn't over yet.
(End of Chapter)
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