It was hard to comprehend what the deputy director was thinking. Perhaps he avoided hiring outside operatives because he feared they might double-cross him—keeping the ransom and the software for themselves after abducting Castle's daughter. Or maybe it was sheer paranoia that drove him to use Roxette operatives masquerading as CIA agents for such a critical mission.
Whatever the case, Castle, who had been monitoring the deputy director through J.A.R.V.I.S., was astounded by his recklessness. He scoffed, "He's actually sending official CIA personnel for a kidnapping? What, does he want to ensure the failure drags him down too?"
In truth, Castle was being somewhat unfair. The deputy director knew the risks of involving CIA agents in a mission that could be traced back to him. But when a man's career is at stake, logic often takes a backseat to desperation.
As Ethan Hunt begrudgingly led Benji and Luther off their plane at JFK Airport, another elite team of operatives stepped out at LaGuardia. This second group had one purpose: abduct Alexis Castle.
Yes, Roxette had ultimately decided to target Alexis, who drove alone daily from Long Island to Manhattan for school. Martha, Castle's mother, had been deemed too difficult a target, as her security detail was constantly active in the affluent and highly populated Southampton area. The potential for a public spectacle was too high.
Alexis, on the other hand, was considered the weak link. After all, Castle's background painted him as a doting "daughter-obsessed" father. By taking Alexis hostage, Roxette believed they could force Castle to hand over the *God's Eye* software.
What the operatives didn't know, however, was that Castle had anticipated their every move. J.A.R.V.I.S. had flagged the team the moment they landed at LaGuardia and tracked their every step.
Castle smirked at their naivety. Did these fools really think Alexis was unprotected? She had a discreet but highly skilled security team shadowing her every move. Astonishingly, Roxette seemed oblivious to this fact—a glaring oversight that left Castle shaking his head.
"Pathetic," Castle muttered.
Alexis's heavily modified Ford F-350 wasn't just any vehicle. After Castle had purchased it, he spent months upgrading it in his private lab. The truck had bulletproof glass, an armored body, and a fortified onboard system that could be remotely operated by J.A.R.V.I.S. in emergencies.
Even if the Roxette team managed to ambush Alexis on the highway with their NATO-standard M4 rifles, they wouldn't stand a chance. The truck was built to withstand such attacks. If that weren't enough, Alexis's security detail carried serious firepower, and J.A.R.V.I.S. could deploy Castle's custom drone, armed with "Ex-Wife" missiles, to provide aerial support.
To top it off, NYPD drones patrolled the airspace between Long Island and Manhattan 24/7. Castle couldn't fathom how anyone thought ambushing Alexis on a major highway was a sound plan.
Castle had already decided: the so-called "kidnappers" wouldn't survive their mission. He wanted them neutralized at the scene, ensuring the public learned about the CIA's audacious criminal activity. A headline like *"CIA Agents Masquerade as Kidnappers, Killed in the Act"* would strike a blow to Roxette's reputation and expose their shady dealings.
Ethan Hunt's team, meanwhile, was far more professional. Upon landing, the three men immediately split up and headed to separate safe houses across New York City using unregistered phones and taxis. Their movements were discreet but futile—J.A.R.V.I.S. had them under constant surveillance.
The Roxette team of five, on the other hand, was laughably amateurish. Upon leaving LaGuardia, they were met by an operative known only as "Anonymous." Fearing Castle's tracking capabilities, Anonymous relocated the team to a secluded New Jersey villa, complete with pre-stocked equipment and vehicles.
Unfortunately for them, their phones had already been compromised. Every word of their strategy session was being streamed live to Castle, who listened intently from his Long Island estate.
After hearing their plan, Castle admitted to himself that these operatives weren't completely incompetent. Their two-pronged approach—simultaneously abducting Alexis on the highway while using Ethan's team to infiltrate his estate—was clever.
The idea was to exploit the chaos. If Alexis's abduction forced Castle into a panic, Ethan's team would have a window to infiltrate the estate, gain access to the supercomputer lab, and retrieve the *God's Eye* software. If Ethan failed, Roxette could still use Alexis as leverage to coerce Castle into surrendering the program.
Castle couldn't help but grudgingly admire their cunning. "If I hadn't known in advance," he muttered, "they might have actually pulled it off."
Their brazenness didn't stop there. Anonymous's instructions included a scheme to co-opt Castle's supercomputer for Roxette's use. If successful, they would gain access to its unparalleled processing power without spending a dime.
"Idiots," Castle thought, chuckling. "You'll wish you'd never been born."
As Anonymous detailed Alexis's school schedule, Castle realized the plan had been in the works for quite some time. What baffled him, however, was how they missed Alexis's security detail. Was it the exceptional skill of her bodyguards, or sheer incompetence on Roxette's part?
Their operation was set for the following day.
Castle sprang into action, ordering J.A.R.V.I.S. to monitor all eight operatives—Ethan's team and the five Roxette agents—around the clock. Nothing could be allowed to slip through the cracks.
"Let's see who ends up outsmarting who," Castle said, already envisioning the aftermath. He could practically hear the news anchors: *"CIA's Dirty Laundry: Botched Kidnapping Plot Exposed!"*
With everything falling into place, Castle called his allies to finalize their countermeasures. By tomorrow, the game would begin—and Castle would ensure it ended decisively in his favor.
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I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 79)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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