As Little Fatty worked feverishly with Ramsey to gather blackmail material against their online adversaries, he noticed Castle entering the underground lab. Excited, he waved Castle over enthusiastically, saying, "Uncle Rick, come take a look! We found some juicy stuff on those so-called leaders of the organizations that keep targeting you. We also uncovered chat logs and transaction records showing payments from offshore accounts tied to the Lockset Organization."
He paused dramatically before continuing, "Even though they tried to hide their tracks using foreign accounts, Ramsey and I managed to trace them all back."
Castle couldn't help but grin. He hadn't expected Little Fatty to actually uncover direct evidence linking the Lockset Organization to the leaders of those groups constantly giving him trouble. Eagerly, he moved closer to the computer screens to take a look.
As he scanned the data, Castle let out a genuine laugh. The tactics of the Lockset Organization, a sinister splinter faction born from the CIA, felt eerily familiar. These methods were strikingly reminiscent of those employed in his previous life by foreign-funded "public intellectuals" and online influencers paid to spread misinformation and stir unrest. The playbook was the same: take the money, spread the lies, and sow chaos.
This really is textbook stuff, Castle thought. He marveled at how this rogue CIA faction embodied the very worst traditions of the agency—methods so brazenly underhanded they were almost admirable in their consistency. Watching their operations unfold was like reading a how-to manual for propaganda and manipulation.
What Little Fatty and Ramsey had uncovered wasn't just evidence of financial transactions; it was proof that the leaders of these so-called "justice organizations" were nothing more than mercenaries in disguise, paid to smear Castle's name. Yet, Castle knew exposing these connections publicly wouldn't achieve much. After all, in America—a country where lobbying is legalized bribery—this kind of behavior wasn't just common, it was practically celebrated.
Still, Castle wasn't about to discourage Little Fatty and Ramsey. They were doing this out of loyalty to him, and he appreciated their efforts. After skimming through the evidence, Castle shifted the conversation to a more pressing matter. He watched as Little Fatty gleefully typed out a fiery rebuttal to a particularly clueless online troll who dared to criticize Castle's use of machine guns and missiles during the recent attack. Once Little Fatty hit send, Castle finally asked, "By the way, have you finished the control codes I assigned to you for the stealth system?"
Little Fatty spun his chair around to face Castle, looking like a gamer who had just cleared a final boss. "Finished! I handed everything over to Jarvis for validation just before you came in. Want to take a look at it, Uncle Rick?"
Castle chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, that's what Jarvis is for. He'll run all the simulations and let me know if there's an issue. I trust his judgment."
With that, Castle decided to shift gears. Adopting the tone of a conspirator about to hatch a plot, he leaned in toward Little Fatty and Ramsey. "You both know what Amir Barkawi and his friends are planning to do in Washington next month, right? Well, how about we make things interesting and get involved?"
Ramsey, ever the sharp one, immediately stopped typing and turned to Castle. "Uncle Rick, are you saying you want Harry and me to monitor their activities during the operation?"
Before Castle could reply, Little Fatty finally caught up, looking both confused and intrigued. Ramsey, however, had already connected the dots. "Wait," she said. "You're not just asking us to monitor them, are you? You want us to interfere, don't you? Like, mess with their plans at key moments?"
Castle nodded approvingly. "Exactly. You're quick, Ramsey. Look, we already know that Kang Yeonsak, disguised as a South Korean official's aide, will infiltrate the White House. His goal is to capture President Benjamin Arthur and obtain the nuclear launch codes. But there's no way we can let that happen, right?"
Ramsey's eyes narrowed in thought. "So you're saying… we let them carry out their plan just far enough to expose all their connections? That way, we can definitively link Amir Barkawi, Japan's intelligence agency, and the Lockset Organization to the attack?"
Castle grinned. "Bingo! Once their involvement is undeniable, we swoop in to stop them and save the day. Not only will it cement their guilt, but it'll also give Benjamin the ammunition he needs to take down the Lockset Organization for good."
Ramsey nodded, her face resolute. She understood the stakes immediately. Meanwhile, Little Fatty still looked slightly dazed, struggling to keep up with the twists and turns of Castle's scheme. Castle couldn't help but roll his eyes at his young protégé. "Harry, you're a genius when it comes to tech, but sometimes I swear you couldn't outthink a turnip. Look at Ramsey—she figured it all out in seconds."
Little Fatty pouted but said nothing. Ramsey, however, was clearly relishing the praise. "It makes sense," she said. "If we move too early and warn Benjamin about the plot now, we risk scaring them off or leaving loose ends. But if we wait until they make their move, we can hit them with overwhelming evidence and wipe them out."
Castle clapped his hands together, beaming with pride. "Exactly! That's the kind of strategic thinking I like to see."
As Castle glanced between the two young hackers, he couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between them. Little Fatty, brilliant as he was, seemed content to spend his days snacking on chips, watching anime, and sipping soda. Ramsey, on the other hand, was a force to be reckoned with—sharp, focused, and always ten steps ahead.
Castle sighed theatrically. "Why is it," he muttered to himself, "that every man I know is constantly outshone by the women in their lives? Beckett, for one, always has me on a leash. Then there's John, whose better half could probably conquer the world if she wanted to. Even Henry Morgan, for all his immortality, is always one step behind his leading lady. And now, Harry, it's your turn."
Little Fatty looked up, his cheeks puffed out in indignation. "Hey, that's not fair, Uncle Rick! I'm a genius too, you know!"
Castle snorted. "Sure you are, kid. But let's face it—your girlfriend's the brains of this operation."
Ramsey smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. "Don't feel too bad, Harry. You've got your strengths. Like… eating chips at record speeds."
Castle laughed, clapping Little Fatty on the back. "Cheer up, Harry. You're lucky to have someone like Ramsey. And you'll get your chance to prove yourself soon enough. After all, next month's going to be one hell of a show."
As Castle left the lab, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer talent of the people around him. Whether it was Beckett, Ramsey, or even Jarvis, it seemed the women (and AI) in his life always had a way of outshining the men. Still, he wouldn't have it any other way. After all, when you're surrounded by brilliance, all you have to do is sit back and let them shine.
(End of Chapter)
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