Recently, the U.S. and Britain had been one step short of openly supporting the Syrian rebels and the Kurdish militants—groups that Turkey had long labeled as terrorist organizations—resulting in intense clashes with the Turkish government.
The United Nations delegates in attendance were well aware of this.
Moreover, Turkey had just officially withdrawn from NATO, delivering a global humiliation to the U.S. and its allies. The dust from that diplomatic slap in the face hadn't even settled yet, and now the U.S. had caught Turkey red-handed in an illegal covert operation.
Of course, the U.S. was going to take full advantage of this.
And now, standing at the podium, the newly appointed U.S. Assistant Secretary of State wasn't holding some vague vial of powder—like Colin Powell did back in 2003, falsely claiming it was evidence of WMDs in Iraq.
No, this time, the U.S. had real, undeniable proof:
- Witness testimonies
- Video recordings
- Photographic evidence
- Captured Turkish intelligence agents
With such overwhelming evidence, the U.S. had absolute confidence and no fear of contradiction.
The UN representatives knew exactly what the U.S. was doing—but in the world of international politics, getting caught was the real problem.
Every nation engaged in dirty tactics, but the golden rule was:
"Never get caught."
Turkey had violated that rule spectacularly.
With its agents captured and solid proof on display, who in their right mind would stand up to defend them now?
---
On that same day, Moz did not formally announce that the U.S. would declare war on Turkey.
After all, even if the U.S. planned military action, it still needed time to prepare.
Instead, this UN meeting was strategically designed to divert Turkey's attention—along with India's and Japan's—away from another ongoing operation:
Castle's treasure hunt.
Yes, war against Turkey would bring profits to the military-industrial complex.
But Castle's plan was even easier money—no contracts, no production, no logistics—just dig up already-existing gold, and everyone gets rich.
Since Turkey was already at America's mercy, why not secure the quick payday first before dealing with them?
Moz's explosive revelations worked perfectly.
With the entire global media fixated on Turkey's scandal, both India and Japan were also distracted, reducing the risks to Castle's expedition.
What India didn't realize was that the U.S. had no intention of punishing them for their involvement.
Why?
- India was America's "democratic ally."
- Japan was America's obedient attack dog.
Neither country could escape U.S. control, so there was no need to push them closer to Turkey.
Instead, by isolating Turkey, the U.S. ensured India and Japan would hesitate before making any future alliances with them.
---
As expected, after the shocking revelations at the UN, global news outlets went into a frenzy.
Journalists around the world scrambled to locate Castle, the victim of Turkey's botched kidnapping attempt.
However, all they found was a vague statement:
"Richard Castle, best-selling author and renowned scientist, has taken his family on vacation following the recent attempt on his life. His current whereabouts are unknown."
Of course, the truth was—at that very moment—Castle had just landed in Sri Lanka.
His next mission?
A stealth reconnaissance trip into Kerala, India, to locate the hidden treasure temple.
---
Castle's team consisted of four members:
1. Castle himself
2. John
3. Two Russian bodyguards from Big Ivan's team
Since Castle was the only one who knew the exact location, he had no choice but to lead the operation himself.
And since Beckett would never let him go alone, John naturally became his partner-in-crime once again.
The two Russian bodyguards were simply there to ensure their safety.
Once the treasure's location was confirmed, Castle and John would immediately return to Sri Lanka, while Big Ivan and the rest of the team would handle the actual excavation.
---
Originally, Castle had planned to take a boat from Sri Lanka's Jaffna to Kochi, India, then drive to Kerala.
But after arriving in Sri Lanka, he realized that finding a discreet vessel for such a slow journey was too much of a hassle.
Instead, a simpler plan was chosen:
- Cross the strait by speedboat
- Land at Rameswaram, India
- Drive northwest to Kerala
This route had several advantages:
1. Faster travel – No need to waste time on a long boat trip.
2. Safe and reliable transport – The three major defense contractors had vehicles waiting in both Sri Lanka and India.
3. Lower visibility – A small team traveling by land had a much lower risk of exposure.
The only downside?
They would temporarily lose the protection of the three U.S. Navy warships stationed west of Kochi.
However, their small group would be much harder to detect.
---
As soon as the decision was made, Northrop Grumman's team sprang into action.
- They provided a high-speed smuggling boat equipped with four powerful engines, specifically designed for illegal maritime operations.
- They ensured that the boat's route completely avoided the Indian Navy's patrols.
- Upon landing in India, Castle's team would find a fully fueled Land Rover waiting for them, complete with:
- Food and water supplies
- A stack of Indian Rupees
- A portable ground-penetrating radar (to locate the treasure chamber without entering the temple)
Weapons weren't necessary—they each already carried personal firearms, and this mission was reconnaissance, not combat.
Castle was thoroughly impressed with these arrangements.
Without any delay, he kissed Beckett and his son goodbye, while John did the same with his family.
Then, the four-man team boarded the speedboat and set off for India.
---
Using his passport to enter India was out of the question.
That would be as stupid as a pig walking into a slaughterhouse.
So, illegal entry was the only option.
Fortunately, they were all white men.
Even if they encountered Indian police, they were unlikely to be harassed.
However, if Castle tried to use his real identity, he'd be arrested on the spot.
---
The speedboat was ridiculously fast, clearly custom-built for smuggling.
It zipped across the water at high speeds, effortlessly dodging Indian patrols.
Soon, Castle and his team landed in India without issue.
Waiting for them was a brand-new Land Rover, fully stocked for the journey.
Without wasting time, the four men jumped in and set off northwest toward Kerala.
---
Meanwhile, back in Sri Lanka, Beckett—though still worried—was comforted by Gianna's words.
She knew this was just how Castle was.
Besides, even though he and John had gone in alone, their safety was still heavily reinforced:
- Big Ivan and seven bodyguards were staying in Sri Lanka to protect Beckett and the kids.
- The U.S. Navy warships were already stationed west of Kochi, ready to intervene if necessary.
Most importantly, Castle wasn't planning to stay long.
Once he confirmed the treasure's location, he and John would immediately return.
The actual digging and transport would be handled by Big Ivan's team and the defense contractors.
This meant that Castle's personal risk was minimal.
Now, all he had to do was reach the temple, scan for the treasure chamber, and get out.
If everything went according to plan, by this time tomorrow, they would already be on their way back.
______
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