Chapter 277: Detonation

Just like in the original plot, Simon realized that the New York police, for some reason, were evacuating people from the Wall Street subway station. However, Simon had already begun executing his robbery plan and couldn't stop now. Fortunately, whether or not there were people in the Wall Street subway station didn't affect his plan's implementation. Although he suspected that the police might have uncovered his plan, Simon had no choice but to stick to his original script.

So, when a shaken Zeus and John McClane returned to NYPD headquarters less than ten minutes later, the police were gathering all the bombs Simon had hidden in a mall locker. As they watched a bomb expert explain the bomb's intricate design in Walter's office, Simon's call came in again.

This time, Simon not only demanded that Officer John McClane continue playing his game but also insisted that Zeus join in. During this call, Simon finally revealed the biggest threat and secret: he had planted a massive 2,400-pound bomb in one of New York's 1,446 schools. He threatened that if he discovered any attempt to evacuate the students, he would detonate the bomb without hesitation.

His demand was simple: John McClane and Zeus must play his game to his satisfaction. Only then would he reveal the bomb's location, set to detonate at 3 PM.

This news shocked everyone in Walter's office. Just moments earlier, the bomb expert had been demonstrating the terrifying power of Simon's chemical bomb—just a needle's worth of the mixture could cause significant destruction. Now, Simon claimed to have placed a 2,400-pound bomb in a school, which was horrifying. If it exploded, it wouldn't just destroy the school; it could obliterate the entire neighborhood. Angering Simon, who held the remote detonator, was not an option. They had no choice but to sacrifice John McClane and Zeus, making them play Simon's twisted game.

Castle and the tech guy were in the tech guy's living room, laughing as they watched Simon toy with the NYPD detectives. They admired Simon's intelligence. Despite discovering the police's evacuation of the Wall Street station, Simon stuck to his plan. Getting John McClane and Zeus involved to witness the station's destruction was a crucial part of his plan, so he had to keep them occupied.

Castle, watching the drone footage, casually chatted with the tech guy: "Tech guy, do you believe now that Simon has an IQ of 189? Even though his plan didn't account for the police evacuating the station, he ignored such unexpected factors. Impressed yet?"

The tech guy had already been impressed by Simon's intelligence during their surveillance. Without the advanced drones provided by Castle, he would have struggled to monitor Simon's team so closely. Regular phone and computer hacks could have been detected by Simon's equally talented crew. Only with these advanced drones did the tech guy manage to silently spy on Simon and intercept their communications.

The tech guy, although puzzled by Simon's insistence on proceeding despite the police evacuation, voiced his confusion. Castle patiently explained: "Simon doesn't care about the police evacuation because he's not a true terrorist. He's not aiming for a high body count. His real goal is to collapse the Wall Street station, allowing his stolen garbage trucks to enter downtown. After the explosion, his men can tunnel directly to the Federal Reserve's vault. The police evacuation actually helps him. The bomb will still go off at 10 AM, achieving Simon's goal without extra casualties."

The tech guy nodded, understanding that plans, no matter how perfect, often encounter unexpected variables. Castle stressed the importance of planning with a margin for error.

Meanwhile, the unfortunate duo, John McClane and Zeus, were once again forced to follow Simon's new orders, racing to a distant location to answer a payphone. Castle joked about Simon using payphones in the modern age, knowing it was just Simon's way of stalling before the main event. John and Zeus, unaware, hurriedly intercepted Simon's call, only for him to present another riddle. Castle and the tech guy laughed at their predicament.

After a brain-bending challenge, the clever Zeus solved Simon's riddle, only to receive another location to rush to. Exhausted, they flagged down a cab, with John McClane driving recklessly towards their next destination.

With only ten minutes left until 10 AM, Simon's real plan was about to unfold. Castle called Beckett, warning her to evacuate Wall Street station. Trusting Castle, Beckett promptly ordered her team and the remaining civilians to clear the station.

Simon, learning of the evacuation, was surprised but unfazed. His goal was never mass casualties; the police's evacuation played into his hands. Clearing the station would ensure no collateral damage interfered with his plan.

John McClane, finally realizing Simon's true motive, tried to intercept the subway headed for Wall Street, hoping to defuse the bomb. Unfortunately, his attempt failed. As the train approached the station, Simon's bomb detonated, marking the beginning of his grand heist.

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