Chapter 323: Transformation

Reflecting carefully on the recent events, especially after receiving the system's reward that enhanced his physical abilities and granted him many powerful skills, Castle realized his mindset had significantly changed. From the cautious approach when he first crossed into this TV series world, to his current reckless behavior, he clearly identified a significant problem in his mentality. He always felt a subtle detachment from this world, unable to find his true place, treating this real world with a gaming mindset. The most alarming part was that until today, he hadn't even been aware of this issue.

Fortunately, the call from the NYPD chief today made him reassess his recent actions and suddenly realize his mistakes. Firstly, this was indeed a world where various TV shows and movies were fused together, but for him, now transmigrated as 'Castle,' it was a complete and real world. It wasn't a place where he could recklessly run wild. Secondly, as a former ordinary person, he hadn't truly experienced the powerful skills he now possessed, like John Wick's marksmanship, Jason Bourne's spy skills, and the impressive ability to carry an arsenal. These had temporarily caused him to lose himself in his newfound power, forgetting the initial fear and purpose he had upon arriving here. This was essentially the behavior of a "nouveau riche," suddenly gaining abilities he had never dreamed of.

Now, having realized his change in mindset, Castle decided to pull back from the brink. He wasn't a savior or a saint destined to serve the USA, a country he had resented in his previous life. His main goal was to enjoy life and pursue Beckett. If his main objective was to woo Beckett, why was he exhausting himself? Fighting traffickers one moment and bank robbers the next wasn't necessary.

Soon, the real killer of Beckett's mother would emerge, and here he was entangled in selling drone technology to some corporation. This was clearly a misguided approach!

Castle now understood the need to lower his profile. Ever since he had arrived in this amalgamated TV world, he had been overindulging in his newfound powers. He realized that although this wasn't his original world, he shouldn't be as reckless as he had been.

While Castle was sincerely repenting in his study, a crucial conversation about him was taking place in Hell's Kitchen.

Zeus was puzzled why his new girlfriend, Belle, would persuade him to follow Castle. Holding Belle in his arms, he asked, "Why do you want me to find Castle? I know him, but we're not close."

Belle, happy that Zeus finally confronted his feelings, sternly replied, "Idiot, haven't you noticed anything strange about Castle? He's a best-selling author who just released a new book based on that NYPD detective Beckett, and it's quickly climbed to the top of the New York best-seller list. What does that tell you?"

Zeus, still confused, didn't understand his girlfriend's frustration.

Belle, knowing Zeus was intelligent but lacked emotional insight, explained, "From my interactions with Castle, he seems more than just an author. Think about it, he had precise intelligence yesterday, used a sniper rifle to cover you and Officer John, and I saw him helping that female cop catch South American bank robbers. Plus, he rented that huge warehouse near your old hardware store. Haven't you thought about these things?"

Zeus, still puzzled, watched Belle, who seemed to channel Sherlock Holmes, not knowing what she was trying to convey.

Belle, feeling good about her deduction, continued, "From what I understand, Castle has some secrets beyond his writing and helping the police. I noticed a major weakness: he lacks manpower. Castle is planning something big, but he needs more people."

Zeus, bewildered by Belle's conjecture, thought she was crazy. With three gold bars weighing over thirty kilograms, they could easily get over a million dollars on the black market. Instead of enjoying this windfall, she wanted him to follow Castle, a man who made him uneasy. It seemed absurd.

Belle didn't know what Castle was doing in that warehouse, but Zeus had some guesses. Castle had ordered items from his hardware store before, and Zeus had delivered them. With his high intelligence and street smarts, Zeus had a vague idea of what Castle was assembling. Someone assembling drones in New York and wielding a sniper rifle was not someone he wanted to get involved with. However, Belle's reasoning made sense. Castle seemed mysterious, but associating with him had tangible benefits. After all, saving Officer McClane at Castle's behest had earned him three gold bars without any police repercussions.

Realizing Belle's analysis had merit, Zeus considered that Castle, despite his mysterious activities, might indeed offer more opportunities. With his girlfriend's urging and the potential for more rewards, Zeus contemplated approaching Castle directly to propose cooperation. Yet, he hesitated, uncertain about Castle's plans and the risks involved.

___________________

Read Ahead

P@treon.com/Mutter