Chapter 325: The Struggle

The younger version of Zeus and his new girlfriend, Belle, were discussing in their rundown apartment in Hell's Kitchen how to get on Castle's good side, while Castle was at home in his study, deep in thought about how to solve his current shortage of manpower.

Deep in thought, Castle even considered using a peculiar skill he had obtained from the System—the ability to communicate with animals. Given his lack of human resources, he pondered whether he should use animals to assist him.

However, he faced another dilemma when deciding which animals to use. Based on his limited biological knowledge, the best reconnaissance animals would be birds, which were common in New York. However, birds generally have lower intelligence compared to mammals. Dogs and cats were the only viable alternatives, but dogs were too conspicuous due to their size, and cats lacked obedience. He needed animals that could be discreet yet intelligent enough to understand commands, as his System-granted ability allowed clear communication with animals.

After some research online, Castle found two types of animals that met his criteria: ferrets, popular pets in the USA with high intelligence, and weasels, known for their cleverness and small size. Both were agile and unlikely to arouse suspicion if spotted, especially near the busy port area of New York. These animals could easily be mistaken for having escaped from a ship, making them ideal for covert reconnaissance.

Pleased with his idea, Castle decided to visit a pet store the next day to see if these animals could indeed communicate with him as expected. This could potentially lead to the formation of an animal reconnaissance team. With this plan in mind, Castle finally went to rest, satisfied with his innovative solution.

Meanwhile, many others in New York were working late because of Castle. The vice president of General Atomics, aware of Castle's new association with Northrop Grumman, was anxiously discussing with the company's board in California how to win Castle's favor. This was crucial for securing opportunities similar to those of their rival.

Mark, a director from Northrop Grumman who had witnessed Castle's demonstration of two unusual drones, was at the company's New York office, eagerly verifying the flight system on a USB drive Castle had given him. The system showed remarkable potential, particularly for enhancing the capabilities of their Global Hawk UAVs. If integrated, this system could significantly outperform the competition's MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

Mark knew that securing the exclusive rights to this flight control system in the USA was crucial, especially after learning that General Atomics had dispatched a senior vice president to New York to negotiate with Castle. Mark was determined to outmaneuver them, leveraging Northrop Grumman's resources and influence to make Castle an ally, thereby sidelining their competitors.

Simultaneously, in a hotel room, an excited Italian technical director, who had reluctantly come to New York under Gianna D'Antonio's invitation, was reporting his findings to his company's president. Initially skeptical, the director was astounded after witnessing the drones' demonstration and receiving a USB drive containing the system's code. This system represented a revolutionary leap in semi-autonomous flight technology, and the company president was keen to acquire the source code, seeing it as a pivotal opportunity to elevate their company to a leading position in the European UAV market.

The stakes were high for all involved, with each party racing to secure Castle's groundbreaking technology. The competition was fierce, and the outcome would significantly impact their respective standings in the global arms market.

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