Chapter 348: The Conversation

Neil immediately understood the reason why Castle had specifically asked Moz to relay this message. Being both intelligent and emotionally astute, Neil grasped Castle's true intentions behind this arrangement. It was not only to pin the federal fugitive Vincent Adler down completely but also to extricate himself perfectly from the situation.

Although Moz also didn't know why Castle was confident he could transfer everything from the submarine before Vincent, who had to handle those powerful explosives carefully, and thereby thwart Vincent's plan by kidnapping Neil and a federal agent, Neil had only participated in the initial planning but had no concrete actions against Vincent so far. Monitoring Vincent had always been Castle's responsibility. Since Castle proposed this plan, Neil had no choice but to trust him.

Moz, aware of his friend's unease, reassured the slightly anxious Neil with a faint smile, knowing more about the situation than Neil did. "Don't worry, it won't go wrong. Rick may seem unreliable, but he treats his friends well. From what I've observed, he doesn't care about what's in that submarine at all. He's treating this more like a joke, or a revenge against Vincent."

Despite wanting to keep a serious expression, Neil couldn't help but smile at his friend's joke. Reflecting on his memories of the carefree and mischievous Castle, Neil asked, "What exactly are you trying to tell me?"

Moz sighed. Although he knew Castle had somehow acquired a large batch of precious artworks, even helped sell a scepter, he never mentioned it to anyone out of professionalism and friendship, not even to Neil. This time, however, the submarine's contents were too significant, and the involvement of Gianna from the infamous D'Antonio family added to the complexity. Moz, unsure of the ongoing discussions between Castle and Gianna at the Long Island estate, wanted to prepare Neil mentally to avoid high expectations that could affect their friendship with Castle.

Neil's handsome face broke into a wide smile. He appreciated Moz's concern but, being the top art thief who had been chased around the globe by the FBI, money was the least of his worries. His real passion was for the top-tier artworks, collected during WWII by Hitler's henchmen, that he yearned to see. Money was trivial compared to that. If not for the ankle monitor, it would indeed be insignificant to the suave con artist and art thief.

His mentor was none other than Vincent Adler, who swept Wall Street of ten billion dollars and now ambitiously pursued his long-cherished dream on the Atlantic.

Neil recalled how, despite being penniless upon release, he quickly gained Joan's favor through a brief conversation, securing a place in her luxurious attic for only $700 a month. His charm was his greatest weapon.

As for the plan against Vincent, Neil aimed to neutralize the threat to himself and Kate, not to loot the submarine. While he appreciated Moz's concern, it was unnecessary.

This quirky scenario included Castle, Gianna, John, Neil, Moz, the chubby guy, and Alex. Perhaps the only one truly valuing the submarine's contents was Alex. Raised on tales of the submarine from her grandfather, like Vincent, Alex was invested. The chubby guy cared more about leisurely activities at the seaside estate and flying drones around New York. For Neil, who rekindled his romance with Alex while Kate was on the West Coast, ensuring Alex's cooperation was a matter of confidence.

As Neil and Moz chatted downstairs, across the street on the 22nd floor, FBI agent Peter Burke was intently observing their conversation, sensing something unusual. Behind him stood Clinton Jones, a former Navy SEAL and Harvard graduate, and Diana Berrigan, his capable and attractive subordinates. Jones reported on their investigation of Neil's mysterious bald friend, Moz.

"Boss, all we know is his name is Moz. He's extremely protective of his identity. We couldn't even find his real name…"

Peter, not blaming his subordinates, replied calmly, "I have a feeling Neil is up to something. Sending Kate to the West Coast shows he's cautious, but I have no leads. What's the status on the internal mole, Agent Fuller?"

Diana continued, "Boss, we can't investigate colleagues without solid evidence, especially someone in internal affairs like Fuller. We're gathering information carefully, but it's not yielding much."

Peter turned from the window, ending his observation of Neil and Moz at the outdoor café below. He was a sharp-eyed, intelligent middle-aged man in his forties, explaining to his puzzled subordinates, "After the search for Kate, Neil hinted that someone within the FBI, besides Fuller, was behind her disappearance. But he avoided naming them. I fear he's lost trust in us and plans to handle things himself.

You know Neil is officially an FBI consultant but still a serving felon. If he acts alone, it could lead to unexpected consequences. That's why I'm highly vigilant about him and those around him."

Jones interjected, "Boss, we've tried tracking the guy downstairs several times, but he always evades us in bizarre ways. Should we continue?"

Peter considered the suggestion but ultimately shook his head, "No, Neil will slip up eventually. His activities are limited to a two-mile radius around this building. We'll keep an eye on him and wait for him to reveal his plans. Let him think he's got the upper hand for now."

After his subordinates left, Peter returned to the window, watching Neil and Moz conversing below, murmuring, "Neil, don't let me down…"

Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, aboard a Panama-registered semi-submersible salvage vessel, the captain respectfully reported to Vincent Adler, who had been excited since leaving New York Harbor the previous night. The ship had reached the coordinates and was now at the edge of the Atlantic basin. Vincent, delighted at reaching the destination, approved the captain's request to anchor. After all, a ten-thousand-ton vessel needed several kilometers to stop, unlike a car…

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