When his friend John Wick expressed rare curiosity, Castle didn't hesitate to share his current predicament. Being an extroverted chatterbox, Castle had no qualms about airing his frustrations.
He hadn't told Beckett because her influence was confined to New York and would be of little help in dealing with an international situation involving powerful individuals coveting his technology. Castle also wanted to spare her unnecessary worry.
John, on the other hand, was different.
While he was a former assassin who preferred action over words, John Wick had risen to the very top of his field. His fame as the "Baba Yaga" was not only due to his lethal skills but also his keen intelligence and resourcefulness. Although his life now revolved around caring for the drooling little girl in his arms, Castle knew John could offer valuable advice.
In fact, Castle and John had been teammates before—at least in Castle's system, which still recognized their improbable "team-up" mission as an active squad. Castle trusted John implicitly and laid everything out, including his frustration with Rajad and even his fleeting thought of hiring an assassin to eliminate the nuisance altogether.
John, who had been focused on keeping the wriggling toddler in his arms from running off, raised an eyebrow. "So let me get this straight—you're being hounded by a yapping stray mutt, and it's bothering you this much?"
John couldn't help but find it amusing. Compared to the high-level adversaries Castle had faced before, Rajad was hardly a threat. If anything, he was a pest.
Even Le Chiffre—the mastermind behind tonight's sabotage attempt—didn't measure up to Rajad. Le Chiffre was little more than a failed schemer whom Castle had spared only because he was useful for a stock market play. By now, Le Chiffre should have been out of the picture entirely.
Yet, here was Castle, wracking his brain over how to deal with Rajad without escalating the situation too far.
The absurdity of the situation made John laugh. "You're seriously this worked up over him? That's ridiculous."
Castle's complaints were loud enough for everyone in the supercomputer lab to hear, drawing laughter from the others. Even "Little Fat" couldn't resist mocking him: "This is the first time I've ever seen Uncle Rick stumped. A total first!"
Castle ignored the teasing. His attention was wholly captured by John's offhand remark: "This isn't as complicated as you think."
For all his scheming and system-assisted ingenuity, Castle's rapid rise had left him with blind spots. He could navigate technological innovation and political maneuvering, but the subtleties of intimidation and deterrence still eluded him.
John, on the other hand, had spent a lifetime thriving in a world of shadows and power plays. He knew exactly how to deal with nuisances like Rajad.
"Rick, your thinking is too narrow. You're trying to outwit him when you should just be more... direct." John adjusted the squirming toddler in his arms and continued. "Listen, you're not the shaky upstart you think you are. Whether it's your shares in major defense companies or your social standing, you're way above someone like Rajad.
"A lion doesn't snarl at every hyena, but that doesn't mean the lion won't act when it's annoyed."
Castle, intrigued, leaned in closer.
John glanced at his friend and smirked. "You're overthinking this. You think taking him out is a last resort? That's ridiculous. When I was still working, why do you think I got so many repeat customers?
"Your stature demands respect. If you don't enforce that respect when someone challenges you, what's the point?
"This Rajad guy is small-time. His caste, his position on some board—none of that matters. In fact, he's the perfect example to make an example out of. Show the world you're not to be trifled with.
"Take him out, Rick. Let everyone know you're serious. You think anyone will dare mess with you after that?"
John's words struck a chord with Castle. It was a principle he had seen in action countless times back in his homeland: One punch to end a hundred threats.
Castle suddenly realized that he had been too cautious, too focused on avoiding trouble. In trying to be overly careful, he had trapped himself in a cycle of self-doubt.
He wasn't some fragile figurehead. He had proven his ruthlessness before—whether it was taking out Adam to protect Henry or silencing Vincent Adler to cover his tracks.
Why had he hesitated now?
John had spoken up precisely because he knew Castle wasn't the type to be bound by moral dilemmas. If Castle was already considering hiring an assassin, then he clearly wasn't opposed to decisive action.
Watching Castle fall silent, John knew his friend had taken the advice to heart. Satisfied, he returned his attention to the toddler, who was still trying to escape his grip.
Castle remained deep in thought. He now saw the logic in John's approach: by dealing with Rajad decisively, he could set a precedent that would deter future challengers.
Meanwhile, far away in Bangalore, Rajad remained blissfully unaware that his every move was being tracked. He didn't know that Jarvis had already reported his antics to Castle, nor did he realize that his behavior had effectively signed his own death warrant.
Castle was no longer questioning if he should act—only how.
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