Chapter 11: The Real Jackpot

"John, remember, you must absolutely ensure that Santino D'Antonio's people don't know you're planning to meet with Gianina. This is the most critical thing; you have to make sure of it!

Because we can't be sure if Santino has already conceived the plan we just speculated about.

The best way is to secretly contact Gianina and then meet somewhere secluded, to avoid appearing in public as much as possible.

Also, don't stay at the Continental Hotel in Rome. You're too well-known, and it's hard to ensure that no one will recognize you and inform Santino.

After all, Rome is the D'Antonio family's turf!"

Castle gave John another serious reminder.

"I understand, Rick. I'll be careful," John responded seriously, understanding the delicacy of the situation.

"That's good. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now. You haven't had proper rest these days, and you're about to fly to Italy. Take advantage of the quiet moment now and rest up.

And think about what you'll say when you meet your admirer!" Richard-Castle, reveling in the drama, teased John as he stood up from the sofa to leave.

"...." John Wick wondered if he was out of his mind to have become friends with someone as frivolous as Castle.

"Alright, Mr. Chatty Castle, no need to worry about me anymore," John felt that letting Castle leave sooner was a wise decision.

"KAO, I'm doing this for your good, to help you get rid of your single status. Do you think it's easy for me...?" Castle muttered as he walked out of John's house.

"Beep beep beep..."

Just as Castle was contemplating whether to head straight home to check his pending rewards or find some entertainment, his phone rang: "Hello, dear Gina, what can the handsome Mr. Castle do for you?"

"What kind of idiot would kill off the main character in their bestselling novel?" Gina's angry voice sounded as if she was about to bite Castle's head off.

"Oh, my dear publisher, have you finished reading the manuscript of my latest novel?

Don't be upset, you know, I've grown tired of Derek Storm, and my inspiration for him has dried up, so I decided to end the series.

Look, I'm already doing preliminary research for my next series!" Castle quickly tried to soothe his vampire publisher and ex-wife.

"But Derek Storm is very popular with readers, and there's still much untapped potential in his character..." Gina's anger did not seem easily quenched.

"No, Gina, you're wrong. The real value here is me.

As long as I can keep writing.

I am the valuable one you need to focus on!

Not a character I created.

Moreover, if I could create a Derek Storm, couldn't I also create another new protagonist?" Castle interrupted Gina, smugly.

"You..." Gina was left speechless by Castle's shameless self-promotion.

"Listen, Gina, what you should be doing now is pushing for this book to hit the shelves.

Trust me, not only will this book not disappoint you, my next writing plan won't either!!!"

"Your next writing plan is already set? What genre? When do you plan to start?"

Gina finally regained a bit of rationality amidst her anger, then quickly showcased her top-tier publisher instincts by zeroing in on the crucial details in Castle's words.

"I can't tell you too much, but I can reveal the genre now—it will be a realistic detective mystery. Other than that, I can't say more!!" Castle was proud of how quickly he had diverted Gina's attention.

"Then, I hope to discuss the rights and publishing of your new book with you. You know, we can offer you an advance payment!! When can you come over?

If you let me arrange it, I'd prefer sooner rather than later. How about coming to my office now?"

Gina, truly living up to the 'vampire' nickname Castle had jokingly given her, was quick to try and finalize the deal over the phone.

Richard-Castle, not feeling like moving, lazily responded: "Oh, Gina, not in the coming days!

You know I've just finished the Derek Storm book; you have to let me rest a while, right?

Besides, I'm just preparing for the new book, not even started writing yet.

Why the rush? Get your promotion of my new book sorted out first, then we can find time to talk."

After hanging up, Castle decided to just stay home and lay low for a while.

After all, according to the system, this was not just a simple TV show world but a mixed one—who could guarantee that he wouldn't trigger some weird random task while out and about?

He had barely settled in from the initial "surprise" of the day, and who knew what might happen next.

Besides,

 he still had a reward to claim!

Might as well stay home and lie low for a bit!

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Resolved, Castle hailed a cab with a strangely noisy engine.

Just as he settled into the seat and was buckling up, he was greeted with a warm: "Hey... where to?"

Looking up to tell the driver his destination, Castle was petrified at first sight of the driver, a black woman in a bright-colored T-shirt: "Belle?"

"Do you know me?" The black lady driver turned curiously to look at Castle. "Oh, you're that...what's-his-name...right, the Derek Storm author! How do you know me?" Despite some effort, the black lady seemed flattered to recognize one of her fans!

Castle, caught off-guard but maintaining politeness, quickly changed the subject: "Yes, I once received a pizza you delivered. What, are you driving a taxi now? Oh, please take me to Manhattan XX Street, and, um, take it slow, I'm not in a rush!!"

Knowing full well about Belle's crazy driving speed, Castle wisely asked her to keep the speed within an acceptable range, while thinking to himself: "Of course I know you, I've seen both the French and your American version of 'TAXI'. I knew this world wasn't going to be simple. Just taking a cab could lead me to meet someone like you, who could speed through the crowded streets of Manhattan over 120 miles per hour!"

"Ahahaha, not in a hurry? You really are funny. I used to deliver pizza to you? I don't remember that.

Manhattan, right? Okay then."

As the talkative black lady driver burst into ringing laughter, she merged the cab into the traffic.

"Never thought I'd run into a big-time author like you after just a drop-off in New Jersey, I must be really lucky today..."

Muttering to herself, Belle was having a blast driving.

Finally, after enduring the verbal barrage all the way, Castle got out of the taxi at his building, paid the fare, and even got a business card from Belle, telling him to call her if he ever needed a cab again.

Watching the taxi's taillights disappear around the corner, Castle couldn't help but vent: "Don't think I don't know, your cab is unregistered, and you've illegally modified it...

Huh, weird? Why didn't I trigger any mission? Maybe, Belle's bank robbery plot hasn't started yet?

Forget it, forget it, don't meddle. I promised to go home and claim my reward and lie low, and that's exactly what I'll do!!"

Back home, after a glass of whiskey to relax, Castle went to wash his hands meticulously in the bathroom before settling on the sofa in his study, solemnly saying, "Let the prize drawing begin!

System..."

The system panel appeared promptly, showing the icon for the completed team-up task.

"Why isn't it the lottery like last time?" Castle wondered.

"Host, please note, the reward for the advanced task 'Team up with John Wick' is a designated reward. Do you confirm you want to claim it?"

"Of course, confirm claim..."

"Congratulations, host, for completing the advanced task 'Team up with John Wick,' you have been awarded a personal space of 1000 cubic meters. Time is fixed and stops within this personal space, so please be aware, host, that living beings cannot be placed inside, everything else is unlimited!!!"

The jackpot, the real jackpot!

As the system notification sounded, Castle felt an inexplicable connection to a unique space, calming his mind, he could clearly sense a 10x10x10 meter space bound to him as if it were an extension of his own body.

"Ahahaha... this is what I call a jackpot, this is the jackpot..." Castle was ecstatic.

"I always said, who doesn't get a personal space when they cross into another world, hahaha, now I have one too, a full thousand cubic meters..."

After goofing around alone in the study for at least half an hour, Castle abruptly stopped: "Uh... why do I suddenly feel like I'm becoming more of a personal grandpa or a Doraemon-like support character in this world?"

Castle mumbled to himself while continuously moving items like his desk and computer in and out of his personal space, even placing part of the food from his fridge inside to confirm that time indeed stood still in that space. "If I store ten or eight tons of food in here, won't I never starve wherever I go? Awesome, haha..."

"Beep beep beep," the ringing of his phone interrupted Castle's train of thought.

"Rick, it's John. I've made contact with Gianina. Tonight, I'm heading to Europe, not to Italy but France where Gianina has asked to meet...

Just wanted to let you know. Anything else?"

"Wow,

 you say it's nothing? How long has it been since I left your place? Admit it! There must be something between you two..." The irreverent Castle thought it was a good time to tease John, always so cool!

"..." John Wick simply hung up the phone, feeling that continuing the conversation with Castle might just push him to shoot him instead.

"John, then good luck..." Castle muttered as he watched out the window, holding the disconnected phone.

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