Chapter 170: Failure

Castle pointed out the main problem with drugging Henry: his immortality and high resistance to most narcotics and sedatives. While it might work on Jo Martinez, taking down Henry was more complicated. Moreover, if Henry found out that Castle and Abraham were behind such a plan, his typically genteel demeanor could turn frightening.

Abraham, distressed, looked at his mischievous friend Castle. "So, what do you propose we do?"

Castle himself didn't know how to get Henry and Jo together. Matters of the heart were tricky, and unless the individuals involved took action, there was little that onlookers could do. However, Castle's scheming mind suddenly came up with an idea.

"Abraham, we might not be able to persuade Henry to pursue Jo actively, but why not get Jo to make the first move? After all, they say it's easier for a woman to chase a man."

"Rick, your brain works in devious ways. But how do we get Jo to pursue Henry?"

Castle, who was good at raising issues but not solving them, felt a bit embarrassed but quickly brushed it off. "I'm just proposing an idea. I'm busy all the time, but you have plenty of time to come up with a detailed plan. If needed, I can talk to Jo myself."

Knowing that patience was key, Abraham nodded. Whether he acknowledged Castle's claim of being busy or approved of his offer to talk to Jo wasn't clear.

They then set aside Henry's romantic woes and began chatting about other things. The conversation eventually led to plans to visit a high-end club for some relaxation. Castle had given Abraham $50 million from the sale of Adam's staff, transferred to an offshore account Castle had set up for Abraham in the Cayman Islands. They were both wealthy men with the means to indulge.

Just as Castle was getting ready to join Abraham for a night out, the system's cold reminder echoed in his mind: "Host, normal activities like drinking won't be penalized. However, engaging in intimate activities with women other than Beckett may result in punishment, including but not limited to impotence. This is your warning."

Castle, doused with a bucket of cold water by the system's warning, abandoned the idea of going out with Abraham. He recalled that his system had a peculiar obsession with him marrying Beckett. It had threatened him similarly before.

What's with this system and its restrictions? Was it created by a version of Beckett in some parallel universe? And why the ancient language? Thankfully, Castle had some education; otherwise, he wouldn't even understand his own system's threats.

Terrified by the prospect of impotence, Castle regretfully declined Abraham's invitation and hastily made an excuse about being busy. He also decided to scare Abraham a bit, telling him some urban legends about older men dying during their escapades. This partially dampened Abraham's enthusiasm for a wild night out.

Castle, feeling both relieved and satisfied by scaring Abraham, decided it was time to leave before the old man got angry and hit him. He made his farewells and left quickly, ignoring Abraham's attempts to make him stay.

Abraham, realizing he had been duped by Castle's scare tactics, could only shake his head and laugh. The tales were obviously made up to keep him from indulging. Castle, unable to join him, resorted to lies to frighten him away from their planned outing.

Determined to get back at Castle next time, Abraham couldn't help but find some humor in the situation.

Unaware of Abraham's plans for revenge, Castle drove home, arranging for Chinese takeout with his daughter. Despite having a 'Master of Sichuan Cuisine' skill, his previous attempt at cooking spicy Sichuan food had left him with a sore stomach. It turned out his body couldn't handle the heat, which saddened him greatly. So, he and Alexis settled for the milder Americanized versions of Chinese dishes like Kung Pao chicken and shredded pork with garlic sauce.

While Castle enjoyed his calm evening in New York, Vincent Adler was in a state of disarray back in his Buenos Aires stronghold. This estate, bought secretly over a decade ago when he first rose to prominence on Wall Street, served as his safe haven. Ten years ago, after his Ponzi scheme unraveled and he absconded with billions, Vincent had hidden here to evade the FBI.

Standing in his vast estate, Vincent finally felt a sense of relief. His hurried departure from New York had been stressful, especially after the failed assassination attempt on Castle and the Continental Hotel revoking his membership. He had feared Castle might use the Continental or the FBI to exact revenge. It wasn't until he returned to the safety of his estate that he could relax.

Now, in Argentina, he no longer had to worry about Castle hiring an assassin or the FBI hunting him down. Over the years, he had thoroughly bribed the local officials, ensuring their loyalty.

However, his meticulously planned return to New York to fulfill his lifelong ambition—using Neal to obtain the crucial music box and find the German submarine filled with billions worth of treasure—was disrupted by Castle's interference. This failure was Vincent's first significant setback in decades.

Seething with rage, Vincent thought of his nearly flawless plan being thwarted by an unassuming writer. Determined to exact revenge, he headed to his study. On the flight back, he had devised a plan but waited until he felt safe to put it into action. Now that he was back in his fortress, it was time to set his plan against Castle in motion.

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