Chapter 192: Bounty

After teasing the usually serious and reserved Henry, and drawing enough attention to the investigation at the shady clinic Rejuvenation Hall before they could begin mass production and sale of their harmful rejuvenation serum, Richard Castle left Henry's office with satisfaction. He had provided crucial clues for Henry and Joe, the officers in charge, and was now leisurely heading home.

Castle figured that his interference today had likely sealed the fate of the Rejuvenation Hall's operations. After all, when Henry took things seriously, he was formidable. Besides, Castle had given them plenty of hints.

Castle had initially planned to take it easy and recover from the irritation caused by the bizarre antics of the Willsley family. Who could have expected that the idiots at Rejuvenation Hall would distribute their pamphlets right into his mother's hands? If they were going to mess with him, he had no choice but to expose their scheme.

Castle thought he would enjoy a period of calm, but it seemed fate had other plans. Just as he was getting into a cab to head home, he received a call from John Wick, who was in Europe with Gianna, taking care of her during her pregnancy.

"Rick, what the hell have you done this time? There's a bounty on your head that's even reached Europe. Can't you go a week without causing trouble?"

Castle was pleased to see John's call, but as soon as he answered, he was bombarded with complaints from John. Castle blinked in confusion, completely clueless about any bounty on his head. After gathering his thoughts, he realized it must have been Vincent Adler, who had fled to Argentina after his defeat. Unable to get over his loss and knowing that New York's Continental Hotel had revoked his junior membership, Vincent decided it was too risky to continue pursuing Castle in New York. So, he looked for help in Europe.

Realizing it was probably Vincent stirring up trouble, Castle had the cab driver pull over and let him out. He needed privacy for his conversation with John. Paying the fare, Castle stood by the roadside and relayed the entire situation with Vincent to John, who was far away in Italy, listening on speakerphone with a pregnant Gianna. He refrained from mentioning the submarine and the treasure to avoid dragging Neal and Mozzie into more danger.

Castle recounted how Vincent Adler had targeted Neal Caffrey, how Castle intervened to rescue Neal's girlfriend, and how Vincent had retaliated by sending assassins after him. He explained how he managed to turn the tables on the assassins and how Vincent's attempt to use his Continental connections backfired, leading to Winston revoking Vincent's junior membership at the Continental. This move forced Vincent to retreat to Argentina, pulling back all his assets and henchmen from New York.

Castle told his tale with a sense of pride and then urged John to stay out of it and focus on Gianna and her pregnancy. He assured them that as a well-connected local in New York, he could handle Vincent Adler's hired guns, even if they came from Europe.

Listening to Castle's detailed account of his recent escapades, John and Gianna were both amazed and exasperated. They found it hard to believe that Castle, who seemed so carefree, could cause so much trouble and yet manage to navigate through it all unscathed.

John, typically a man of action rather than words, was left speechless by Castle's rapid-fire narration. Fortunately, Gianna, ever sharp and competent, took over the call. She warned Castle, "Rick, you're underestimating this bounty. Do you know what your head is worth now? Twenty million dollars! It was posted today across Europe's underworld. You were right; it was Vincent Adler. He didn't use Continental channels but opened the bounty to the entire underworld. This means anyone can claim it after proving they've taken you down. You're in serious danger."

Castle was about to argue, but John grabbed the phone. "Rick, I've got Vincent Adler's address in Argentina. I was just discussing with Gianna about heading there myself to take him out."

Castle, startled by John's ominous tone, quickly intervened. If John, a legendary assassin, went to Argentina, Vincent's life would indeed be in jeopardy. But if Vincent were killed, who would help Castle retrieve the submarine and its treasure? Castle persuaded John to stay with Gianna and let him handle the situation in New York.

Faced with no other choice, Castle reluctantly divulged his and Neal's plans to John and Gianna, revealing the true stakes involving the submarine filled with treasures worth billions.

John and Gianna, still processing the revelation, were stunned. They had thought the conflict was merely about personal grudges, not a treasure-laden submarine. Castle's audacious plan to use Vincent's resources to retrieve the submarine and then double-cross him was beyond anything they had imagined.

In the D'Antonio family castle in Italy, John and Gianna exchanged looks of disbelief. They were at a loss for words over Castle's bold maneuvers.

John, who had always seen Castle as a close friend, was particularly taken aback. After all, Castle had been the first person he called for help when his car was stolen by the Tarasov family. Castle had not only helped John get his revenge but also ensured he and Gianna could be together. He even orchestrated Gianna's rise to power in the D'Antonio family and secured John's freedom from the blood oath.

So, upon learning about the bounty, John had immediately identified the issuer and planned to personally deal with it. Gianna, feeling indebted to Castle for his role in their lives, was fully supportive of John's decision to help.

However, they hadn't expected the situation to be so complex. The level of plotting involved made John's usual straightforward approach seem trivial. Even Gianna, accustomed to the intricate power plays of the underworld, was impressed by Castle's intricate scheming.

After promising not to interfere with Castle's plans, they ended the call. Gianna couldn't help but laugh, leaving John perplexed. She soon explained, "Jonathan, you're incredibly lucky to have Rick as a friend. He may seem carefree, but look at how he's orchestrated this entire operation. If he weren't so laid-back, he'd undoubtedly become a major figure. You're fortunate indeed to have him in your life!"

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