Chapter 122: Unlucky Soup

Castle couldn't help but question the system, which had been inactive lately but now suddenly issued a long-term task. What was it trying to achieve?

The system, always responsive, explained that Neal Caffrey, in the original show "White Collar," was a significant trigger for major plot points. Moreover, the system had extended the time limit for these side quests to five years. Therefore, as long as Castle didn't slack off, he could accomplish them. After all, in the original storyline, Neal managed most of these tasks without Castle's help, except for keeping his Aunt Ellen alive and legally escaping FBI supervision. With Castle's foreknowledge, he could plan ahead to assist Neal better and faster.

Castle found the system's explanation irrefutable. Regardless of his acceptance, he had to complete the assigned tasks. He felt like the system was forcing him into this, and there was no way to resist but to embrace it.

For Castle, living a life that included persistently eroding Beckett's psychological defenses while occasionally helping Neal Caffrey find treasure-laden German submarines or thwarting Vincent Adler's schemes was actually appealing. It spiced up his life, making it more vibrant. Besides, he was a writer. If he turned these experiences into novels, they might be more thrilling than his previous Derek Storm series.

Comforting himself with these thoughts, Castle quickly accepted the five-year side quest. Once he stopped worrying, he returned to his usual carefree self and headed home, whistling.

Meanwhile, at the 12th precinct, Beckett, leveraging the fact that she caught Kara Dante, who attempted to kill the disguised Mouse Jimmy, forced Kara to confess. Kara admitted to being hired by the Soprano family to kill Dr. Joshua and eliminate the traitor Jimmy, who was cooperating with the FBI. With Kara's confession, Beckett solved the case and handed her over to the excited Federal Assistant District Attorney, Candice Robinson.

Upon leaving the interrogation room, Beckett received high praise from Captain Roy Montgomery, who was delighted by her efficiency in solving yet another murder case in a single day. However, Beckett, despite the praise, was preoccupied and headed towards her desk in deep thought.

Montgomery, perceptive as always, noticed Beckett's demeanor and guessed her thoughts. He transformed into a mentor, asking, "Beckett, do you feel that Castle contributed the most to this case, and while you're happy it's solved, you're questioning yourself?"

Beckett, her thoughts exposed, didn't argue. She smiled faintly. Montgomery, seeing his top detective in a slump, invited her into his office for a chat.

Once inside, Montgomery relaxed and began, "Beckett, remember our identity?"

Beckett looked at her superior, puzzled. "Our identity? We're police officers, right? What else?"

Montgomery laughed. "Yes, we're police officers, specifically homicide detectives. Our primary duty is to solve murders, find the truth, and catch the culprits to give closure to the victims and their families. To achieve this, we rely on cooperation within the department, including forensics, crime scene investigation, and your investigation team. It's not just Castle's ideas that solve cases and catch criminals, understand?"

Beckett realized Montgomery thought she was upset about Castle's significant role in the case, which made her feel inadequate. She found the situation amusing but decided not to argue. She was actually pondering Castle's mysterious network and the accuracy of his intel, not feeling overshadowed by his contributions.

Since Castle's sources were not something to discuss with Montgomery, Beckett decided to go along with his misconception. She smiled, admitting, "Yes, Captain, I do feel a bit outdone by Castle, even though I'm glad we solved the case. But don't worry, I won't dwell on it. I'll keep working hard and make good use of Castle's assistance to solve more cases."

Montgomery, seeing that Beckett accepted his counsel, laughed heartily. "Beckett, since Castle started working with you, your team's case-solving rate has soared. I hope you continue to collaborate well with him. Remember, it's not just me watching you; the Chief and the Mayor know about your team's prowess. I hope by the time I retire, you'll be in this office."

Montgomery's heartfelt encouragement touched Beckett. Since he discovered her in the archives seven years ago, he had been a mentor and supporter, always fostering her growth. His current words of encouragement further strengthened her gratitude and commitment.

However, Beckett's lingering doubts about Castle's sources, which he claimed were confidential and unreportable, made her hesitate to confide in Montgomery. She decided to hold off until she could discuss it with Castle.

Seeing Beckett's mood improve, Montgomery, satisfied with his mentoring skills, ended the session and signaled her to finish the paperwork on Dr. Joshua's case to transfer it to the District Attorney's office in the morning.

Beckett, acknowledging the signal, saluted and left Montgomery's office, ready to tackle the next task at hand.

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