Reborn as Richard Castle in Criminal Minds

Castle understood why Captain Montgomery asked him so directly, so he replied seriously, "I can guarantee that my information is absolutely accurate. However, all we know is that the robbers are from abroad and have served in special forces. Besides that, my intel doesn't provide much that could help us find these people. With just this incomplete information, will your superiors take it seriously?"

Castle's question hit the mark, causing Montgomery, who was ready to pick up the phone and report to his superiors, to freeze. Although Castle could guarantee the authenticity of his source, this alone wasn't enough to make the NYPD high command take notice, let alone request emergency measures to evacuate students. Without more concrete evidence, Montgomery couldn't justify raising the alert level in New York City.

Neither Montgomery nor Beckett realized that the serious-faced man sitting in the office was deliberately withholding critical information to complete his own side mission. Castle had only revealed part of the intel about the robbers and the bomb, keeping crucial details like the robbers' identities, their target, and the fact that the bomb was fake, hidden. He planned to act as the hero once the events unfolded and simultaneously let Beckett shine in a crisis.

While Captain Montgomery was troubled by Castle's bad news, Beckett, having remained silent, noticed that Castle might not have fully disclosed everything he knew. Trusting her intuition, she turned to Castle and asked bluntly, "I get the feeling you're not telling us everything you know. Am I wrong?"

Castle was startled by Beckett's direct gaze. How did she sense that he hadn't fully disclosed everything? But now wasn't the time to hesitate; otherwise, Beckett might catch him off guard. Castle forced a smile and began his act, aiming to divert their attention to the real protagonist of the situation.

"Well, there's nothing I'm hiding from you. It's just that my intel involves another NYPD officer, and I didn't know how to bring it up."

"What? This involves an active NYPD officer?" Beckett and Montgomery exclaimed simultaneously.

Castle quickly calculated in his mind that revealing the connection between John McClane and the robber leader Simon wouldn't have any adverse effects. In fact, it might help him divert Beckett and Montgomery's attention from himself and prepare them for the events to come.

"Yes, the intel says that this robber, Simon, has a significant grudge against an officer named John McClane. But I don't know the specifics of their feud. Because of this grudge, Simon and his crew chose New York as their target, combining their revenge with their bank heist plan."

Montgomery and Beckett looked enlightened upon hearing John McClane's name. Montgomery even remarked, "Oh, so the robber leader has a personal grudge against John? That makes sense. This officer McClane seems to attract trouble wherever he goes."

Castle feigned curiosity, "Oh, is this John McClane well-known? I haven't heard much about him."

Montgomery, feeling smug, explained, "Officer McClane works at headquarters, but he's notoriously unlucky. Let me tell you two stories, and you'll understand what kind of person he is.

A few years ago, he was in Los Angeles for Christmas with his wife when her company's Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza was attacked by armed robbers. Our Officer McClane happened to be there. Despite almost blowing up the building, he single-handedly took down all the robbers and recovered the stolen bonds, making the LAPD look bad in the process. 

Then, a couple of years later, his wife was back in New York for Christmas, and McClane encountered another terrorist attack at JFK Airport. To ensure his wife's plane could land safely, he fought a group of terrorists at the airport, nearly blowing it up. Despite his heroics, the NYPD had to sideline him due to the public outcry and pressure."

Castle's eyes sparkled with amusement, "Wow, this guy sounds like a walking disaster. Trouble follows him everywhere."

Beckett couldn't help but laugh, "You're not wrong. John McClane really is a walking disaster, but he's also a genuinely good cop. Since your intel shows that these robbers are targeting him and using the bomb to divert our attention, we can't just stand by and let them succeed."

Captain Montgomery continued, "Mr. Castle, you've always cooperated well with the NYPD. I won't ask about your intel source, but I hope you take this seriously and help us again. If that bomb goes off in Manhattan, it will be a significant blow to the NYPD's reputation, not to mention the chaos these robbers could cause. So, please, keep an eye on this situation and help us identify these robbers and their location."

Castle, knowing the storyline well, realized this request was not a problem. However, the system's side mission required him to wait until Simon's group began their actions before he could intervene. Pretending ignorance, he hid the key information and planned to reveal everything once Simon's plan was in motion. Then, he would inform Beckett about the fake bomb, allowing her to lead the team to neutralize it while he secretly assisted Zeus and John in foiling Simon's heist.

Castle nodded seriously, "I understand, Captain. I'll do my best to get more information. If I find anything, I'll let you know immediately."

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