Reborn as Richard Castle in Criminal Minds

Zeus knew his girlfriend didn't understand the subtle conversation he had with Castle, which had actually established a tacit understanding between him and Castle. Patiently, he explained to Belle, "You see, the moment he sat down, he asked if I had moved on from the previous incident. That was to confirm my state of mind. Then he immediately inquired about Officer John, implying that he hadn't forgotten that the dangers I faced were because of him. I thanked him for turning a blind eye to me taking three gold bars, which was my way of showing that I'm grateful and not an ungrateful person."

"This gesture also made me realize that your intuition was right—that Mr. Castle indeed faces a shortage of manpower..."

Belle, wide-eyed and surprised, listened to Zeus explaining the situation. Although she had been present during the conversation, her interpretation differed vastly from Zeus's.

"...That's why I stopped you from speaking," Zeus continued. "From the moment he accidentally walked into my hardware store, bought many things, and asked me to deliver them to that warehouse, I had a feeling this writer wasn't just an idle person. Think about it, how did you meet him?"

Belle chuckled, "He accidentally got into my taxi, called me by name, and when I asked how he knew me, he said he had received delivery from me before. But when I dropped him off at his house, I knew he was lying because I had never been to that mansion in the Upper East Side. Later, he paid me to act in front of his cop friend... Yeah, that was similar to this time; he helped the police catch a group of bank-robbing beauties. How did I not realize it before? This Mr. Castle seems to have a thing against bank robbers. But unlike you, I didn't get a share of the stolen goods; I just earned $1,500 from him for acting."

Zeus laughed at Belle's disgruntled expression. "That's the issue. This writer seems like a vigilante, but not just a simple one."

Belle scoffed at Zeus's analysis, "Come on... He's obviously partnered with that long-legged Detective Beckett. And judging by the way he looks at her, he's clearly interested in her. By the way, wasn't it Beckett who led the team to defuse the bomb placed in the school by the robbers? That was even more sensational than you and Officer John recovering the stolen gold. Are you saying that all this was orchestrated by Castle? If so, this writer is quite terrifying!"

Zeus's expression grew serious. "Yes, thinking back on all the events from two days ago, I have to admit that your guess might be true..."

Before Zeus could finish, Belle interrupted, "What are you saying? Do you mean Castle knew about the incident from the beginning and manipulated the situation?"

Zeus wasn't bothered by his girlfriend interrupting him. He continued, "...Starting from the news reports yesterday, I discovered a chilling truth. The Beckett you mentioned, who always cooperates with Castle, was the first officer on the scene at the Fifth Avenue department store bombing. Later, when the FBI and Homeland Security tried to take over the case, she received a mysterious call and immediately left the scene, rushing to the Wall Street subway station to evacuate people. What does this tell you?"

Belle was stunned, "That was when you and Officer John were being misled by Simon's call, right? I remember you said you knew about a bomb planted on a train heading to Wall Street, and John had split off from you to board that train, right?"

Zeus finally smiled. "Yes, but at that time, only John, his superior, and I knew about the bomb. Beckett, however, learned about the impending explosion before us. I don't think she got this information from the police department; it must have been from Castle!"

Belle was shocked by Zeus's analysis. "Are you suggesting Castle has been aware of Simon and the others' movements all along, or that he's working with them?"

Zeus shook his head. "No, he's not with Simon. I believe he is opposed to Simon and his group, and it's likely that he leaked the information to the police."

Zeus's analytical skills were indeed impressive. Reflecting on the events and connecting the dots with the news reports, he easily deduced Castle's role in the situation.

"...When you met him, he was helping the police capture bank robbers. Similarly, two days ago, he was doing the same. It's clear that this writer dislikes those who cause chaos in New York City. And this writer seems to have an extremely efficient information network. Haven't you noticed? Everything he does helps the police!" Zeus explained to Belle.

Belle sighed with relief, "That's good to know. I was afraid you would say Castle is a villain, which would make seeking him out dangerous."

Zeus laughed at Belle's imaginative thinking. "How could that be? I think Castle is more like a character who straddles the line between right and wrong, doing things according to his whims. But one thing is certain: he's not a heinous criminal. Think about it, he maintains close ties with the NYPD and is still cooperating with Detective Beckett from the 12th Precinct. He doesn't seem like a bad guy; more like a well-concealed vigilante!"

"That's why, after my brief conversation with him today, I feel that joining him is a good move!"

Belle didn't think as deeply as Zeus but was relieved that Zeus had agreed with her suggestion to join Castle, and Castle hadn't rejected them, indicating her choice was correct. Not one to overthink, Belle decided not to delve further, realizing she was on a different wavelength than Zeus and Castle. She figured Zeus would handle contacting Castle, as they were already acquainted.

Having gotten what she wanted—Zeus as her boyfriend—Belle was content to leave the more complicated matters to him. Castle hadn't given an immediate answer, which Belle saw as a good thing. Zeus had just brought back three gold bars, so there was no financial pressure, allowing them time to enjoy their relationship. As for the rest, Belle was unconcerned.

Castle, driving away from the diner, pondered the encounter with Belle and Zeus. His understanding of them largely came from the movies of his previous life. He wasn't sure what they were like privately. Though he needed help, he couldn't be careless, especially concerning Vincent Adler. Unlike Neal or Mozzie, whom he knew well and who weren't in cahoots with Adler, Zeus was different. He had spent a long time in New York's underworld, and Castle couldn't entirely rule out the possibility of a connection with Adler. Therefore, even if he used Zeus to handle some tasks, he couldn't let Zeus know his plans for Adler. Perhaps Zeus could be another source of intelligence or handle things Castle couldn't.

Castle realized that his previously carefree approach had left him somewhat isolated. It was time to build a team of his own—a task that could no longer be delayed.

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