To be honest, the people in this room practically represented the pinnacle of American power.
Unlike the old-money dynasties that secretly controlled the country from behind the scenes, these were men who could, with a few phone calls, topple a government if they really wanted to.
And now, thanks to Castle's masterful use of mutual interest, they had all been brought together for one unbelievable opportunity.
Success was practically inevitable.
More than anything, what truly mattered to these people was the reward.
However, just as they were finalizing their strategy, the four-star general in the room—who had by now fully grasped that this was a personal deal and not a government-sanctioned operation—raised a key concern.
After whispering with the Northrop Grumman CEO, he hesitated for a moment before addressing Castle directly.
"Rick, there's something we might have overlooked," General Peterson said carefully. "We should consider bringing in a high-ranking Navy officer to this deal."
Everyone in the room turned to him.
Castle raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Peterson first confirmed that Castle was okay with him explaining, then cleared his throat.
"Look, I understand why I'm here. You brought me in because of my influence over the Air Force, and I appreciate that. If you need C-17 Globemasters or even C-5 Galaxies to move this treasure, I can make it happen."
The room nodded in agreement.
Air transport was crucial to this operation.
"But," Peterson continued, "this treasure isn't sitting in New Mexico—it's halfway across the damn world."
"Even though the Air Force has global reach, and we do have Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, relying solely on airpower is... not ideal."
Castle frowned. "You're saying we need naval support?"
"Absolutely," Peterson confirmed. "And more than that, we need one of our own in the Navy to help coordinate things."
The room fell silent as everyone processed this.
It made perfect sense.
Castle's primary military connections had been with the Air Force—after all, his stealth technology was mostly aerospace-focused.
Even Jason and his SEAL team had only been brought in because of Northrop Grumman's ties to the Navy.
But that was just one small team.
A proper naval presence in the region? That would be a game-changer.
"Think about it," Peterson urged. "Unlike the Air Force, the Navy has persistent presence in the Indian Ocean. Right now, the Seventh Fleet is in the Pacific, and the Fifth Fleet is covering the Gulf. Both are right next to India."
He leaned forward, emphasizing his point.
"And most importantly—thanks to India's recent stunt—we already have a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, plus two Arleigh Burke destroyers, patrolling the Indian Ocean as a 'show of force.'"
Castle's eyes narrowed.
That was news to him.
The United States Navy was already right next to India?
Right where they needed them to be?
Peterson gave a wolfish grin.
"If we bring in a Navy admiral, we can instantly turn this from a covert operation into a protected extraction. We won't be sneaking around like criminals—we'll be walking out in broad daylight under a damn fleet."
The room erupted into discussion.
The Northrop Grumman CEO was immediately on board. Given his company's strong ties to the Navy, it made perfect sense.
Lockheed Martin and Boeing's representatives also quickly saw the logic in it.
The two politicians in the room—one of whom was the Speaker of the House—were the most convinced.
They knew that without a military security guarantee, this operation was much riskier.
What if India found out?
What if they intercepted the treasure?
They needed the Navy.
More importantly, they needed a Navy admiral on their side.
Castle processed all of this and finally nodded.
"Alright," he said. "You've got my approval. Make the call."
Peterson grinned and immediately took out his phone.
Who did he call?
One of his oldest friends—a four-star admiral in the United States Navy.
The conversation was brief.
Peterson didn't explain much—he couldn't over the phone.
All he needed to say was:
"If you don't get to New York in three hours, you're going to miss out on the biggest payday of your life."
The admiral didn't even ask for details.
He simply said:
"I'll be there."
With that settled, the group took a break.
With three hours to kill, everyone relaxed and started networking.
The Speaker of the House chatted up Castle, trying to establish a closer connection.
The aircraft CEOs, who had long-term investments in Castle's stealth technology, started discussing new projects with him.
Peterson, meanwhile, found himself bombarded with questions about the upgrades to America's stealth bombers and gunships.
All three CEOs had contracts to modify B-2 bombers, A-10 Warthogs, AC-130 gunships, and RC-135 reconnaissance planes.
And since Peterson was the one in charge of testing those modifications, they wanted his opinion.
Peterson grinned and told them exactly what they wanted to hear.
"The upgrades are phenomenal," he said. "Castle's tech is a game-changer. The ability to make an entire plane invisible to the naked eye? It's unbelievable."
Castle smirked.
Was Peterson kissing up to him?
Absolutely.
And Castle loved it.
He wasn't about to let this relationship go to waste.
Three hours later, Admiral Cole arrived.
Unlike the others, he hadn't even known what he was being invited to.
He had rushed from the Pentagon, took a helicopter, and barely made it in time.
And when he arrived at Castle's estate?
He was immediately welcomed to a lavish banquet.
Cole sat down, ate a delicious meal, and then—only after he had enjoyed the finest steak and wine—did they finally tell him why he was there.
At first, he thought they were joking.
Then he saw the serious expressions on their faces.
Then he saw the detailed reports.
And then he saw the estimated value of the treasure.
Cole stared at the documents in stunned silence.
And then—he burst out laughing.
"You sons of bitches," he grinned. "You brought me here for a treasure hunt?!"
Peterson smirked. "We need naval protection."
Cole immediately understood.
This wasn't just a treasure hunt.
It was an extraction mission.
And his job?
To make sure no one interfered.
The more he read, the wider his grin became.
This was insane.
This was brilliant.
And most importantly—this was profitable.
He slammed his hand on the table.
"I'm in," Cole declared. "Tell me what I need to do."
With that, the final piece was in place.
The Air Force was on board.
The Navy was on board.
The government was on board.
And the largest military-industrial corporations were on board.
This was no longer a simple heist.
This was a fully-backed military operation.
And India?
They didn't even know what was coming.
______
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