Hearing the slight hint of reluctance in his Uncle Winston's voice, Clark quickly spoke up, "Uncle Winston, I really do need your help. You see, during my trip to Brazil, I ended up giving all the military supplies you helped me procure to Dominic and his team. They were in unfamiliar territory, facing Hernan Reyes and his men. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing, so I handed over all the supplies to them. Now, I need your help to buy another batch of military equipment."
Winston's anger flared at Clark's words. "Clark, you little rascal! You said you were just there to watch the show? Who goes to watch a show with a stockpile of military-grade weapons? You lied to me, didn't you?"
Clark was momentarily stunned by Winston's accusation, then realized that Winston didn't know about his spatial storage. Winston must have thought that Clark had planned everything in advance and transported the weapons to Brazil. Understanding his slip, Clark offered an embarrassed smile, "Uncle Winston, you misunderstood. I didn't bring the weapons with me initially. It was only after seeing Dominic and his team being hunted down by Hernan's men that I figured out a way to transport the weapons over. I don't need to lie to you, do I? If I had planned something against Hernan, I would have sought help from you elders. I'm not foolish enough to take unnecessary risks when there's an easier way."
Clark's sincere, albeit somewhat strained, explanation managed to placate Winston. It aligned with his understanding of Clark's character. This mischievous kid was indeed adept at scheming, but he wasn't foolish enough to take on Hernan alone. If Clark had intended to act against Hernan from the start, he would have sought help, even if not from Winston, then at least from his best friend, John. Winston knew John had been in Italy with his pregnant wife, Gianna, recently, confirming Clark's story's plausibility.
Winston's expression softened, but the prospect of helping Clark acquire another large cache of weapons made him uneasy. He needed to understand what Clark intended to do with such an arsenal.
Clark was straightforward in his response, "Uncle Winston, there's no specific target. I've just developed a little paranoia about not having enough firepower. It makes me feel safe. And you might not know, but that conman Vincent Adler, who had put a bounty on me in the European underworld, returned to New York yesterday. We've signed a peace agreement, but who knows when he'll go crazy again and come after me? So, stocking up on weapons is just a precaution."
"You call this 'a little'?" Winston waved the list Clark had handed him. Fully equipped, these items could wage a small war. Using them in the city could easily destroy several buildings.
But upon learning that Vincent Adler was back in New York, Winston's hesitation vanished. He agreed to help Clark, promising to deliver the weapons on the list as quickly as possible. Without questioning, he also agreed to provide the military drone parts Clark had sneakily included.
Elated, Clark dragged the massive suitcase he'd brought with him and placed it in front of Winston. "Thank you, Uncle Winston. This is the payment for the equipment. I brought five million dollars in cash. If it's not enough, just call me, and I'll cover the rest."
Winston gave Clark a meaningful look. "Clark, you rascal. This trip to Brazil wasn't just about watching a show, was it? How much did you get from Dominic's heist on Hernan?"
Clark chuckled, "You saw right through me. I didn't take a share directly from Dominic. This money was given to me by a friend—twenty million dollars."
Winston felt a pang of exhaustion. The younger generation seemed unstoppable, casually dealing with millions like it was nothing.
With a long sigh, Winston decided to send Clark away before he got even more frustrated. "Go on, get out of here. Your order will be delivered the day after tomorrow at the latest. Remember, this is New York, not some third-world country like Brazil. You can't use these weapons against Vincent in Manhattan. No one can save you if you do. Understand?"
Clark smiled, "I understand, Uncle Winston. Don't worry."
Watching Clark leave, Winston stood in silence before picking up the phone. "Sean, I need to talk to you about your son, Clark. He just left my office. That rascal recently stirred up a huge mess in Brazil and now wants to buy a large arsenal. Yes, because Vincent Adler is back in New York... Clark seems to be plotting something against him... He thinks he's being discreet... Alright, let's see what the next generation is capable of..."
Hanging up, Winston let out a relieved, albeit complicated, smile. "Clark, you're still too green."
Unaware that his father had already been informed about his activities, Clark cheerfully left the Continental Hotel. With no pressing matters, he said goodbye to Garon and headed home. After almost a month away, he looked forward to spending time with his daughter tonight.
On the way, he called Neal and Mozzie, arranging to meet them the next day. He planned to introduce Mozzie to Neal, ensuring they stayed in touch while monitoring Vincent's movements. Mozzie would replace him in this task, allowing Clark to focus on cases with Beckett without missing any critical updates on Vincent.
Clark had told Mozzie about the meeting the previous night, mentioning that Neal Caffrey, a renowned figure in art crime, would be present. Mozzie, surprisingly, was thrilled. When Clark asked how he knew Neal, Mozzie simply replied it was because of Neal's striking good looks. Clark was stunned by the unexpected answer.
He regretted not guiding Mozzie better during their time in Brazil. It seemed Mozzie's personality had taken a quirky turn, influenced by Clark's less-than-stellar mentorship.
Mozzie, however, was too excited about meeting his idol to notice Clark's inner turmoil.
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