Chapter 400 Conditions
“I know you’d never turn your back on this country. Your loyalty runs deeper than anyone else’s. It’s carved into who you are. And only if you lead this squad with full freedom can they unleash everything they have and fight for the nation’s gain. But what I say doesn’t decide it. The higher-ups admire you, but admiration isn’t a must.”
“Thank you for your faith, Mr. Parker. That’s why I came here with my squad in person, to put our terms on the table."
“So please honor what we agreed on last night. Let me speak with the one who has the real authority.”
“Alright. He’s wanted to see you as well.”
Manfred rose and walked to the computer at the front of the room.
After a short wait, he received permission.
“The higher-up agreed."
“You’ll get your meeting, but only your squad is allowed in. I’ll step out. One more thing… when you see him, don’t be too shocked.”
The words hung in the air as Manfred left.
Tilda sat with a knot of confusion. Why would I be shocked?
There was no way it was someone she knew.
“The feed’s live, Queen.”
Jarrett’s voice carried across the room.
Tilda fixed her eyes on the screen as a figure sharpened into view.
When his face came clear, she froze.
Manfred’s warning now made sense.
The man looked impossibly young.
He had the face of a boy, but his hair was slicked back with the polish of an older man.
Each strand shone, black laced with streaks of white.
He wore a black suit too sharp for the youth in his features, and his tall frame stood close to six feet.
Tilda pushed down her surprise.
“It’s an honor to finally meet the one they call the dark web’s top hacker, Queen. Both you and your squad. I’m the director of Cetherland’s Cyber Security Information Center.
“Call me King.”
Jarrett and the others twitched at the corners of their mouths.
Hackers used codenames all the time.
They shouldn’t have cared.
But this young man of clear power is calling himself King…
It stood directly against Queen.
It wasn’t a silly pairing from pop culture.
If it was intentional, it was smoke before the fire.
It was a challenge.
Tilda held his gaze on the screen.
“Alright, King. Mr. Parker told you my terms. What’s your answer?”
“Queen, you know that asking for full freedom without limits is nearly impossible inside a national body. Even though Mr. Parker stands behind you, and even though we know what you and your squad gave to Lab Seven and the nation, the risk remains. If one of you chose betrayal, the access we handed over could be the blade that cuts us down. Promises hold no weight. We have to act with reason.”
King’s voice carried calm power.
Even in refusal, his tone didn’t wound.
Losing a squad this strong would be a waste.
Yet their strength meant danger as well. If they broke trust, the damage would be too great to bear.
“I get it, King. I didn’t expect much from this negotiation anyway. But I need one truth to be heard. Comet will never betray this country. Our purpose, the reason the five of us came together, is to defend it and drive out the leeches who try to eat it alive."
“Even if we’re never official, we’ll keep moving. We’ll use what we have to make every choice that lifts this nation higher. I’m sorry for taking your time.”
Tilda stood tall in her words.
Her squad squared their shoulders with pride.
Her voice carried their resolve.
She thought the meeting was done and reached to call Manfred back to shut down the feed.
If the answer was no, then it’s better to end it and find Dane and maybe help move the lithography work forward.
“Aw, man, you don’t have to be so uptight. I think Queen makes a damn good point. The Hotel Morloss crisis only ended because of her squad. Don’t tell me you’re jealous of her skill and trying to block her.”
The words came with a playful edge.
Another man stepped into view, and he was almost a mirror of King.