Chapter 405 Trusted Partners

Tilda’s heart didn’t waver. Her resolve was rock solid.

At that moment, Jarrett and the others silently made a vow in their hearts.

Even if they betrayed the world, they could never betray Tilda’s trust.

Even if the entire world stood against her, Comet Squad would fight at her side without hesitation.

“Queen, your word is enough for me.”

“And hey, you didn’t really think we were so petty, right? That we wanted you to crash the Rosales Foundation’s servers just so our country could win a little recognition?”

Benedict sounded almost offended.

“I’m upset here! Hurry up and comfort me!”

Tilda coughed a few times, trying not to laugh.

At last, after all that back-and-forth, the matter was finally settled.

“After New Year’s, find a time to visit headquarters,” Benedict said. “We’ll give you your clearance cards. I’ll unlock the data you’re allowed to access. And we’ll even set aside an office for your team. Use it or not–it’s up to you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Benedict.”

When the call ended, Tilda looked up and froze.

Her teammates were all staring at her with red eyes, tears threatening to spill.

“What… what are you doing?” she asked.

“Queen, I can’t take it anymore. I’m too touched!” Theo cried.

He rushed forward and gave her a huge bear hug, bawling his eyes out.

Tilda blinked in confusion.

Then the other three, swept up by Theo’s emotions, piled on too. Even Zach, the calmest one, jumped in.

Tilda was speechless.

After being knocked over and smothered, she climbed back up and brushed the dust off her clothes.

“So… do you guys have an explanation for this?”

“We heard what you said to Mr. Benedict,” Jarrett sniffled. “We didn’t know you trusted us that much…”

Was this what it felt like to share the same bond as your idol?

"I love it!"

“You idiots,” Tilda muttered, rolling her eyes.

The four of them froze.

“We’ve been trusted partners for half a year already. No–since the very beginning, when I picked you four to form this squad.

“I made it clear back then. Did you really think those were just empty words? If I didn’t trust you, I’d be working solo. Why would I bother training you? Do you think I’ve got nothing better to do?

“Without trust, how could we have handled Rosales Foundation and Hotel Morloss so fast?”

She flicked each of them on the forehead with her finger, hard enough to sting.

They winced in pain, but inside their hearts were soaring.

It felt like wings had sprouted on their backs. For the first time, they felt it deep down–this squad wasn’t just a team. It was home.

They felt like they completely belonged here.

The four grinned like fools, nothing like the nervous rookies they’d been six months ago.

Tilda’s lips curved into a smile. “Since we pulled off a huge win, how about you treat me to a feast?”

“Of course!”

“As if we’d dare not!”

“Cut the chatter. Get it ready! And I’m in a good mood today, so I don’t just want good food. I want the best wine too!”

“Leave it all to me!” Theo thumped his chest.

Hearing that, Tilda assumed he was taking them to Sky Dining, since it belonged to the Woodward family.

But instead, Theo led them to a brand-new place.

It sat right on Skyview Lake–a top-class restaurant built like a castle floating at the center of the water.

Its name was Starlight Dining.

There were two ways to get there: one was a moving elevator-style walkway, and the other was a wooden bridge lit with dazzling lights.

The design was spectacular. And just to buy the rights to build such a place in the middle of Slosa’s central park had cost at least one billion dollars.

Astrid gasped. “Sky Dining’s second branch… Theo, when did this even get built? How did we not know?”

“Half a month ago,” Theo said casually. “It’s not officially open yet. Right now, it’s just in trial mode. Only guests with invites can eat here.

“And since it carries the Sky Dining name under Woodward Group, every detail has to be perfect.”

He explained as he led them to the entrance.

The manager, Kendric Dowdall, had already gotten Theo’s call. He greeted them with respect and even prepared a special table just for them.

After all, Theo was the boss’s son.

They walked across the luxurious red carpet, stepping into the glow of crystal chandeliers that lit the castle like starlight.