Meeting Old Friends

Leaving Aeloria and her group behind, Ryan headed straight for the base headquarters' training ground.

Running into Aeloria and her friends was indeed unexpected and quite awkward. However, Ryan felt nothing. Having seen life and death in the Earth Space Force, the varied looks from Aeloria's friends meant nothing to him.

He had only one thought now: to become stronger!

Within three years, he needed to command C-level or higher combat power.

Within three years, he needed to gain more authority than a regiment commander in the Earth Space Force.

Wasting time singing with a woman who no longer mattered?

Ridiculous!

Nevertheless, the presence of Kolak alongside Jane did not escape his notice.

As he reached the training ground's entrance, he couldn't help but pause. After some thought, he instructed Astra to retrieve a number and sent a message to Jane, warning her to be cautious of Kolak. After sending the message, Ryan felt he had done his duty and stepped into the base training ground.

The training ground's lobby was very quiet, with only two receptionists at the front desk.

"Hello, how can I help you?" A neatly dressed young woman approached, bowing slightly with a polite and sweet smile.

Ryan glanced at her name tag.

Elysia

An old acquaintance. Ryan remembered being pranked by the security team on his first visit to the training ground, only to find out that this sweet-looking girl was actually a bio-robot, priced at 100,000 dollars each.

"I need to use your training equipment," Ryan said.

Elysia smiled, "Sure, this is a paid training ground, costing 50 dollars per hour. If you agree, we'll grant you access and transmit all the rules. You can consult your assistant for any questions."

"Alright." Ryan, familiar with the process, activated his access and entered the training ground.

The training ground was vast, with thirty-six floors, including indoor skiing, surfing, skydiving, shooting, and combat areas, all with high-intensity activities and bio-robot sparring partners. The most cost-effective option was combat sparring.

The training ground could customize bio-robots of different levels for sparring, a benefit provided by TerraCore Group for its employees. However, the 50 dollars per hour fee was beyond the reach of most miners.

But the security team was different. As semi-combat personnel with citizen chips, earning between 300,000 and 500,000 dollars annually, they needed the training ground to hone their bodies and improve their physical fitness. So, they often stayed in the training ground.

Ryan knew that this group had secretly set up a separate floor in the training ground, where they brought in hunted beasts for barbecues and storage. When the monthly supply ship left, they would sell these items at high prices.

Entering the thirty-sixth floor of the training ground, a cold wind blew into the elevator! The vast ski slope, covered in white, came into view. Astra quickly adjusted the temperature.

Ryan walked into the ski slope, scanning the area. He saw a few tables on a platform not far away, with a group of people drinking and eating loudly.

The training ground rarely allowed outsiders, especially on the thirty-sixth floor. Ryan's unexpected arrival immediately caught the group's attention.

The eight security team members were very alert, turning to look at him with wary, scrutinizing eyes, full of superiority and pressure. With their authority, they quickly identified the newcomer.

Number 3377… a rookie. Quite bold. Seems to have some money?

Their expressions slowly turned mocking. The security team naturally felt superior to miners, being a small elite group within the base.

Ryan ignored their invasive, scrutinizing gazes and walked straight to the group, scanning the table filled with bottles, mostly beer and spirits, with a few bottles of strong liquor prominently placed in the center.

Without hesitation, Ryan grabbed a bottle of strong liquor. This action immediately displeased the group. Their eyes turned cold, and the atmosphere nearly froze.

Unfazed, Ryan uncorked the bottle and tilted his head back, gulping it down.

"Gulp! Gulp!!" He downed half the bottle in one go, without pausing. The group's eyes changed, the coldness turning to surprise. Someone couldn't help but scratch their cheek, showing admiration.

The security team leader, Carlos, smiled and looked at his brothers. "Whose little brother is this? Good drinker."

"I wouldn't mind having a couple of little brothers like this."

"Haha…" The atmosphere quickly thawed.

Dealing with a group of drinkers, starting with a chug of strong liquor, was enough to earn their respect.

"Ha!" With the ice broken, Ryan finished the bottle, exhaled a long breath of alcohol, placed the empty bottle on the table, and grinned, bowing to the group. "Sorry, guys, couldn't resist the good liquor. How much is it? I'll pay."

"Drink another bottle, and it's on the house," Carlos leaned back.

The group showed amused expressions again.

"Such a good deal? Alright!" Ryan seemed to expect this, reaching for a second bottle of strong liquor. "I won't be polite then."

At 2,500 dollars a bottle, it was too good to pass up. The group didn't stop him, watching as the rookie downed the second bottle in one go, their mockery turning to genuine respect.

"Good!" Carlos couldn't hold back, laughing. "Haha… this kid is interesting, a man of character! Work hard, save up, and join the security team. I'll save a spot for you."

Ryan smiled inwardly. Carlos's behavior at the drinking table was just as he remembered. The others were the same.

"Come!" "Sit!!" The other security members became enthusiastic, inviting Ryan to join them.

Ryan's approach resonated with the drinkers. What's 5,000 dollars' worth of liquor? Drinking with friends was priceless! Now, reeking of alcohol, Ryan was one of them.

"Come on, kid, what's your name? Let's have a drink together," said a man with a red nose, looking about sixty, showing two rows of yellow teeth, inviting Ryan for a drink.

Ryan grabbed a third bottle of strong liquor. "Do you want to chug the whole bottle or just have a glass?" His face was just a bit flushed, but he felt fine.

The group exploded!

"Damn… can you handle this? Kazemi! If it were me, I'd chug the bottle!"

"Yeah! Chug!!" The others egged on, genuinely enjoying the show. They wanted to see how much the rookie could drink and watch Kazemi make a fool of himself.

Carlos watched with a smile, subtly signaling a young man to bring out a sealed case of strong liquor.

The atmosphere grew even more lively.