Steven certainly had no reason to refuse this kind of gathering. In fact, if judged by age, he should have already been categorized as a senior.
As long as there was someone to talk to and stories to hear, and he didn't have to be alone, Steven was always open to it.
So, after following Outcast for a while, they stopped in front of a room that was visibly larger than the other dormitories.
"Wait, are you sure you want to hold the party in a place like this? Isn't it a bit weird?"
Steven glanced up at the sign above the door, which read Trade Station.
No matter how he looked at it, this didn't seem like a spot for a gathering.
"Hey, you're just not being flexible enough. Since Rhodes Island is constantly on the move, there's no way to conduct real trade. We're just making the most of the limited space we have."
Outcast flashed a smile, and Steven immediately gave her a thumbs-up.
He loved talking to people who were adaptable and not overly rigid. This was way more fun than trying to decipher Kal'tsit's cryptic words.
"Besides, we rented this Trade Station ourselves. As long as we're paying, the person in charge is more than happy to let us use it."
With that, Outcast led Steven through the door into the Trade Station.
As soon as they entered, Steven was hit by a strong aroma... the unmistakable scent of alcohol.
Inside, a few cardboard boxes had been set up as makeshift tables and chairs. Sitting on them were several figures in Rhodes Island uniforms, just like Outcast.
Judging by the unknown liquids in their cups, it was pretty clear where the smell of alcohol was coming from.
"Outcast, you're finally here! It's your welcome-back party, and it just wasn't right without the guest of honor!"
A tall, black-haired girl with cat ears noticed their arrival. She brought a glass of liquor over to Outcast and then turned a curious gaze toward Steven.
"And who might this be?"
"A guest invited to Rhodes Island by Miss Kal'tsit. To me... I guess you could say he's a friend I get along with?"
Outcast exchanged a glance with Steven, sounding a bit unsure as she described their relationship.
She genuinely thought he was quite interesting. Whether it was his way of speaking or his mysterious abilities, none of it was off-putting. In fact, it felt more like reconnecting with an old friend around her age.
"Of course, definitely a friend."
Steven chuckled heartily and confirmed it without hesitation.
When it came to making friends, his only criterion was whether he could have a good conversation. Age didn't matter. After all, he wasn't there for a blind date—who cared if someone was a mature lady or a little girl?
"Nice to meet you! I'm Blaze, an elite operator of Rhodes Island. Welcome to Outcast's homecoming party!"
After receiving Outcast's confirmation, the cat-eared girl naturally let go of her initial doubts about Steven. She trusted Outcast's judgment and was more than willing to believe in this young man who had made such a positive first impression.
With a bright smile, Blaze walked over to the makeshift table of cardboard boxes, grabbed a cup emitting the rich aroma of alcohol, and offered it to Steven with a raised eyebrow.
"Care for a drink?"
"It'd be my pleasure."
Steven took the cup without hesitation and downed it in one go.
The burning taste filled his mouth, indicating that this wasn't some high-end liquor, but it was more than enough to make him happy.
After all, it had been a long time since he'd had a drink, right?
"Good! I like straightforward people like you. You'll fit right in with us,"
Blaze gave Steven a hearty slap on the shoulder and led him and Outcast back to the group gathered around the cardboard box "table."
"Sorry about that," Outcast whispered to Steven. "She's just like that—very outgoing. To be honest, we're all like that in private. We tend to let loose."
Outcast took the chance to quietly explain Blaze's behavior to Steven, though from the way she kept sipping her drink, she seemed to enjoy this kind of atmosphere herself.
Fortunately, Steven felt the same way.
"It's fine. Being warm and friendly is a good thing."
Steven had no complaints. In fact, compared to those stiff corporate gatherings where no one knew what to do, this kind of casual get-together felt just right.
"Name's Steve. Well... just a wanderer, currently working part-time as a doctor. Nice to meet you all,"
Now standing by the cardboard box that served as a table, Steven boldly introduced himself to the group without a hint of shyness.
"Ah, don't be so formal! If Outcast brought you here, then you're already one of us. Look, the big guy over there is Ace, an elite heavy defender of Rhodes Island. That guy trying to look cool even while drinking—that's Scout, a Sarkaz. And those two lovely ladies over there are Touch and Pith, both top-tier caster operators."
Blaze took it upon herself to introduce everyone to Steven, treating him like an old friend rather than an outsider.
The people she introduced also responded with friendly smiles, raising their glasses to him as a casual greeting.
Just as Blaze had said, if Outcast had brought Steven here, that alone was enough to prove he was trustworthy. That was all they needed.
"Where is everyone else? Is it just you guys here, or did a few already drink themselves under the table?"
Now that Steven was blending in well, Outcast also dropped her initial seriousness, enjoying the cheap liquor as she asked Blaze.
"Come on, this little bit of alcohol isn't enough to knock anyone out."
"The others are either busy with work or out on missions. Otherwise, who'd miss Outcast's welcome party?"
Blaze waved her hand dismissively as she explained. Meanwhile, she didn't forget to refill Steven's empty glass.
Although Blaze called it Outcast's welcome party, aside from the initial "welcome back," everything about this gathering felt more like a casual drinking session for old friends.
"It's alright. This is just how we are—you'll get used to it. Also, are you just sipping? Come on, don't hold back."
Outcast noticed the confusion in Steven's eyes. After explaining their casual vibe, she joined the rest in encouraging Steven to drink more.
After all, with a newcomer in their midst, who else were they supposed to toast?