Ben10: A Romantic Adventure with a Gender-Swapped Class

After the three of them finally finished their breakfasts (and Kevin, after being treated like he was invisible the whole time, finally couldn't stand it anymore and fired countless silent protests with his eyes), they sat in Kevin's car with a mix of the relief after their playful antics and the tension of facing the unknown.

The engine let out a deep roar as the car merged into the gradually bustling morning traffic.

The newly completed "Intelligence Mars Communication" office building soon came into view.

It stands out in a relatively new development zone, surrounded by sparse buildings, which makes it stand out from the crowd.

The huge sign, made of some kind of reflective metal, with the words "Intelligence Mars Transmission" reflecting a cold, even dazzling, silvery-white luster in the early morning sunlight, carries a sense of technology and a certain subtle sense of alienation.

Kevin found a parking space on the side of the road and parked.

As the three of them pushed open the car door, a cold, icy smell, typical of new buildings and mixed with cement and paint, rushed out, instantly dispelling the lingering warmth of breakfast and playful banter inside the car.

The building entrance is a huge revolving glass door, so smooth that the silhouettes of the three people are clearly reflected.

Upon entering the hall, they were instantly enveloped by an eerie emptiness and silence that was completely different from the hustle and bustle outside.

The space was exceptionally open, with a simple yet enormous geometric chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, emitting a pale and even cold light.

The smooth, mirror-like light gray floor tiles reflected the overhead lights and their figures, each step echoing with an almost excessive clarity, standing out starkly in the overly quiet space.

The air was filled with the faint chemical smell of newly installed building materials and the chilling lingering scent of strong disinfectant, so cold and devoid of any warmth.

The typical office space layout has been magnified to the extreme: endless workstations, each with a black computer monitor, so neat and uniform it's suffocating.

Several potted plants with thick, glossy green leaves were carefully placed in corners or at bends in passageways. They were lush and green but lacked vitality, and seemed more like cold decorations placed to meet certain design requirements.

The water dispenser in the corner glowed with a faint blue standby light, and next to it stood a set of cold, hard-lined leather sofas, also brand new, yet showing no signs of having been used.

The entire space was clean, tidy, and meticulous, yet it exuded a strong, impersonal sense of emptiness.

Apart from the slightly hesitant footsteps of the three of them and the faint rustling of their clothes, there was no other human noise—no keyboard clicks, no telephone rings, no buzzing conversations, and even the faint sound of the central air conditioning seemed to have been deliberately turned down to the lowest setting.

A chilling silence, like being in a huge, sterile laboratory, hung heavily over the place, suffocating every breath.

The three of them simultaneously slowed their pace and scanned their surroundings warily.

Kevin had his hands in his pockets, seemingly casual, but his sharp eyes scanned every corner where surveillance equipment might be hidden; Xiao Ban subconsciously moved closer to Mo Bai.

Mo Bai tensed his shoulders and back slightly. The Ultimatrix watch face was pressed against his wrist, sending a familiar chill through him, keeping him on his guard.

The emptiness and silence became the most ominous backdrop at this moment.

Following the gleaming arrows on the floor, they headed straight for the elevator area, located deep within the lobby and also gleaming with a cold metallic sheen.

Four elevators stood side by side, with only the outermost one displaying a green "standby" indicator light.

Mo Bai extended his index finger and pressed the metallic upward arrow button.

The elevator doors slid smoothly to both sides, revealing silver-gray metal panels and equally cold mirrors that reflected the slightly somber faces of the three people inside.

They stepped into the cramped elevator car, and Kevin reached out and pressed the button for the 11th floor.

A slight feeling of weightlessness came over me as the elevator steadily and silently ascended.

The red numbers on the digital display silently ticked: 3…5…7… The slight mechanical hum was amplified in the sealed space, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Mo Bai stared calmly at the constantly changing floor numbers, but his tightly pursed lips betrayed his inner turmoil.

He couldn't help but speak, his voice sounding somewhat abrupt in the small space, breaking the uncomfortable silence: "Why do you think Xiaowen received their invitation?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ban's tense little face relaxed slightly, and a sly yet self-assured smile habitually appeared on his lips, as if this were the simplest question imaginable.

She turned her head to look at Mo Bai, her brown ponytail swaying gently with her movements.

“Of course it is!” She lowered her voice a little, with a hint of smugness. “It’s because she’s Tennyson’s cousin—the guardian of the universe, a superhero, and everyone’s favorite!” She deliberately emphasized those titles, her green eyes gleaming with a “praise me” light.

This overly narcissistic answer immediately drew undisguised criticism from Kevin, who was standing next to him.

He rolled his eyes at Xiao Ban, his lips pursed, and his voice rose a few decibels.

"Please, you can be any more narcissistic," he said mercilessly, popping the little boy's inflated balloon.

"Ding!"

A crisp, pleasant yet somewhat jarring announcement rang out, and the elevator doors slid silently open to the sides, perfectly interrupting the escalating argument.

The 11th floor has arrived.

Outside the door, instead of the expected office area corridor, there was a relatively independent small reception area.

Unlike the cold and empty lobby downstairs, the lighting here is much softer, and the thick, dark gray carpet absorbs the sound of footsteps.

On the wall directly opposite the elevator door, a huge logo relief that almost occupies the entire wall comes into view, bringing a strong visual impact!

It was a huge pattern composed of countless abstract flame lines that twisted, rose, and intertwined.

The lines are not the traditional orange-red, but cast from a dark, metallic silver-gray alloy, which reflects a sharp, cold glint under the soft overhead light.

Below the flame pattern, several sharp-edged characters are inlaid in the same cold metal material: Wisdom Mars Transmission Association.

Right in front of this huge logo relief, a young man dressed in a perfectly tailored, exquisitely made dark gray three-piece suit was already waiting there, standing straight.

His smile was like a meticulously designed template, with a perfect curve, and his eyes were eager and focused.

The moment the elevator doors opened, his incredibly sharp gaze, like a searchlight, immediately locked onto Xiao Ban and Mo Bai, completely ignoring Kevin, who had his hands in his pockets.

He strode forward, his enthusiastic voice ringing out loudly in the quiet foyer, even with a slightly exaggerated tremor.

"Tian Xiaoban!" He stretched out his hands, aiming clearly at Xiaoban, as if to hug him, but ultimately stopped at a handshake distance.

“And Mo Bai!” He immediately turned to Mo Bai, also stretching out his hands, lowering his posture even further, his eyes almost overflowing with fervor.

"It is my great honor to meet you!" He shook hands with Xiao Ban and Mo Bai one after the other with great force, shaking them up and down. The force made Xiao Ban frown slightly.

"The presence of such distinguished guests as you is a great honor for our 'Intellectual Mars Transmission Association'! We are truly honored!" he emphasized repeatedly, his tone overflowing with flattery.

Hearing this almost fawning and exaggerated compliment, Xiao Ban's confidence, which had just been shattered by Kevin, was instantly restored!

She immediately raised her delicate chin triumphantly at Kevin, who had been left standing to the side, and even raised her eyebrows in a very vivid and provocative manner, her eyes clearly saying: "See! See! What did I tell you?!" She adopted the posture of a victor who believed that "facts speak louder than words."

The three stepped out of the elevator and onto the soft, sound-absorbing carpet. Out of basic social etiquette, Xiao Ban and Mo Bai restrained their excessive enthusiasm and shook hands with the man in the suit who introduced himself as Kang Du again.

His palms were dry and strong, but they carried a deliberate warmth that made people uncomfortable.

Kevin completely ignored Kondo's outstretched hand. With his hands still in his pockets, he slowly walked around behind Kondo like a curious tourist, looked up, and examined the huge, somewhat aggressive flame logo relief on the wall with great interest.

His gaze swept over the cold, wild lines, finally settling on the large metal characters below, which he read aloud clearly with a touch of cynicism.

"The Intellectual Mars Transmission Society?" He deliberately dragged out each word, pointing to the huge flame relief. "What does it represent? The Barbecue Association?"

Kando's perfect smile remained unchanged, as if he had expected this question.

He calmly turned to face Kevin, his face bearing a gentle and tolerant expression, as if explaining common sense to an ignorant child: "That's just what the flame represents." His voice was calm, with a persuasive quality.

After saying that, he stopped looking at Kevin and walked confidently to the bottom of the huge, breathtaking flame logo relief.

He raised his head, gazing at the cold flame with an almost pious, godlike posture. His eyes instantly blazed with a fanatical light of worship, and his voice rose sharply, filled with a proclaiming passion and conviction that echoed throughout the foyer.

"Flame!" He opened his arms as if to embrace the wall. "It is a milestone in the invention of human knowledge! It dispelled ignorance, brought light, and ignited the first spark of civilization! It is a symbol of our exploration of the unknown and our mastery of power! It is the most primitive, greatest, and most eternal totem of 'knowledge'!" His voice carried a missionary-like persuasiveness, trying to infect everyone present.

Seeing this, Xiao Ban quietly approached Mo Bai, tiptoed, and whispered the warm scent of steamed buns into his ear, explaining in a low voice with rapid but exceptionally clear and accurate speech.

"What this guy said is only part of their doctrine. The core belief of the Intellectual Mars Association is that thousands of years ago, a benevolent, friendly, and technologically advanced alien visited Earth. It was this alien sage who ignited the first flame of wisdom in humankind, imparting knowledge and tools that were ahead of their time, thus ushering in the golden age of Earth's technological takeoff. They believe that the 'flame' was the first and most important 'intellectual' gift that the pioneer gave to humankind." She recited it extremely fluently, with clear logic and complete details, as if she had recited it countless times.

Mo Bai turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on the profile of Xiao Ban, who was very close to her and had a serious expression.

Although she already knew that she possessed an almost photographic memory, Mo Bai couldn't help but feel a clear sense of surprise and admiration when she heard her speak so fluently, completely, and even with a touch of academic tone about the relatively obscure and complex core doctrine of the association.

This girl is usually carefree, but when it really matters, her mind is like a sophisticated database.

If it were me, after listening to Kandu's passionate speech, I would probably have forgotten most of it by now if I didn't make a conscious effort to memorize it.

This talent is both enviable and frustrating.

Suddenly, Mo Bai felt a light tap on his shoulder. He instinctively turned around and saw Kang Du standing in front of him, one hand on his shoulder, a thoughtful expression on his face, speaking to Mo Bai.

"You should know all this best; we are not alone in the universe."

Before Mo Bai could respond to Kang Du's words, Kevin suddenly rushed forward and placed a hand on Kang Du's shoulder, interrupting their conversation.

Kevin asked with a smile and a relaxed tone.

Which alien are we talking about now?

"I have so many alien friends."

Kangdu didn't seem to be affected by Kevin's interruption. He remained calm, turned to look at Kevin, and then slowly withdrew his hand from Mo Bai's shoulder, replying.

"We are talking about this alien, who is a transmitter of knowledge, and his name is Big Steel."

Upon hearing the name "Da Gang," Mo Bai's heart skipped a beat, and a strange sense of familiarity welled up inside him, but he couldn't remember who this person was.

He frowned, trying to recall any memory of the name.

At this moment, Xiao Ban noticed Mo Bai's unusual reaction. He saw Mo Bai put his hand on his chin, as if he was deep in thought, so he asked.

"what happened?"

Upon hearing this, Mo Bai's thoughts seemed to be suddenly pulled back by an invisible hand, and the rapidly spinning ideas in his mind seemed to be paused instantly.

Mo Bai slowly turned her gaze away from the distance, lowered her head slightly, and looked at Xiao Ban, who was looking at her with concern.

The little boy's bright eyes revealed a sincerity and worry that seemed to penetrate Mo Bai's heart.

Mo Bai gazed into Xiao Ban's eyes, and after a while, he smiled gently and replied in a mild and calm tone.

"It's nothing, it's just that the name sounds familiar."

"I'm sure I've heard this somewhere before."