Chapter 58: Klein Sells Himself to Support His Cousin's Schooling
"I don't want to go down! Let me out!"
"Ahhh!"
Ben bolted upright, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. He frantically scanned the dim interior of the RV, his wide eyes finally settling on the window. Outside, the world was still swallowed by the pitch-black of pre-dawn.
From the bunk across the narrow aisle, Klein shifted, lazily rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He leaned over the edge of his mattress, peering down at his cousin. "What's wrong, Ben? Dream of Vilgax again?"
Ben clutched his head, his fingers digging into his messy brown hair. "No," he muttered, his voice trembling slightly. "It was Ghostfreak."
...
By early morning, the Rustbucket was cruising down a quiet, sparsely trafficked highway. The trees lining the road were just beginning to turn, their leaves edged with a crisp, autumnal yellow.
Inside the RV, the atmosphere was a mix of quiet focus and lingering exhaustion. Gwen sat at the table, her eyes glued to a glossy Bancroft Academy brochure, her brow furrowed in intense concentration. Across from her, Klein was busy tinkering with a glowing, suspiciously bubbling concoction—his experimental beverage, version 2.0. Meanwhile, Ben was slumped on the sofa, his chin resting on his chest as he dozed off.
It was no wonder the kid was exhausted; the phantom presence of Ghostfreak had tormented his sleep all night.
Up in the driver's seat, Grandpa Max caught sight of Ben's drooping head in the rearview mirror. He chuckled softly. "Ben, wake up. We're almost there."
"Ahhh..." Ben let out a long, dramatic yawn, stretching his arms high above his head before aggressively rubbing his eyes. "It must be that Ghostfreak nightmare from last night. I'm wiped."
Gwen lowered her brochure, shooting him an unimpressed glare. "Oh, please, you big Dweeb. The only reason you didn't sleep well is because you inhaled two family-sized bags of corn chips right before bed."
Watching Ben sway sleepily on the cushions, Gwen's irritation morphed into genuine anxiety. Today was too important. "I'm warning you," she pointed a threatening finger at him. "If you dare to embarrass me later, you are completely, utterly dead!"
She took this visit to Bancroft Academy incredibly seriously. This tour would heavily influence whether her admission application was approved.
"Only a Dork like you would actually want to go to a Dork school like that," Ben shot back, suddenly lunging forward to snatch the glossy brochure right out of her hands.
"Ben, knock it off," Klein chimed in, his tone casual but carrying a hint of warning as he stirred his bubbling drink. He knew exactly how much effort Gwen had poured into preparing for today. She wanted to shine, and he was fully prepared to back her up.
"Alright, alright." Ben grumbled, tossing the brochure back onto the table. Even with his usual bravado, he knew better than to push his luck when his older cousin actually stepped in.
...
Bancroft Academy looked exactly like the kind of place that cost a fortune just to breathe the air. The campus was a sprawling display of classic Western architecture, exuding a heavy, historical elegance. Yellowing autumn leaves drifted down to hide the source of melodious bird songs, while the crisp morning air carried the faint, pretentious chatter of passing students debating academic theories.
Their guide for the day was a girl named Tiffany, who looked to be about twelve or thirteen. She carried herself with the practiced poise of someone who had never flown commercial in her life.
"Just recently, Bancroft Academy was selected as the premier educational institution in the country," Tiffany announced, leading the group down a pristine cobblestone path. "We are the top school on the entire East Coast to receive the prestigious Mikov Honor Award. Because of this, we must be exceedingly selective about the caliber of students we admit."
Gwen practically vibrated with eagerness. "Well, my overall grade average is a ninety-nine," she began, listing her credentials with rapid-fire precision. "I'm also the president of the Computer Club, the treasurer of the Natural Science Club, a dedicated volunteer for social education services, and a core member of my school's Judo team!"
"Uh... you're so excellent," Tiffany replied, her tone dripping with polite dismissal. She didn't even look at Gwen. Instead, her eyes were locked onto Klein, practically sparkling with interest. She had been staring at him since they stepped out of the RV. "Actually, I think you would be a perfect fit for our academy."
Klein blinked, pausing mid-sip of his experimental drink. "Uh, thanks, but I'm not really interested in studying. I plan to inherit my grandfather's Plumber work in the future." He had absolutely zero desire to sit in a classroom. He had done enough studying in his past life before transmigrating, and his grades had been perfectly fine. He was here to chill, not do homework.
"Is that so?" Tiffany didn't miss a beat, her enthusiasm only growing. "Well, would you like to tell me what you are interested in? Maybe we'll find out we get along unexpectedly well."
"I'm not really interested in anything," Klein replied flatly, trying to shut down the sudden romantic offensive. He quickly pivoted, gesturing to the bustling courtyard. "Oh, right. Why are there so many students on campus during summer vacation?"
"To attend our top-tier summer advanced placement courses, of course," Tiffany whispered, taking a deliberate step closer to Klein, leaning in just a little too intimately.
Watching this unfold, Gwen's face contorted into an incredibly stiff, awkward smile. If it were any other girl trying to get that close to her cousin, she would have already lost her temper and started throwing hands.
Tiffany eventually led the group into one of Bancroft's advanced chemistry laboratories. The room was pristine, lined with gleaming white counters and racks of expensive glassware.
But the quiet professionalism of the room was shattered when Ben suddenly convulsed. It was as if an invisible force had seized control of his limbs. He flailed wildly, his arms sweeping across a nearby workstation and knocking over a row of glass beakers filled with colorful liquids.
Crash!
The sound of shattering glass echoed sharply through the lab. Gwen jumped, her eyes widening in horror. She immediately grabbed Ben by the collar, yanking him back, and turned to Tiffany with a desperate, apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry! He has some... mental issues. The doctor diagnosed him and everything."
"It wasn't me!" Ben struggled against Gwen's grip, his face pale. "It was Ghostfreak! He—mmph, mmph!"
Gwen clamped her hand firmly over his mouth, cutting off his frantic explanation.
Tiffany stared at the mess, then at Ben and Gwen, her upper lip curling in undisguised displeasure. As a wealthy young miss accustomed to high society, she possessed a natural, ingrained disdain for ordinary people. Their chaotic, clumsy behavior in her pristine school was rapidly draining her patience.
Sensing the impending disaster for Gwen's application, Klein sighed internally. Time for damage control.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and the snooty guide. He gently placed his hands on Tiffany's shoulders, turning her away from the mess to face him directly. He leaned down slightly, locking his gaze with hers, his expression softening into a charming, easy smile.
"Actually, it's really nothing to worry about," Klein said, his voice dropping to a smooth, reassuring timber. "Just a few broken beakers. Give us a break, okay?"
Tiffany froze. For a second, she looked entirely bewildered by the sudden proximity. Then, a furious blush crept up her neck, dusting her pretty face in pink. She quickly averted her eyes, her haughty demeanor crumbling into flustered shyness before she forcefully cleared her throat to regain her elegant composure.
"Of course," she stammered slightly, smoothing her skirt. "Actually, many students here often make such... minor mistakes."
Klein mentally patted himself on the back. If selling a little charm was what it took to get his cousin into this snobby school, he was willing to take the hit.
But sometimes, disaster strikes when you least expect it.
Without warning, the fire sprinklers mounted on the laboratory ceiling burst to life. A torrential downpour of cold water sprayed across the room, instantly drenching everyone beneath it.
"Oh! No!" Tiffany shrieked, her hands flying to her ruined hair. Her pristine uniform was soaked through, clinging uncomfortably to her skin. More devastating than the water, however, was the absolute humiliation of looking this disheveled in front of Klein.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Tiffany turned her glare onto Gwen. She forced a mask of icy calmness over her features. "Every single detail of this incident will be permanently recorded in your admission application."
"Wait, hold on, this was just an accident—" Klein started, stepping forward to mediate. Honestly, he felt more stressed dealing with this middle-school drama than he did fighting Vilgax.
But Tiffany, feeling her perfect image was already shattered beyond repair, completely ignored his attempt at diplomacy. She cut him off, her eyes locked onto Gwen. "This institution places the utmost importance on personal behavior and family background. That means you must come from an upper-class pedigree to even be considered."
Then, she pivoted sharply, pointing a manicured finger at Klein. "You want your cousin to enter Bancroft Academy, right? Then I'll be direct. As long as you agree to be mine, you and your cousin can enter high society. I will personally handle everything for her admission. You just need to nod."
Klein stood there, completely dumbfounded. The water dripped from his hair into his eyes, but he couldn't even blink. He never, in his wildest dreams, imagined he would one day be reduced to a gigolo to pay for his cousin's tuition.
Off to the side, Grandpa Max wiped a wet strand of hair from his forehead, looking at Klein with a highly amused, teasing smirk. 'You kid! You've got my style from back in the day!'
"No!" Gwen shouted, her protective instincts flaring. She stomped forward, grabbed Klein's left arm, and yanked him forcefully toward her. "I am not going to this stupid school!"
"Bancroft Academy is not a place you can just come and go as you please!" Tiffany snapped, lunging forward to grab Klein's right arm, pulling him back toward her. "You must attend this school!"
Klein found himself caught in the middle of a vicious tug-of-war, his arms being stretched in opposite directions by two furious girls. He winced, genuinely feeling that their combined pulling was inflicting more physical damage on him than a Celestialsapien ever could.
"Hehehe..."
A chilling, hollow laugh echoed through the damp laboratory, instantly freezing the argument.
It came from Ben. But he wasn't acting like Ben. His posture was unnaturally rigid, and his voice dropped to an extremely cold, raspy pitch that sent a chill through the room.
Without a moment's hesitation, Ben's hand shot up and violently slammed down on the Omnitrix dial.
A blinding flash of emerald light illuminated the water-logged room. When the light faded, the terrifying, spectral form of Ghostfreak hovered in the air, his single purple eye glowing with malevolent glee.
"Ahhh!!!"
Tiffany shrieked in absolute terror. Forgetting her upper-class dignity entirely, she threw her arms around Klein, burying her face in his chest. Gwen, caught off guard by the sudden monster and Tiffany's bold move, wasn't about to be outdone. She immediately clamped onto Klein from the other side, hugging him tight.
"Ben?" Grandpa Max stepped forward, his brow furrowed in deep concern as he looked up at the floating alien.
"Uh... Grandpa? I'm over here."
Max blinked, following the weak, groggy voice. He looked past the hovering phantom and saw Ben collapsed in a heap in the corner of the room, looking completely drained.
"Then you are—!" Max whipped his head back to stare at Ghostfreak, his face draining of color as sheer disbelief washed over him.
Ghostfreak threw his clawed hands wide, his eerie voice echoing off the tiled walls in a triumphant roar. "I am finally free!"
Trapped beneath the weight of two terrified girls, Klein let out a long, exhausted sigh.
'What the hell are you howling about?'
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