Although John used to visit Scarlett only once every ten or fifteen days, they were at least close to each other, both residing in Stellarburg.
But with John's departure to the capital, their chances of meeting again would span the breadth of the entire Federation.
John's inquiry to Scarlett was also an invitation for her to join him in the capital.
Purchasing a decent house there wouldn't be difficult for John and Scarlett, given their capabilities.
However, Scarlett was reluctant to leave Stellarburg.
Understanding each other's personalities well, neither pressed the issue further.
"I'll come back," John assured, patting Scarlett's back.
Tears in her eyes, Scarlett laughed and retorted, "Like hell you will."
Suddenly, she wrapped her arms, pale and smooth as jade, around John's neck, leaning in for a passionate kiss with her fiery red lips.
John embraced her slender waist in return, then lifted her from the couch in his arms, carrying her towards the office's resting room.
Closing the door, the clothes on the two quickly faded away, revealing two perfectly proportioned bodies that seemed like works of art.
Scarlett was gently placed on the bed.
Her delicate face with a blush, the love in her eyes as if to drip out of water, white tender body in the light with a jade-like luster.
John kissed each other's delicate and smooth skin, and was able to smell the familiar scent of jasmine on the other's body.
Waiting until Scarlett's breathing is rapid and she is already in love, he stops his movement, then slowly pushes up his waist and slowly penetrates her body.
John's movements weren't rough, they were gentle, but they entered Scarlett's body smoothly.
It was warm and smooth to the touch, and so tight that it felt like a young girl's.
"Mmm~"
Scarlett's body instantly tightened, her red lips gently opened and a tantalizing moan involuntarily escaped from her mouth.
Along with John's movements, her breasts began to sway like waves, Scarlett's mouth continuously emitted moans and gasps, and her concave and convex body also began to actively cater to John's rhythm.
Before their parting, they did not give in to wild desires; instead, they restrained themselves, gently caressing each other's body as if to etch the other's silhouette deep into their souls.
Beauty, as it always does, proved fleeting.
Time swiftly passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the next day.
At five in the morning, with the day barely breaking, John was already awake on time.
Scarlett lay in his arms, her fiery red hair somewhat disheveled, her beautiful face still flushed.
She had her arms wrapped around John's, pressing her soft, full chest against his arm, igniting a warmth in his heart.
Taking a deep breath, John cleared his mind and gently withdrew his arm, then started to get dressed to leave.
He had no intention of making a grand departure for the capital.
John was aware of the numerous enemies he had; though they currently refrained from acting out due to Victor's deterrence, he knew they would not miss the opportunity once he was beyond Victor's protective reach.
Revealing his whereabouts would serve him no benefit.
As soon as John began to move, Scarlett was actually awake.
John never assumed he could leave without waking her.
Given her diamond-tier perception, that would be unrealistic.
Seeing John getting dressed, Scarlett pressed her lips together, not saying much.
She simply got up to straighten his collar, then cautioned, "Be careful on your way."
"Don't worry," John reassured her, bending down to gently kiss her on the lips, then caressing her face with a smile.
"I'm just going for the academy's assessments, not off to battle. I'll be back in a few years."
Though that was said, both knew John's journey to the capital would likely not be without its troubles.
Lately, John had been staying mostly within the Hidden Stars' branch base, which left House Carter and others no opportunity to act against him.
But that didn't mean they had forgotten; perhaps they were just waiting for John to head to the capital, waiting for him to walk into the lion's den themselves.
The two savored the remaining moments of tranquility they had together.
At 5:30 in the morning, John put on his hood and walked out of the Dark Forest bar.
Outside, a group awaited him – Victor, Dark Fox, Silver Tear, Henry, among others, all there to see him off.
John felt a touch of emotion as he greeted them.
Victor handed John a black card, saying, "This is the Hidden Stars identity card. With it, you can freely access most places in the capital."
"Thank you," John responded without hesitation, gratefully accepting the black card embossed with the Hidden Stars emblem.
He knew Victor was paving the way for him, a gesture that didn't go unappreciated.
With this card, navigating the capital would be significantly easier.
Subsequently, John and the group made their way to the floating train station located in Stellarburg's inner city district.
The capital was tens of thousands of kilometers away from Stellarburg, a journey that spanned numerous secret realms filled with countless dangers, not something a regular mode of transport could undertake.
To facilitate more convenient travel, some of the Federation's most powerful awakeners and scientists combined technology with supernatural powers to create the "floating train," a mode of transport inspired by the high-speed rail systems of the past.
This train could traverse the sky, sea, and land, avoiding various hazards and monsters with a special coating and magic arrays, making it the preferred choice for long-distance human travel.
However, the floating train was beyond the reach of ordinary people, as even the cheapest ticket cost thousands of federal coins.
For a journey spanning the entire Federation like John's, the cost skyrocketed to tens of thousands of federal coins, not to mention various procedures involved.
This made traveling to another city for the average person as costly as international travel in the old days.
The car sped swiftly towards their destination, and John along with his companions quickly arrived at the floating train station.
This massive white structure looked virtually indistinguishable from the high-speed train stations John had seen before.
It wasn't even six o'clock yet, but the waiting hall was already bustling with people, some even forming long queues.
"The wealthy are always in abundance," John thought to himself, just as he was about to join the line, Henry pulled him back.
Noticing John's puzzled look, Henry sighed and gestured towards a separate lane marked "Official Use."
He spoke with earnest, "As a member of Hidden Stars, you're entitled to its privileges. For someone in your situation, you can report your travel as a business trip across cities. This way, not only can you enjoy the amenities of a first-class seat on the floating train, but you can also have your travel expenses reimbursed by the leadership!"
Hearing Henry's explanation, John's eyes lit up, surprised at the benefits of joining Hidden Stars.
"So, in the future, could I possibly..."
Observing John eagerly seeking advice from Henry, Victor couldn't help but feel a bit of a headache.
Silver Tear, covering her mouth, laughed, "John really does love money."
Dark Fox's lips twitched slightly, revealing a faint smile.
The group made their way through the official use lane and, led by the staff, quickly arrived at the boarding gate.
Through the glass doors, they could see a vast open space outside, marked with numerous white lines on the ground, resembling an airport's tarmac more than anything.
Soon, a piercing whistle sound echoed through the sky.
Shortly after, something white, resembling a giant serpent, slowly emerged from the horizon, hurtling towards the station.
Only upon closer inspection did it become clear that this was a white train.
Sleek and streamlined, its bullet-shaped nose cut through the air, its body coated in a special white finish.
Through its transparent windows, well-dressed passengers and uniformed floating train staff could be seen.
Once the floating train came to a halt, a gentle female voice over the PA system announced, "Dear passengers, the A131 floating train bound for the capital has now arrived. Passengers heading to the capital, please take your belongings..."
Seeing the train arrive, John waved goodbye to his companions, smiling, "Folks, we'll meet again."
Victor clapped John on the shoulder, "Go on, let's hope we're all still alive when we next meet."
Victor's words instantly dispelled the brewing sentimentality, choking the farewell speeches in their throats.
Members of Hidden Stars turned various shades of red, caught between laughter and tears.
John couldn't help but find humor in Victor's unique style of parting words.
Smiling earnestly, he declared, "We will definitely meet again!"
With those final words, John turned and left.
Behind him, his friends watched as he boarded the floating train, embarking on his journey to the capital.
With a whistle, the floating train surged towards the sky and vanished from sight.
Everyone understood that if they were to see John again, this seemingly ordinary young man would likely have reached heights that many could only look up to in awe.
Victor stood for a long time, his gaze profound.
While others might have thought he was engulfed in melancholy, he suddenly communicated telepathically to Silver Tear and Dark Fox: "I have a task for you two: head to the capital together and follow John. Then, investigate his identity and background in secret. Make sure to uncover everything."