As cars weren''t allowed on Scarlet Avenue, Marcus walked alongside Natalie.


    They had arrived during the peak of the scarlet poppies'' blooming season. With each passing breeze, petals flew about like a rain of crimson mes.


    Natalie reached out, letting the red petalsnd in her palm, making her fair skin appear even more delicate.


    Marcus also caught a handful of petals and ced them gently into her hand.


    "Thank you." She smiled at him. "Let''s go!"


    "Alright."


    "Nat, let me take a few pictures of you."


    He then pulled out his phone. In the past, all the photos he had of Natalie were taken in secret. But this time, he could take them openly.


    "Sure!" She found a quiet spot and stood beneath the red maple tree. He bent slightly and took several shots of her.


    She wore a light gray tracksuit, and her hair was tied into a neat bun. Her figure was slender and graceful, her small, delicate face radiant against her bright smile. Her captivating eyes glimmered with amusement in the photos.


    Marcus had long noticed that she didn''t favor dresses. Yet, he had still prepared a whole wardrobe of them for her.


    One day, she would wear them all-one by one.


    She asked, "Are you done? If so, let''s go."


    He walked up to her. "Aren''t you going to take one of me?"


    "Oh, right! I''ll take a few for you." She had him stand where she had just been, then took out her phone and earnestly snapped several shots.


    Through the lens, his tall, well-proportioned frame stood out effortlessly. He had foregone his usual formal attire, opting for a simple T-shirt and casual pants at her request. His hair wasn''t meticulously styled, but with a face that striking, he could even pull off a shaved head.


    Satisfied with her photography skills, she picked the most handsome shot and set it as her phone''s wallpaper. She had secretly glimpsed his phone before and found that his lock screen was a picture of her.


    Since they were a couple, using each other''s photos as wallpapers felt perfectly natural.


    "Marcus, look." She showed him her phone.


    A deep sense of satisfaction settled in his chest when he saw his own face on her screen. Still, he kept his expressionposed and merely gave a slight nod. "Not bad."


    "Do you like it?"


    "I do."


    "Then let''s go!"


    She looped her arm through his. Their presence drew many nces from passersby. Seeing this, Marcus simply pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.


    "This way. Watch your step."


    "Alright."


    They hadn''te just for sightseeing. After taking photos, they moved quickly through the avenue.


    At the end of Scarlet Avenue stood a massive stone tablet, inscribed with the history and origins of Scarlet Hill. Atop it, a grand carving of an eagle stood majestically.


    The person picking up Natalie was waiting by the right side of the stone tablet.


    Instead of heading directly over, she pulled Marcus toward the restroom. "Wait for me here."


    "Okay." He didn''t wait long before she emerged, nowpletely transformed.


    Her hair had turned gray and white, wrinkles covered her face, and a dark mole sat just below her chin. She had transformed into an elderly woman in an instant.


    "Marcus, let''s go." She called out in a voice nowced with the hoarseness of age.


    He froze. "Are you... my girlfriend?"


    She nodded. "That''s right. But from now on, you''ll have to call me Grandma." He was dumbfounded.


    "I refuse."


    She chuckled. "Your refusal is meaningless. Unless you don''t want toe with me."


    He was left speechless.


    "Let''s go, dear grandson of mine."


    Left with no choice, Marcus followed after her. He knew how skilled she was at disguises. When she first appeared as Dr. Elim, even he had failed to see through her.


    Later, she disguised herself as a man, and he never recognized her until she revealed herself.


    Now, standing before him again in yet another guise, he was convinced. He finally understood what she carried in that ever-present canvas bag of hers.


    She approached the stone tablet and scanned her surroundings before taking out a different phone to make a call.


    The moment the call connected, a man standing to the right of the tablet stepped forward.


    "Hello, have you arrived?"


    "I have," she replied in her elderly voice. "I''m right in front of the stone tablet-the elderly woman with gray hair."


    The man nced around before spotting her and walking up. "Madam, hello. I''m here to pick you up."


    Natalie gestured for him to lower his phone. Once she confirmed his identity, she ended the call.


    "Let''s go. I''ll be bringing an assistant along," she said, pulling Marcus forward. "This is my assistant, Mark."


    "Mark, nice to meet you." The man cast a brief nce at Marcus, and his eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise before quickly regainingposure.


    "Madam, my name''s Benson Jones. My employers prefer to avoid meeting strangers. I''m afraid Mark won''t be able to apany you."


    Though polite and respectful, his words left no room for negotiation. "Mark, please wait here."


    "That won''t do." Natalie remained firm. "If my assistant can''t go, then I won''t be treating your employers either."


    "Mark, let''s go." With that, she turned to leave, dragging Marcus with her.


    Benson was left with no other choice and quickly stepped in front of them. "Please wait, madam. I''ll make a call first."


    "Go ahead, but hurry up."


    He stepped aside to make the call. After a long while, he returned.


    "Madam, Mark, this way please."


    "Alright, let''s go."


    Benson led them through a small gate behind the stone tablet. Outside, a ck BMW was parked. He opened the door and nodded slightly. "Madam, Mark, please get in."


    Marcus helped Natalie into the car before getting in himself.


    "Madam, Mark, I''ll start driving now."


    "Go ahead."


    The car started up, winding along the curving mountain road. Scarlet Hill stretched endlessly, peaks linked in a seamless chain. The wind stirred the fiery petals, scattering them like a dreamlike cascade.


    Natalie gazed out the window, silently memorizing the route. But as the car twisted and turned, passing numerous forks and side roads, even her sharp memory began to blur.


    After nearly half an hour, the car finally slowed.


    Up ahead, at the entrance to arge estate, stood two figurespletely


    covered from head to toe.


    The disguise was so thorough that Natalie couldn''t even tell if they were men or


    women.