Chapter 376: Release the Undead

"That's a cursed seal," the host's voice drifted, "From now on, anyone who tries to resist, flee, or use Aberrant Arts will trigger this curse."

He paused, a cruel smile tugging at his mouth, "The outcome will be just like those two."

The host raised his hand and pointed at the two stone statues on the ground.

The banquet hall was dead silent, and Ying Duo, standing at the edge of the crowd, lowered his head to look at the back of his hand.

On the back of his hand, indeed, a black mark had appeared.

After hearing it was some curse, he immediately checked his character panel; if it were a curse, it should count as a negative debuff and be displayed on the character interface.

Or perhaps the game system doesn't count the curse as a negative buff?

Ying Duo lifted his head and looked at the host standing in the center.

The person kept speaking, probably the usual robbery lines like "Don't act rashly," "Cooperate with us," "Maybe you'll survive."

The performance was just too clumsy.

Ying Duo even mentally critiqued it: the lines were hackneyed, the actions flamboyant, the twists stiff.

Even the basic competence of a villain was missing.

Nevertheless, there were still praiseworthy aspects.

He glanced at the two statues; at least because Aberrant Arts were present, the special effects looked decent.

The host waved at the accomplice disguised as a waiter behind him.

"Send someone to contact the Dome."

A man in a tailcoat nodded, then found someone to accompany him to the cockpit, where the equipment for communicating with the outside world was.

The banquet hall remained dead silent.

No one dared to move, no one dared to speak.

Only suppressed breathing and occasional sobbing could be heard.

The waiter who went out to communicate returned quickly, walked to the host's side, and whispered a few words.

The host nodded, then lifted his head and scanned the room, "Then we wait for the Dome to react."

Someone couldn't help but speak, voice trembling: "W-what do you want?"

"Money? Jewels? Or beauties? As long as you want them, the family behind us can provide..."

The host gave the person a glance, a mocking smile curling his mouth, "What do you want? We're not interested in those things of yours."

Before he could say more, a voice suddenly rang out.

"If possible, I can negotiate directly with the Dome on your behalf."

Everyone's gaze turned to the source, a middle‑aged man in a dark gray suit, hair meticulously combed, his face bearing a calm accustomed to grand scenes.

He pushed aside the person blocking the way and stepped to the front of the crowd.

"I am a senior operative of the Celestial Dome Foreign Ministry, able to contact headquarters directly," Xu Mingyuan's voice was steady, "If you have any requests to convey to the Dome, I can deliver them."

His gaze swept over the host, but his words made everyone fall silent.

"But I require you to guarantee the safety of everyone present."

The host stared at him, his smile deepening.

"Foreign Ministry... fine, since you want to be the front‑runner, then you take it."

He took a step forward, looking down at Xu Mingyuan.

"Our demand is simple, just one."

"Have your Dome release all the Undead captured last week in Yin Yue City."

As soon as the words fell, a gasp of cold air rippled through the banquet hall.

Someone couldn't help but gasp softly, "They're Undead?!"

"They're the Invaders!"

"What do they want?!"

The host's gaze swept coldly over those speakers.

"Silence."

His voice was low, but the chilling murderous intent instantly silenced them.

Undead.

The term seemed familiar to everyone present.

And they all called the Undead "Invaders"?

Ying Duo watched their reactions, and his heart gradually sank.

Unlike the Church, the "Undead of the Old World" seemed to be common knowledge among those on the Dome's side, didn't it?

Xu Mingyuan's complexion changed.

As a senior operative of the Foreign Ministry, he indeed knew some inside information ordinary people lacked.

Ordinary people only knew the Undead were Invaders from another world, that they possessed the inner selves of those around them, and unnoticed, familiar people became someone else.

The Dome had previously been mass‑capturing these Undead, and due to the expanding scale, had announced their existence days ago, urging everyone to report people nearby who lacked even basic knowledge.

And he knew those Undead ultimately ended up in the Dome's laboratory, the Undead from a week ago......

He could only hope the lab folks moved a bit slower.

Xu Mingyuan inhaled deeply, his voice still steady.

"I can convey, but I can't guarantee the Dome will agree."

The host smiled.

"That's fine, you only need to convey."

He raised his hand and pointed at the terrified crowd in the banquet hall.

"As for whether to agree—"

He paused, his tone carrying a feigned cheerfulness.

"It depends on what Dome thinks—whether these people's lives are worth swapping for those few Undead lives."

The banquet hall erupted in another commotion, but this time the host ignored them, his gaze merely scanning the room.

"By the way, where's the one called Mei Weisi?"

Mei Weisi calmly stepped out of the crowd, her deep‑purple gown gliding above the floor, the golden threads outlining a pattern that glittered in the light.

"I'm here."

The host raised his hand and summoned a companion from the corner.

"Send a notice to the broadcast room, telling everyone who didn't attend the banquet and is still holed up in their rooms to come here and gather."

The attendant nodded, turned, and hurried away; only then did the host look back at Mei Weisi.

"As for you—since the Wen Sha family is willing to cooperate, please help keep order and tell them that if they obey, once Dome releases the people, they'll all survive."

"Fine," Mei Weisi whispered, looking very compliant, "I'll cooperate."

Occasionally a suppressed sob rose, but it was quickly muffled by those nearby, who glanced cautiously at the host and saw he was ignoring them.

Gradually, a few people couldn't help whispering complaints about their misfortune, while others murmured about what Dome might do.

Ying Duo's gaze fell on a trembling man beside him, who wore a dark‑blue suit, a crooked tie, and a forehead slick with sweat.

He leaned against the wall, legs weak, yet still muttering angrily with those nearby about the Undead's cruelty.

Ying Duo silently moved closer.

"Hey."

The man startled at the sudden voice, nearly shouting.

He turned his head and saw a boy in a black hoodie, who had somehow been crouched behind him, now staring expressionlessly.

"Y‑you, what are you doing?" the man's voice trembled.

Ying Duo merely asked curiously, "What do those people mean by 'Undead'?"