Chapter 141: Apocalyptic Curse

One week later.

At the edge of the Federation's no‑sail zone set up off the coast of Dongdao.

A dilapidated fishing boat, like a ghost drifting up from the depths of hell, abruptly entered the Radar's monitoring range.

"Warning! This is a Federation no‑sail zone! You have entered a militarily controlled water area! Change course immediately! Repeat! Change course immediately!"

The harsh warning echoed over the public channel, reverberating repeatedly across the open sea.

However, the fishing boat gave no response.

It still moved at a turtle's pace, stubbornly drifting inch by inch toward the Blockade Line.

Federal Weird Investigation Bureau, Combat Command Center.

On the massive screen, the image of the fishing boat was enlarged to full size.

All the staff held their breath, the atmosphere so heavy it seemed you could wring water from it.

"Director, the contingency plan recommends sinking it outright."

A combat staff officer stepped behind an elderly man with graying hair and a Zhongshan suit, and whispered his report.

Wei Gong did not turn around.

Wei Gong simply stared calmly at the lone fishing boat on the screen, his seemingly clouded old eyes now sharp enough to pierce the display.

So much time has passed.

This is the first "thing" to drift out of that Sea of Death.

He needs to know what, to date, has actually occurred on that island forgotten by the world.

"Veto."

Wei Gong's voice was not loud, but it rang out with authority.

Wei Gong slowly rose, his back straight as a rod, and an unspoken aura of authority instantly enveloped the entire command center.

"Transmit my orders."

"Action team 'Night Owl', deploy all units."

"Highest Priority Order: Ensure the tightest protection."

He paused briefly, each word carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

"Then... capture the people on the boat alive!"

The order was issued.

The elite squad codenamed 'Night Owl' quickly assembled on the Jiabǎn of the Federation warship in the no‑sail zone.

They swapped into the newly developed special‑operations helmets, codenamed 'Hellhound'.

These full‑coverage helmets completely block facial identification, offering only a humanoid silhouette heat‑image on the visor.

Thus, direct visual contact is effectively prevented, avoiding infection by a smile.

"Remember! Absolutely avoid seeing the faces of the people on the boat directly."

"The objective is singular: capture alive!"

The Captain's command traveled through bone‑conduction headsets, coldly reaching each squad member's mind.

Two 'Black Eagle' helicopters spun up massive vortices, carrying the Night Owl squad like two hawks swooping on prey, thundering toward the fishing boat.

Winch down, board, the actions flowing in one seamless motion.

The cabin door was kicked open with a foot.

A blend of salty sea brine and mildew rushed into the face.

In a corner of the cabin, a gaunt man curled up, wrapped in a filthy blanket.

He seemed not to have heard the noise made by the helicopters and the Night Owl squad.

Only when the squad members approached did he jerk his head up, his eyes pure, filled with terror and panic toward the whole world.

The man instantly erupted into a beast‑like struggle, limbs flailing as he retreated.

The Night Owl squad did not hesitate; two members lunged from left and right, using restraints, and amid the man's screams, secured him tightly.

The man was hauled onto the warship and bound into a device dedicated to health examinations.

During that time, the man could not see any person's face.

A few minutes later.

The military doctor who obtained the test report data, holding the paper report in both hands, walked up to the warship commander and handed it over.

"Report, sir, the target has been in a sub‑healthy state for a long time; additionally, both eardrums are completely ruptured."

"He lives in a completely silent world."

The commander was stunned.

No wonder; this man did not react to the broadcast warning at all.

In the past, seven or eight out of ten warned vessels would obediently turn back.

The remainder, after being deterred by live fire, would also scurry away in disgrace.

And those who cannot hear the warning naturally take no action.

After the operation, all members of the Night Owl squad were sent to the highest‑level isolation observation room.

Twenty‑four hours later, the reports on all physiological and psychological indicators were placed on Wei Gong's desk.

"All members normal, no abnormal mental fluctuations or signs of infection detected."

Seeing the report, Wei Gong, whose face had been taut, finally let his mouth corners relax slightly.

He lifted the tea cup at hand and gently blew on the steam.

The first step succeeded.

Meanwhile.

Outside the waters of Dongdao.

Inside the highest‑grade ship's isolated Interrogation Room.

All four walls here are made of soft white material, with no sharp edges.

The survivor who escaped from Dongdao, after being cleansed and treated, changed into a clean Patient Gown and sat in the center of the room.

But he still resembled a bird startled by a drawn bow.

A female expert with graying hair and a gentle demeanor was urgently summoned.

She is the Federation's top sign‑language expert.

The expert put on a custom AR headset, and in her view the survivor's face was overlaid with a real‑time black mosaic.

She did not approach, but from a safe distance used the softest, slowest gestures to try to build a bridge of communication with the survivor.

"Hello."

"Don't be afraid."

"We're here to help you."

Seeing the sign language, a faint focus finally appeared in the survivor's hollow eyes.

His emotions seemed to stabilize a bit.

Then he immediately raised his trembling hands, using all his strength, and frantically sent out his first message after escaping.

The expert slowly spoke, providing a real‑time oral translation of the survivor's message.

And that message… made everyone in the monitoring room feel a chilling shiver.

"Don't look!"

"Don't listen!"

The survivor's gestures grew faster and more frantic, bearing a desperation that seemed to want to tear his soul out.

He gestured wildly, describing the final horror that occurred on that island.

"Laughing Demon… that curse has completely mutated."

The sign‑language expert's voice also trembled slightly.

"It no longer limits itself to a 'smile'."

"Any… any image that carries the concept of a 'human face' becomes a new source of infection."

"Photos, posters, paintings, sculptures… even a fleeting image on a screen…"

"Anyone who sees it becomes infected!"

The monitoring room fell into dead silence.

Everyone felt a chill down their backs.

This mode of transmission is virtually unstoppable!

However, this is not the most desperate part.

The survivor's gestures paused; on his face appeared the expression of recalling the ultimate terror.

He slowly gestured the final scene.

"Prime Minister Xiao Yesi of Dongdao made a final nationwide broadcast…"

"It wasn't a speech…"

The expert's voice grew sharp with fear.

"The broadcast contained no words, only… only a segment of Weird laughter transmitted through every speaker that could drive people mad…"

"That laugh… hearing it will infect you."

"Because… because I'm deaf, I managed to gain a sliver of survival."

"The companions who were with me were infected the instant they heard the broadcast, and then… they killed themselves."

"I fled desperately at the first moment I sensed something was wrong, which is why I wasn't captured…"

Bang!

Inside the Investigation Bureau's operations command room, Wei Gong's earpiece synchronized with the real‑time translation results.

The precious Suicide teacup in front of him slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.

A bone‑deep chill shot from his tailbone straight up to his Heavenly Spirit Cover.

Visual transmission…

Image transmission…

Even sound became a medium for the curse.

This is literally… an apocalyptic curse.

—Soon.

This top‑secret Intelligence from Dongdao's hell, at breakneck speed, shook the entire Senior Executive of the Investigation Bureau.

It even reached the highest level of the entire Federation.