Chapter 142: Weird Ecstasy

The Federation's Senior Executive is extremely panicked.

If image carriers become cursed, then every place in the Federation that contains images will become a source of contamination.

Humanity is likely to face a great extinction in a short time.

After a full day and night of data collation and analysis, the Federal Weird Investigation Bureau produced an urgent report.

The report's conclusion slightly loosened one of the Federation Senior Executive's nerves, which had been stretched to the limit.

—The curse intensity of 【Sequence 012 – Laughing Demon】, after leaving Dongdao's mainland, shows a cliff‑like decay.

It seems the island's geographic range and the surrounding seas are the limits of its spread.

This means that all photos, portraits, and screens worldwide would instantly become contamination sources, and the worst‑case scenario of humanity facing a great extinction within hours will not occur—for now.

But no one can truly breathe a sigh of relief.

Because no one knows when this demon… will break free of its shackles.

Federation Investigation Bureau, Supreme Conference Room.

The ashtray is already piled with cigarette butts.

"The survivors of Dongdao have confirmed the final transmission route."

Wei Gong's voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Vision, images, and… sound."

"A Nation‑Destruction Level urban legend that has been fully memefied and decentralized."

He scanned the crowd; his murky old eyes were terrifyingly calm at this moment.

The crowd fell silent, the atmosphere heavy.

Wei Gong walked to the massive world map and picked up a red marker pen.

Everyone's gaze followed his movements.

With that pen, he drew a huge, conspicuous "X" on the spot where Dongdao lies on the map.

The action was decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"Dongdao is now a dead zone thoroughly polluted by the Weird."

His voice was as heavy as iron, each word striking everyone's hearts:

"It is no longer an autonomous region, nor a country."

"It is a completely hollowed, pus‑oozing cavity on the map of human civilization."

He set the pen down and slapped his palm onto the "X".

"I announce the formal activation of the highest‑level contingency, the 'Isolation Protocol'!"

"There will be no more Dongdao from now on."

"And its new name shall be—"

"Pollution Quarantine Zone-01."

The order was issued.

The Federation, this precise and terrifying state machine, displayed its most awe‑inspiring execution power.

Around Dongdao's waters, a few warships that were originally patrolling surged within a few hours to three full‑strength carrier battle groups.

One by one, snarling steel behemoths, like the most loyal jailers, erected an airtight death line on the sea surface.

In the sky, several military satellites were urgently shifted in orbit, continuously monitoring the Quarantine Zone's every move twenty‑four hours a day.

Any "object" attempting to cross that invisible boundary from sea or air will be indiscriminately erased from the physical realm.

Dongdao has become a death island, forgotten by the world and exiled by humanity.

A truly human Forbidden Zone.

Federal Weird Investigation Bureau, Top Secret Archive.

It lies kilometers underground, built from three‑meter‑thick lead‑steel reinforced concrete, enough to withstand nuclear strikes.

A clerk wearing white gloves solemnly placed a black‑covered file into the safe deposit numbered "S-012".

The file's cover bore a single line of eye‑catching gold‑stamped characters.

【Sequence 012 – Laughing Demon】

The contents detail the entire process from this Weird's birth to its final mutation, as well as its despairing, all‑encompassing Murder Rule that covers vision, images, and sound.

On the file's last page, the "Containment Recommendations" section contains only a few lines of text.

The handwriting is scrawled, yet exudes a bone‑deep sense of helplessness and resolve.

"Abandon, isolate."

"Dongdao is dead; do not disturb the departed."

—"Click."

The safe's door closed slowly, the heavy mechanical lock turned, emitting its final sound.

This is not merely the sealing of a file.

It is also a taboo the Federation has erected for all humanity with its own hands.

Meanwhile.

The Federation's iron‑fisted blockade of Dongdao finally exploded like a massive bomb, fully igniting international opinion.

The North American Union and the Bu Lie Dian Empire reacted most intensely.

"Our citizens! Tens of thousands of tourists and expatriates! They just vanished! All departing routes have been canceled!"

"The Federation must give an explanation! What exactly did they do on Dongdao!"

"This is an anti‑human military action! It's a massacre!"

Outside the two countries' embassies, waves of protest surged turbulently.

The families of the missing citizens held up photos of their loved ones, crying, shouting, and cursing, demanding the Federation government disclose the truth.

However, the Federation side has maintained a suffocating silence throughout.

Such silence is undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.

An emergency United Nations meeting.

The Secretary of State of the North American Union, a white Fatty named Yuehan Sun, stood at the podium, his wording extremely hardline.

"The Federation's silence is a blatant trampling of international law and basic human rights!"

"We have reason to believe that in the Dongdao waters, horrific crimes are occurring!"

He slammed the table, his plump chin trembling with excitement.

"I hereby announce! If the Federation does not provide a reasonable explanation within forty‑eight hours and open the shipping lanes!"

"The North American Union will join the Bu Lie Dian Empire and all nations that love peace and justice to form the 'Humanitarian United Fleet'!"

"We will forcibly break through the blockade to find our missing citizens!"

When the words fell, the whole room erupted in a roar.

The dark clouds of war shrouded the globe.

The Federation's supreme council.

The atmosphere was suppressed to the freezing point.

"Madmen! The North Americans are a bunch of madmen!"

A senior military officer roared angrily, "They have no idea what they're doing! Do they really think our aircraft carriers and nuclear missiles are mere decorations?"

"Now is not the time to discuss whether to fight or not."

The head of the Foreign Ministry frowned, "If we continue to stay silent, we will become a target of international criticism. By then, more countries may side with the North American Union."

"What can we do then? Should we make the 'Laughing Demon' data public?"

Another person retorted, "That would trigger a global super panic! Then it won't be a war issue, but the whole world will be doomed together!"

The argument grew increasingly fierce.

"Enough."

Wei Gong lifted his teacup, took a gentle sip, and two words instantly quieted the entire conference room.

Everyone turned to the ever‑silent Wei Gong.

As the head of the Federal Weird Investigation Bureau, his remarks were enough to draw the attention of all senior officials present.

After all, he is the direct commander and stakeholder of this incident.

Wei Gong set down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over everyone present; in his eyes there was no hint of panic, only a calm that saw through everything.

"The North American Union wants an explanation?"

"Then we shall give them an explanation."

He rose slowly, walked to the map, and stared at the island marked with an "X".

"The weird emergence will sooner or later become a global crisis. What is hidden cannot stay hidden."

"Since they have stuck their heads out themselves, refusing to accommodate them wouldn't make the Federation seem less magnanimous?"

"I propose a top‑secret meeting limited to the Federation, the North American Union, and the Bu Lie Dian Empire."

"I will go myself to negotiate with them."

A senior Federation official asked hesitantly, "Wei Gong, do you mean... to ask them for help?"

"Ask for help?" Wei Gong shook his head:

"No."

"I am going to pull them into the water."

"Using the skeletal remains of tens of millions from Dongdao, and the horror of 【Sequence 012】, we will give those still living in the old era a proper lesson."

"Make them understand... the world has already changed."

"The world needs new Rules."

"And we, as the first nation to encounter and contain the weird, will become the leaders under the new Rules... holding an unshakable position."

With those words spoken,

Many present saw a faint glimmer of light in their eyes.

North American Union, Zhi Jia Ge.

In a dim bar, the bartender was polishing glass cups.

In a booth in the corner, a man named Jieke was already drunk to the point of stupor.

He had once been a brilliant programmer at a Silicon Valley tech company, arrogant and disdainful of others.

Because he believed that with his abilities, he could thrive anywhere.

But reality gave him a resounding slap.

Jieke was framed by his superior, taking the blame for a major work error, and was mercilessly dismissed.

Later, the superior, to silence him, preemptively defamed him and used capital power to put him on the industry's blacklist.

At that point, he finally panicked.

Being unable to find a job meant loan defaults and losing everything he had.

If a serious illness struck at that moment...

In this country where a simple CT scan costs thousands and medical expenses are exorbitant.

That would surely hit the terrifying "cut‑off line".

Perhaps within a few years, he would end up like the countless homeless in this country, starving or freezing on the roadside like a stray dog, unnoticed.

"A bunch of bastards! Capitalists! Vampires!"

Jack lay on the table, cursing the whole world, the wine bottle clinking as he smashed it.

The people around him all shot him disgusted looks, as if looking at a stray dog.

Just as his vision blurred from drunkenness and his consciousness was about to be completely swallowed by alcohol,

He suddenly saw.

In the shadowy corner opposite him, a pitch-black, constantly spinning vortex was silently emerging.

The vortex exuded a tempting chill of depravity, as if connecting to another unknown dimension.

"Burp... is this a hallucination?"

Jack shook his head, thinking he'd drunk too much.

However, a cold, hoarse, inhuman whisper sounded directly in his mind.

【Speak your wish......】

【I can...... fulfill all your wishes......】

Jack froze.

He was a seasoned novel fan; this kind of plot was all too familiar to him.

A devil's bargain?

He laughed drunkenly, his face full of self-mockery and madness.

"A wish? Sure!"

He leaned on the table, staggered to his feet, and pointed at the vortex.

"I don't want money! I don't want revenge! Those are too vulgar!"

He hiccuped from the drink, his eyes flashing with whimsical light.

"I want a bottle!"

"As long as I slip a paper with my wish inside, it can grant it!"

"And!"

He emphasized his tone, a sly smile spreading across his face.

"This bottle, I can use it countless times!"

【... …】

The entity within the vortex, the dark evil spirit that had once given Lingmu Jianer destructive power on Dongdao, shuddered abruptly.

It seemed not to have expected to hear such a...... "interesting" wish.

Immediately.

That pitch-black vortex began to twist silently, in ecstasy.

It made no sound, yet that joy brimming with infinite malice caused the temperature of the whole bar to suddenly drop several degrees.

And the drunken Jack, oblivious to it all.

ps:

Thank you all for your gift support, thank you very much orz

Special thanks to the Gift King, Yuan Yuan the great.

Recognition brings power, and gives meaning to perseverance.

With you all fellow travelers, even the deepest night holds a pure land worth my burning the midnight oil.