Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 439: The Tentacle Net

"Can the octopuses carry the weight?"

"Easily. These units were built for lightweight tactical deployment."

Nancy’s eyes lit up. She spun around and jogged toward the holding tanks. "New mission, everyone!"

The five large octopuses, which had been resting, became instantly active. Their tentacles whipped through the water in excitement. Nancy quickly distributed the specialized ceramic blocks and cables. Each octopus coiled at least two limbs tightly around their weapons.

"I need you to target the propellers of every ship and speedboat," Nancy said. "Approach in total silence, jam these into the hubs, and retreat immediately. Do not linger!"

"Understood!"

Five dark shadows slipped into the pitch-black water like ink dissolving in the deep. They glided toward their respective targets. The two primary vessels and the furthest sentry boat were saved for a coordinated final strike.

On the surface, the deal had reached its critical stage. Zermatt barked orders at his men as they hauled sealed metal crates onto the buyer’s deck.

Below them, the octopuses extended their flexible, powerful limbs. With surgical precision, they delivered their gifts into the gaps between the propeller hubs and the rudders.

The work was fast and invisible.

Just as the last octopus retreated and Zermatt shoved a final crate over the gunwale, a voice on the perimeter sentry boat cracked with panic.

"Hey, Zermatt! Something is wrong! We..."

"The propeller is jammed! We aren't moving!"

Zermatt’s heart hammered against his ribs. He tried to force a calm tone. "What are you panicking for? You probably hit a stray fishing net!"

But before he could finish his reprimand, more shouts erupted.

"We are dead in the water too!"

"Boss, the engine won't turn!"

"Overheat alarm! Propulsion failure!"

The cries of alarm and the sound of engines fruitlessly redlining spread across the dark water like a plague. In an instant, all six sentry boats were paralyzed.

This was no accident.

Zermatt’s pupils contracted. A sudden chill raced up his spine.

At that moment, a thunderous, authoritative voice boomed across the waves, amplified by high-powered speakers that made the very air vibrate.

"All vessels! You are completely surrounded by the Dracovian Coast Guard! Cease all operations immediately! Cut your engines and place your hands behind your heads in plain sight for inspection! This is your final warning!"

The voice rolled over the waves, drowning out the chaotic shouting. As if to provide the punchline, the darkness of the open sea was suddenly torn apart by blinding searchlights.

The silhouettes of several massive Coast Guard cutters emerged like steel leviathans rising from the deep, sealing the perimeter.

The criminals were in a total panic. They had been so focused on the horizon that they never noticed the trap closing around them.

"It is a setup!" someone screamed. "They were waiting for us!"

"The engines are gone! We are sitting ducks!"

Instinct kicked in. They tried to run, but their boats felt as if they were bolted to the surface of the ocean. No matter how much the engines roared, they did not move an inch.

The Coast Guard vessels closed in with lightning speed. Highly trained officers leaped onto the decks like hawks, seizing control of the gunwales and cabins. The trap was locked shut in seconds.

Seeing no escape on deck, several desperate men threw themselves over the side. They plunged into the freezing black water, swimming frantically toward the high seas. To them, that invisible line was their last hope for freedom.

They paddled with everything they had, the thought of the lawless gray zone driving them forward.

But they had not gone far when slimy, powerful tentacles erupted from the depths without warning. The limbs coiled around ankles, waists, and necks with terrifying strength.

"Agh!"

"What is that?!"

"God! It is a sea monster! A sea monster!"

The screams were cut short by mouthfuls of saltwater.

More rounded, rubbery heads began to pop up around them. It was not just the original five; the octopus squad had somehow recruited every one of their local kin.

Dozens of bulbous heads and a forest of writhing tentacles surfaced in the moonlight, creating a scene so bizarre it made the skin crawl. These were hardened killers who did not blink at taking a human life, but they had never seen anything like this.

They were terrified out of their minds, paralyzed with fear. They might not fear a gun or a badge, but this tentacle hell from the abyss triggered a primal, ancient terror.

Beneath the surface, the octopuses worked in perfect harmony, wrapping the limp, terrified criminals in a multi-limbed embrace.