Reborn As A Doomsday Villainess-Chapter 46: System upgrade token

The man’s expression remained unreadable as he dismissed the prompt.

"No."

Rather than harming himself, he could easily get their names by just interacting.

"It’s about to start. Let’s sit down."

His sister didn’t question it, pushing off the railing with a lazy stretch. As they moved toward their seats, her gaze flickered toward the two blank spaces in the crowd, curiosity lingering in her crimson eyes.

Qingran’s fingers drummed idly against the stem of her wine glass as she observed the auction floor. The stage was bathed in warm golden light which was the centerpiece of the grand hall, while men and women in tailored suits and designer dresses lounged in plush seats, exchanging murmurs and subtle glances.

Feng Yizhou, seated beside her, was entirely at ease, one arm draped casually over the back of his chair. "Anything catching your eye yet?" he murmured, his voice smooth, just loud enough for her to hear over the ambient noise.

She tilted her head slightly. "The auction or the people?"

His lips curled. "Both."

Her gaze swept across the room, scanning the bidders. Most were exactly what she expected, power-hungry elites, black market dealers, and those desperate enough to spend fortunes on survival.

But at the upper balcony, two figures stood out.

The girl was young, strikingly so for a place like this. She exuded confidence, her crimson eyes scanning the room with a mix of boredom and amusement. Her companion, the man beside her, carried himself differently, calculating, composed, his presence commanding attention without a word.

Qingran didn’t like the way they were looking at the crowd. It wasn’t curiosity. It was like they were selecting, picking out the rice from the beans.

Lingquan hummed in her mind. [They’ve got that predator picking out prey kind of stare.]

Feng Yizhou had already noticed them. His fingers traced the rim of his glass as he leaned in slightly. "Upper balcony. Silver hair, crimson eyes. What do you think?"

"Trouble.."

Feng Yizhou laughed as he dropped the wine, stretching lazily "I was hoping you’d say that.."

The lights dimmed slightly as the auction officially began. A hush settled over the room, tension weaving through the air like an invisible thread. The auctioneer, an older man with a practiced smile, stepped onto the stage, his voice smooth as silk.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. As always, we begin with something to whet your appetite."

With a snap of his fingers, an assistant pulled back a velvet cloth, revealing a sleek, reinforced case. The steel locks glinted under the light, the mere sight of them enough to confirm the value of what lay inside.

"For those who understand the importance of having a good weapon collection," the auctioneer continued, "we present a premium selection of military-grade firearms. Imported, unregistered, and in pristine condition. Each piece comes with a full supply of ammunition. The starting bid—500,000 yuan."

Silence hung for only a fraction of a second before the first bid rang out.

"Six hundred thousand."

"Seven-fifty."

The numbers climbed rapidly, their voices calm yet firm. These weren’t collectors or enthusiasts—they were people who understood the weight of power.

Qingran leaned back in her seat, fingers idly tracing the edge of her clutch. She had no interest in standard firearms. Bullets ran out. Knives didn’t.

Beside her, Feng Yizhou remained relaxed, but his gaze flicked toward the balcony above. Following his line of sight, she caught a glimpse of the two figures watching the auction unfold.

"They’ve been looking this way since we arrived," he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Qingran didn’t react outwardly. "I noticed."

He hummed, as if mildly amused. "Think they recognize us?"

"No." Her tone was even. "But I think they want to."

The bidding war below reached its peak at 2.3 million yuan before the auctioneer’s gavel fell, sealing the deal. The winning bidder, an older man with graying temples, barely reacted beyond a satisfied nod.

Then, the next item was brought out.

And this time, Qingran sat up.

As the next item was unveiled, Lingquan’s voice echoed in her mind.

[Mission update: Obtain the final auction item at all costs. Failure will result in a penalty.]

Qingran remained still, but her grip on her clutch tightened slightly.

[Mission reward: System Upgrade Token. You will gain the ability to upgrade the system, unlocking advanced functions and enhancing existing abilities.]

Her breath hitched for a fraction of a second before she quickly concealed her reaction. A System Upgrade Token—something that could directly strengthen her system? That wasn’t just rare. It was game-changing.

She kept her gaze on the stage, voice steady. "Lingquan, what exactly is the last item?"

A pause.

Then, a screen flickered before her eyes, invisible to anyone else.

[Final Auction Item: ???]

[Information Restricted.]

Qingran’s eyes narrowed slightly.

[Don’t look at me like that.] Lingquan’s tone held a hint of amusement. [Even the auction house has locked its details. We’ll know once they reveal it.]

That complicated things. If she didn’t even know what she was bidding on, securing it wouldn’t be as straightforward. She would have to be ready to adapt.

Beside her, Feng Yizhou’s gaze flicked toward her, sharp and observant. "Something wrong?"

She smiled faintly, shaking her head. "No. Just thinking."

His eyes lingered for a moment before returning to the auction floor. "Good. Because I have a feeling the real game hasn’t even started yet."

And as the next item was brought out, she couldn’t help but agree. That the auction has barely began and the best items were at the end.

"Say Qingran why don’t we make a little bet? If the last item is something worth your eyes and you can’t get it and I end up helping you then you owe me a kiss..."

"..."

"Oh please, just say you want my lips, I won’t be needing your help. So keep dreaming.."

Yizhou chucked "Alright, if I’m right, I get to do more.."

Qingran rolled her eyes, ignoring him.