Reborn As A Doomsday Villainess
Chapter 210: What are we going to do for 10 hours

Chapter 210: What are we going to do for 10 hours

Yu Song, standing with his arms crossed, gave a humorless shrug. "They made their bed."

Qingran didn’t speak at first. Her gaze remained fixed on the screen. She took in their soaked clothes, their pale faces, the absolute terror etched into their eyes.

They were desperate now. Just two small figures begging to live.

Finally, she smiled.

It wasn’t a kind one.

She lifted a hand and gave them a slow, deliberate wave.

Then she reached over and tapped the console.

<< External microphones: OFF. >>

Their screaming cut out. The screen went dark a second later as the camera feed powered down to preserve energy.

"Goodbye.." Qingran murmured.

Mora, still sitting near the wall with a towel wrapped around her shoulders, let out a long breath. "You’re not going to save them?"

Qingran turned. "They held a knife to your throat and told me I didn’t belong here because I’m a woman. They thought threatening me would work. They thought I’d cave in but I’m no fool and neither are you."

She looked around the room.

Every face was watching her.

Some with understanding. Some with unease.

A few with awe.

"But leadership.." Qingran continued, "isn’t about being a woman or a man. It isn’t gender wars. It’s about knowing when someone’s already made their choice."

She let the words hang in the air. Then she walked past them, her boots leaving faint water prints across the smooth floor.

"I chose to lead people who want to survive.." she added. "Not people who think survival should come at someone else’s expense."

Lingquan’s voice chimed in through the speakers again. <<[ Water levels increasing. External pressure not equalized. Buoyancy holding.] >>

The floating building rocked once, like a boat on a swell, but again it righted itself.

Everyone inside felt it. That subtle reassurance that they were safe for now.

Outside, the storm roared on.

Qingran took a seat near the control console, stretching her legs out in front of her. "We’ll be fine..." she told the room. "We’ve got supplies, water purifier, internal heating, medicines, solar back-up, and this structure was built to rise up to ten meters above ground level. Once the worst passes, we’ll descend again."

"And those men?" someone asked hesitantly from the back.

"It was either us or them.." Yu Song said dryly. "And they lost."

No one asked again.

The next hour passed in tense silence, save for the occasional low boom of thunder and the hum of the base adjusting to the rising flood.

Qingran leaned her head back, eyes closed. Her heart was calm. She had done what needed to be done.

Still, somewhere deep inside, a small ache settled in her chest not for the men themselves, but for what the world had become.

But this time, she wouldn’t let guilt steer her off course.

She’d learned.

After the floodwaters hit their peak, Lingquan announced a projected descent within the next 10 hours. People started talking again.

Quiet conversations bloomed across the room. Kids were given water and energy bars.

Those who were tired where given futons to rest with pillows. They had taken all the beds and futons from the hotel.

Qingran remained still, listening more than speaking.

Mora sat beside her after a while. "You could have saved them.." she said softly. "But... thank you for saving me."

Qingran cracked one eye open and gave her a cold smile. "Next time, I hope you’re this lucky, I wanted you to see how fast they could turn on you and I’m sure you, yourself was expecting that.."

Mora chuckled, though it held a wobbly edge. "Fair."

They sat like that for a moment, together, but quiet until a low beeping came from the console.

<< [External levels decreasing. Structural descent in progress. Estimated time to land: 10 hours, 49 minutes.] >>

"Ten hours is a long time guys. What should we do."

[I can provide a game for y’all to play. Don’t worry it’s my special treat. It will be fun and time taking.] Lingquan suggested.

".."

" I don’t trust you but sure.."

The survivors stirred at the mention of a game.

The tension in the room hadn’t vanished, not completely, but it had dulled. Distraction was welcome.

<<[Loading system interface...]>>

<<[Initializing group activity module...]>>

<<[Setting: ’The Apocalypse Game’ selected. Time Estimate: 2 hours minimum. Number of Players: 6–60.]>>

Qingran raised a brow. "That name doesn’t exactly scream fun."

<<[It’s just a name, Qingran. Besides, it’s not a battle royale. It’s social deduction. Psychological games. Team-based scenarios. And there’s no death involved. Just pretend.]>>

Mora perked up. "Like a roleplay simulation?"

<<[Exactly. A mental exercise. Strategy, teamwork, survival logic. You’ll be given roles and objectives. You can play in teams or against each other. Winning earns rewards.]>>

"Rewards?" Yu Song asked skeptically.

<<[Yes. Candy. Blankets. Mood patches. Maybe a surprise or two].>>

A few children nearby perked up at the mention of candy. An older woman murmured, "Could do with something sweet..."

"Alright," Qingran sighed, stretching again. "Let’s give your creepy system brainchild a try. But if I hear one kid cry, I’m ending it."

<<[Understood. Launching game interface. Please stand by...]>>

Small projectors embedded in the ceiling flickered to life, casting a soft web of light over the central floor space.

The holograms shimmered upward, fields, buildings, forest scenes. The projections were full 3D, but translucent enough not to block view of others in the room.

<<[Welcome to ’The Apocalypse Game.’ This round will feature: Shelter Tactics. Your goal is to identify hidden saboteurs within the group while protecting and rationing resources.]>>

"Oh," Mora muttered, "like those old Werewolf or Mafia party games."

<<[Exactly. Roles are being assigned.]>>

Around the room, dozens of survivors leaned in as their names were called. A panel floated in front of each of them, displaying their assigned roles in bold font and a brief explanation.

Yu Song looked at his and smirked. "I’m a Resource Keeper. Guess that means you’ll all be coming to me for food."

Qingran tapped hers. "Team Leader. Go figure."

Mora glanced at hers and went quiet. Then: "I’m... a Saboteur?"

Qingran raised a brow at her. "That’s awkward."

"It’s random, I swear," Mora laughed, hands raised in surrender.

<<[The goal for the Survivors is to identify the Saboteurs before resources run out. Each round simulates a ’day’ where players vote on whom to expel from the shelter. Saboteurs win if they outnumber Survivors.]>>

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