Chapter 418 You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.

Upon entering the laboratory, Meng Shiwan saw the old man and the system still hurling insults at each other.

The old man shouted in a trembling voice, "You must choose me as your host, or you're not leaving."

The system cursed, "I'd rather turn into a pile of scrap metal than choose you as my host. You smell like an old man, you're stinky. I won't choose you."

The old man broke down, "If you don't choose me, I'll really turn you into a pile of scrap metal."

Upon witnessing this scene, Meng Shiwan suddenly realized something.

The system is currently in the body of a metal robot, so why doesn't it run away or fight back? Why is it wasting its time arguing with an old man?

Unless for some reason the system can't run, and the old man can't force the system to choose him as its host, the two sides are currently in a stalemate where neither can do anything to the other.

Doesn't that mean she can let both sides suffer losses in the middle, and then reap the benefits?

Meng Qingyue said that even the current system is extremely difficult to deal with.

If she wants to kill the system, she needs to gather powerful superhumans and wage a great battle against it, giving it her all, to have any hope of success.

Now that I think about it carefully, in terms of reserves of superpowered individuals, Grandpa Xiao is no less capable than I am.

Moreover, Old Master Xiao lived to the end of the world for ten years in his previous life and had a very thorough understanding of systems. He now even has the technology to imprison systems.

Meng Shiwan knows absolutely nothing about this.

When it comes to dealing with systems, Grandpa Xiao is clearly more professional.

If that's the case, why should she deal with the system herself? Why not just let Old Master Xiao deal with the system, and then she can kill Old Master Xiao in the end?

The more Meng Shiwan thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.

Her original plan was to get close to Old Master Xiao, kill the old man first, and then figure out how to deal with the system.

Looking back now, she realized that not only could she not kill Old Master Xiao, but she also had to genuinely treat his illness, serve him, gain his trust, provoke a war between him and the system, weaken the system's abilities, and ideally, kill the system directly.

The possibility of killing the system is unlikely. Old Master Xiao wants to possess the system, not kill it. So, in the end, she will have to find a way to kill the system herself.

Meng Shiwan pondered, her face already displaying a fawning and obsequious expression.

This expression on Meng Shiwan's face was really out of character. When Butler Liu turned around to look at her, he frowned and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

It's creepy.

Meng Shiwan grinned, "I've just figured it out. I know how powerful the system is. Grandpa Xiao will soon be the next person to have a system, and he'll definitely be the overlord of humanity in the future. I think I should stick close to this big guy and follow Grandpa Xiao; he'll definitely have a bright future."

Butler Liu remained skeptical. "Really? This system used to be yours, are you really willing to accept that?"

Meng Shiwan retorted, "What do I have to be resentful about? I've already gotten what I wanted from the system. When it comes to ruling the world, Grandpa Xiao is definitely more capable. As long as my interests aren't affected, I'm still very willing to follow Grandpa Xiao."

After thinking about it carefully, Butler Liu actually felt that Meng Shiwan's words made some sense.

Meng Shiwan did indeed receive a lot from the system: such a large farm, multiple supernatural abilities—these are things that ordinary people can only dream of. Anyone with a modicum of self-satisfaction would be quite content with her current status and resources.

But ruling the world is different; that requires a deep foundation.

Otherwise, someone might have a brain fart and launch a nuclear weapon, resulting in mutual destruction, and all of that would be for nothing.

The longer the apocalypse lasts, the more people will be prone to making rash decisions.

The two of them waited outside for a while, and then Old Master Xiao, probably tired of scolding, pushed his wheelchair out of the house.

Upon seeing Meng Shiwan, he said casually, "Oh, you're back? Not running away anymore?"

Meng Shiwan immediately stepped forward like a lackey and took over the work from Butler Liu, pushing the old man's wheelchair. "I'm not running away. I just don't trust my companion. Only after settling my companion can I concentrate on serving you, right?"

Old Master Xiao scoffed, "Serve me? I'm not senile yet. I remember when you first came, you said you wanted to build the Black Cube, cultivate your power, and rule the world. Why are you serving me now?"

Meng Shiwan smiled ingratiatingly, "I was young and naive before, thinking I was so great just because I had a system. Now I realize that even with a system, I'm no match for you. Besides, I don't have a system anymore."

"It's all Meng Qingyue's fault for tricking me. She took my system without asking me anything. Now I'm helpless. After thinking it over, I have no choice but to join your ranks and serve you. When you get your own system and become the future world's overlord, I can live a good life with you, right?"

Meng Shiwan pushed the old man along, with Butler Liu watching her closely. A superhuman followed behind, giving the impression that he would kill her if she dared to play any tricks.

Meng Shiwan's shower of compliments made Old Master Xiao feel incredibly flattered.

He asked in a hoarse voice, "Are you willing to just hand over the system like that? You probably want to get closer to me and take the system back, don't you?"

Meng Shiwan quickly shook her head, appearing very sincere, "No, really no, Meng Qingyue tricked me. I have nothing to say, after all, you know better than I do about what happened in my past life, and you know better than I do that Meng Qingyue isn't a good person."

The system is gone, so be it. I'm just a young woman, and I'm already very content to have gotten this far thanks to this system. As long as you don't take what's rightfully mine, I will be truly loyal to you.

My healing abilities can cure your illness. To prove my sincerity, from now on, all resources produced within the Dawn Base will no longer be sold; they will all be given to you. Now you believe me, right?

"But you can't take my farm again! I can't lose the system and end up with nothing after following you without seeing any benefits, okay?"

She's doing what they call "you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub"—to achieve her goal, she has to make the necessary sacrifices.

Old Master Xiao sneered, "You're following me, are you after something?"

Meng Shiwan said matter-of-factly, "Of course, why would I follow you if I didn't want anything in return? I just hope that when you become the overlord one day, I can use your influence to become the second-in-command. With the crop output from my farm, I can also live a life of great success. That would be enough for me."

Grandpa Xiao sighed, "My leg hurts a bit."

Meng Shiwan immediately reached out her hand, saying, "I'll do it, I'll do it."

She unleashed her healing power, the green light sweeping over Old Master Xiao as she asked obsequiously, "Feeling better?"

Grandpa Xiao felt it for a moment, and his eyes lit up. Now he felt that all the major and minor ailments in his body were indeed no longer painful, and his whole body felt much lighter and more comfortable.

The healing treatment didn't make him younger, but after his underlying ailments were mostly cured, he felt much lighter and more relaxed, as if he really did feel a few years younger.

For Old Master Xiao, anything that would allow him to live a little longer would make him happy.

"Alright, alright, you'll stay by my side and serve me from now on. Butler, arrange a place for her to stay and treat her well."

After receiving the order, Butler Liu took Meng Shiwan to make the arrangements.

After they left, Old Master Xiao's gaze turned much colder. "This young girl is not honest. She's still too green to try to play these tricks on me."