Ziye's palm throbbed with an irritating pain, and the freak hadn't replied after saying he needed to examine it. To distract herself, she began amusing Little Sprout.

"Maybe Sprout is hungry, hmm? Why don't you try feeding it milk? The animal mamas at the pet hospital do that," Ziye murmured, mentally cursing herself. She had just fed Sprout liquid metal; wouldn't telling such a blatant lie bring down lightning?

"What? Feeding milk? He's male!" Little Sprout sprang up in shock, then cast a pathetic look down at its body. It didn't even have breasts, how could it feed?

This was surely an intergalactic joke!

If it had tear ducts, Ziye guaranteed Sprout could weep as helplessly as Lin Daiyu. Just as she was about to burst out laughing, Little Sprout tugged at her clothes. "Mama Ziye, why don't you do it?"

Ziye nearly stumbled back in shock. Had Little Sprout suddenly become clever?

She twisted and turned, only to trap herself, feeling utterly vexed. She tossed out, "That's your son, not mine," and pretended to be busy, opening her comm-link to find the freak.

The truth was, she had no choice but to contact him. The pain in her palm was intensifying, burning like fire. If the freak still couldn't make sense of it, she’d have to find some ointment; otherwise, who knew what might happen if this lingered.

This whole thing was bizarre. As Ziye pondered this, the freak answered the instant she dialed. He immediately barked, "Stinky brat, your little pet might carry the genes of a Gold-Devouring Worm."

Ziye was bewildered. "What is a Gold-Devouring Worm?" Judging by the name, was it a bug that gnawed on gold?

The freak explained, "The most terrifying insect in space four or five hundred years ago. It could reduce a ten-meter mech to dust in minutes. Its saliva contains corrosive substances. But I'm not entirely certain yet. Help me run a few tests; do you have the tools?" Ziye nodded. "Yes, tell me what to do."

She magnified the comm-link's virtual screen a hundredfold, suspending it in mid-air. She aimed it at her workshop so the freak could see the scene, then followed his instructions to run the tests.

Although she lacked professional biological equipment, the tools she usually used for metal analysis would suffice for a makeshift setup. Five minutes later, the test results confirmed the freak's suspicion.

Ziye frowned. "I touched its teeth before, and there was no issue. Did it mutate from eating too much metal?"

The freak sounded displeased. "Are you doubting my expertise?"

Ziye dared not offend the great expert who could alleviate her pain. She quickly waved her hands. "No, no, of course not! I'm just curious. Please, tell me. What exactly is going on?"

The freak let out a "Hmph," glancing sideways at her. "Look how small it was back then, and look how big it is now! The corrosiveness of its saliva will only increase in the future!"

Ziye grew anxious. If that were the case, she couldn't possibly keep it at home. What if one day it decided to grind its teeth on her or Little Sprout?

Even if it performed 'surgery' on Little Sprout, taking a few experimental bites out of a robot, or devouring the doors, windows, or floorboards—that alone was terrifying enough.

Just thinking about it was horrifying!

"Is there any way to improve its constitution?"

The freak shook his head. "Of course. But... is it time for me to have your K-series models?"

Ziye thought, Blast it! She had already given the K-beauty to Stass!

She forced a dry laugh. "Big brother, venerable sir, don't you prefer