Chapter 597 - 460: Trading a Cub for Bamboo Shoots (2)

Chapter 597: Chapter 460: Trading a Cub for Bamboo Shoots (2)

Flora Bloom was still a bit unsure, but she already had a guess.

"Did you notice? Yesterday, even though it knocked Irene Seymour and Lance Holland unconscious, it didn’t kill them. It only took back its child.

Even though it didn’t find the other one, it still didn’t kill them. Don’t you find that strange?"

"There are records of the Iron-Eating Beast in the Ancient Universe, too. According to legend, they are ferocious, tyrannical, and bloodthirsty by nature—a truly violent species.

But because they’re incredibly powerful and prefer to live alone, they were highly sought after by powerful factions. They were constantly hunted and captured until they eventually went extinct in the Star Nation. I never thought there’d still be one here."

Flora Bloom tilted her head, watching the enormous Iron-Eating Beast beside them. It was actually lying on its back in a pile of bamboo shoots with its belly exposed. Its paws were surprisingly nimble as it peeled the outer layers off a shoot, then stuffed the tender tip into its mouth and began chewing with a loud "CRUNCH."

It tossed the discarded husks to its side, and before long, the pile was nearly taller than Lex Cross and Flora Bloom.

Flora Bloom involuntarily reached out, wanting to pet the Iron-Eating Beast’s fluffy fur, but Lex Cross grabbed her arm. "Don’t risk it."

"Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing."

While the Iron-Eating Beast was engrossed in its bamboo shoot, Flora Bloom’s outstretched hand crept closer and closer. She could almost feel the heat radiating from its black-and-white fur.

So close!

Closer still!

Just a little more, and she would touch the Iron-Eating Beast’s body. ’At that moment, this Iron-Eating Beast will be mine.’

At that moment, however, the little cub hiding on its mother’s shoulder suddenly cried out.

Flora Bloom jumped. ’How could I have forgotten about the little one?’

The Iron-Eating Beast, which had been eating a bamboo shoot, froze. It turned its head to glance at Flora Bloom, then looked up at the small cub on its shoulder.

Lex Cross was instantly on high alert, and Flora Bloom froze as well. Cold sweat beaded on her palms.

’This thing came and sat next to us to eat bamboo shoots on its own. And I just wanted to pet it. So why is it looking at me like I’m after its food?’

However, the Iron-Eating Beast’s next move made Flora Bloom’s and Lex Cross’s jaws drop. They watched as it suddenly dropped the bamboo shoot in its paw and let out a surprisingly human-like sigh.

Then, it raised its thick, fleshy paw and grabbed the little cub from its shoulder. With a sudden swing, it tossed the cub in a certain direction and let go.

FWIP... The little cub landed, unbelievably, right in Flora Bloom’s arms.

Lex Cross was stunned, too. He had been ready to fight again. Even though the Iron-Eating Beast would be a tough opponent, he would find a way to eliminate anything—person or creature—that endangered Flora Bloom’s life.

Now, as he looked at the little cub in Flora Bloom’s arms, its face a mask of bewilderment after being tossed by its own mother, a strange feeling welled up inside him.

They exchanged a glance. "Lex, do you think... it’s possible it meant to throw a bamboo husk? And it just... threw the wrong thing?"

Whether it was because it finally realized it had been tossed aside, or because it understood Flora Bloom’s use of the word "thing" and took offense, the little cub suddenly began to wail, "WAAAH WAAAH!"

Hearing the noise, the mother Iron-Eating Beast, who had been happily munching away, paused again. It let out a very human-like snort, huffily grabbed a bamboo shoot, and swung it at Flora Bloom.

Startled, Flora Bloom reacted instantly, knocking the bamboo shoot aside and leaping away with the small cub in her arms.

She looked at the cub in her arms, then back at the mother Iron-Eating Beast, which had already gone back to diligently munching away. And so, she made a decision.

Cradling the small cub in her hands, she approached the Iron-Eating Beast and, gathering her courage, poked its rear end.

On Earth, the Iron-Eating Beast might be called a panda, but the resemblance was only in its facial features; it was a bear, not a cat. It was an omnivore. Don’t be fooled by its love for bamboo shoots—it ate meat, too.

The fur was soft and dense, an incredibly pleasant sensation. The Iron-Eating Beast, however, just shifted its rear away from her in annoyance and kept eating.

Flora Bloom poked it again, then held the little cub out to it. However, the Iron-Eating Beast merely glanced at the cub before turning back to its food, its eating speed now clearly faster than before.

It was completely ignoring its own child.

"What the hell is going on here?"

"So much for the legends."