[Mettaton stops walking, and his shoulders stiffen, likely to the point where Asriel can feel it. He's not stupid, he's never been stupid. Perhaps he acted a little vapid at time, but now is not one of those times.]

You tried to break it open. Is that it?

You attempted to break something which, as far as I've seen, catalogs everything about you and docks directly to your body? That was what you tried to do?

Just to see if it had something identifiable as a soul in it?