"No need to get all excited, my dear boy. I was merely pointing out possibilities, the mind must be kept open to all possibilities whether we like them or not," Wolmer said his demeanor as easygoing as ever.
He turned toward the building, but not before patting Gilbert's shoulder several times.
Left alone, Gilbert lingered for a few seconds, watching personnel move briskly through the halls, forming a contrast against his lone figure.
Finally, he walked inside, heading straight for Aniela's office.
The moment he stepped in, Aniela in a crisp lab coat, posture composed turned to face him, her soothing voice blank as always.
"You are late."
Without further delay, she stood, leading him out of her office.
"I was held back by Doctor Wolmer," Gilbert said as he walked beside her.
"Oh? And what exactly is your relationship with that man?" Aniela asked her tone gaining some interest.
Gilbert's jaw tightened at the remark
"I have no relationship with him, but he did offer me a job in the Advocates," he replied forcing the words through his teeth.
Aniela cast a quick glance at him from the corner of her eye before speaking.
"Did you accept it? If you did just know it will make our deal harder to see through."
Gilbert stayed silent for several seconds before taking a deep breath.
"I didn't accept it, but it didn't feel like something that I could simply refuse," he said, glancing at Aniela. "Unless someone wants to help me with it."
"You don't need my help, you just need to talk to General Beckett," she replied.
Gilbert let out a quiet sigh
"I doubt the General would want our connection known. I think that was the point of training sessions at night," Gilbert replied dismissing the suggestion.
Aniela gave him a sharp look as though he was an idiot.
"He is a General. He has more pull throughout the Federation than most. Don't take his display earlier as the full extent of his capability," she said exasperated.
Gilbert grimaced, a sheepish look flashing across his face before he turned away. Eager to shift the topic, he asked,
"May I ask- what exactly is Doctor Wolmer about?"
Aniela's expression turned thoughtful.
"Doctor Wolmer is a brilliant man. Mad but still brilliant. His particular interest lies in further integrating knights with their armor. Rumor has it, he once cut off a knight's head and placed it inside a suit of armor using it to control it like a robot or a puppet. There even once that he burned through multiple normal people trying to create a new OS system plus more."
She paused, watching Gilbert carefully.
"Let me warn you, stay away from him. When he takes an interest in someone, it's not easy to shake him off. And based on what I've heard, all of his experiments end badly."
Gilbert paused, staring at Aniela as she continued walking.
"That- he sounds more like a criminal than a doctor. Why is he not in jail?" he asked aghast, as hurried to catch up to her.
"You are right," Aniela replied smoothly, her tone practical. "None of that matters to the powers that be though, he produces results."
"Well more talking later, we are here."
Aniela stepped into a lab, with brisk movements. Gilbert followed, pushing aside his thoughts and focusing on the unfamiliar lab before him.
Various instruments and measurement devices cluttered the room, their functions indecipherable to him.
"So what exactly are we doing?" Gilbert asked, eyes scanning the unfamiliar setup.
For the first time, Aniela smiled, a genuine one Gilbert never thought possible.
"We want to activate your hidden circuit. First, we need to block your currently active one."
Excitement colored her tone.
"Now, remove your clothes and sit on that operating bed."
Gilbert blinked, processing the request before responding carefully.
"Okay….And how are we blocking my circuits?"
As he spoke, he took off his shirt, moving to sit where instructed-only for Aniela to cast him a glance and add matter-of-factly-
"Pants too."
Gilbert stared, momentarily frozen.
Before he could protest, she was stepping forward, gloves on, and she reached towards his pants.
His hands shot out, grabbing hers before she could finish the job.
"Woi, woi, woi-can we talk about this first? Why do my pants need to come off?"
Aniela merely swatted his hands away.
"There is nothing here that I haven't seen before."
Her tone was completely unbothered, and with minimal patience, she finished removing them for him.
The moment the task was done, she began placing electrodes and monitoring devices across his body with practiced efficiency.
As she focused on her work the close proximity caused Gilbert to smell her flowery scent as her wine-red hair colored his eyes. As his thoughts wandered his lower body got excited causing him to stare into the sky his face flush.
"Now, as it pertains to your circuit, I'll be injecting you with a blocker made from small liquid bots along major points," she explained, seemingly not noticing his excitement.
"Normally. this is only used on criminal knights-but in this case it will be useful to use against you. Hopefully, your normal radion flow will travel down the hidden circuit"
Gilbert grimaced slightly at that detail, but Aniela was already moving on.
"The only other way I saw possible was flooding your system with radions hoping the extra could flow to your hidden circuit. Though I doubt your body could manage that."
As she spoke, Aniela injected Gilbert several times along spine his and all his major joints. His body spasmed softly before he fell into a coughing fit. It took him several seconds before he managed to calm down.
"Okay... what now?" He asked weakly, punctuating his words with a few lingering coughs.
"Now, you'll get onto that treadmill in the corner, while you run I would like you to try moving the energy in your body. " Aniela instructed as she moved over to a computer displaying Gilbert's vital signs and radion activity.
"Well so far your signs are healthy, though I didn't need the data for that," she added casting a glance at Gilbert' lower half which as already calmed down.
Gilbert clamped his legs instinctively before he moved forward stepping onto the treadmill and beginning his run.
He tried to move his energy -tried to tap into it but felt nothing. His body had seemingly reverted to what it had been before taking the HDS. The only proof of his transcendent status was his above-average speed and unnatural stamina.
"To be honest, Aniela I'm not feeling anything. Sorry. Can I ask you a question?" Gilbert muttered, still feeling weak from his lack of energy
Aniela, her eyes glued to the screen, was too fixated on the increasing radion activity to even register his words.
"Aniela!" Gilbert called out once more, the sudden volume startling her.
"Oh-what?" she asked, her head swiveling to stare at him.
"How are the results?" He asked
"They are quite good- there's a slight raise in radion activity but it keeps falling dormant again. Still, this is progress. I'll have to design another test to see what you can do maybe next time with your armor on," Aniela said.
"Wait-that's it?" Gilbert asked, surprised as she slowed down, stepping down from the treadmill.
"Yes, for now, this is just the first test don't worry" she replied, downloading the results to her personal device before deleting them from the system.
"Well, that's good….. Can I ask you a question?" Gilbert repeated once more as he moved towards the operating bed, sitting down.
Aniela walked over, removing the monitoring devices from his body, her close proximity causing him to catch the faint scent of her skin once more.
"What is it that you want now?" Aniela asked her eyes focused on her work.
"About our date….. We kissed at the end. Does that mean anything or…?" Gilbert's voice trailed off, barely audible at the end.
She gave him a small glance, her expression unreadable.
"I told you it was to prove that it was a good date, if our experiments go well I don't mind kissing you again even performing coitus with you. Don't tell me that was your first kiss," She replied with her soothing voice, removing the last of the devices she passed him his clothes.
Gilbert flinched at the mention of the first kiss.
"Well, it- that doesn't matter. So does that mean there is no chance we would get together?" Gilbert asked hope creeping into his voice.
Aniela sighed, and tilted her head slightly, scanning him from head to toe.
"Cut away, lumberjack. Cut way," Aniela replied before standing up.
Gilbert made a small victory motion, feeling triumphant.
Following her to the lab door, he was too distracted to notice Aniela pausing suddenly. He nearly crashed into her.
She tipped onto her toes, holding his face in place before kissing him on his cheek, causing him to blush for the second time that night.
They left the lab- Gilbert giddy with excitement, while Aniela remained composed, as if nothing had happened at all.
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes was observing quietly through the reflection of a nearby window.
After telling Aniela goodnight, Gilbert hurried toward his barracks using a lift platform, a silly smile stretched across his face.
*****
The following night-
Gilbert was once again on the familiar training ground with General Beckett.
Tonight, they fought unarmed, Beckett effortlessly dodging every single one of Gilbert's attacks only allowing his attacks to land in order to teach him while delivering sharp blows to his torso.
Minutes passed before they finally stopped, both breathing heavily, their sparring session concluding.
Gilbert, still catching his breath, broke the silence-
"I had a run-in with Doctor Wolmer."
He then went on to explain everything that happened. Beckett took in his words with a calm demeanor, responding with a measured tone.
"Wolmer is a dangerous man. I can block his transfer, but he is not known for his quitting unless something else catches his interest."
Gilbert frowned, irritation settling into his features. As Beckett continued.
"But the truth is Gilbert the best thing you can do is get stronger, only then will you be capable of protecting yourself from the likes of him."
"So you are telling me he hasn't pissed off any strong persons with his personality?" Gilbert asked annoyed
Beckett remained completely unbothered, answering as if he were explaining a fundamental law of nature.
"Personal strength isn't the only kind of strength, Gilbert. As an officer, you should know that. Wolmer used to be part of the Magistrate's office and a very high-ranking member. That's why, despite his many wrongdoings, he still walks freely today."
The General's gaze held firm, making sure Gilbert understood the weight behind his next words.
"That is strength, Gilbert. To have your enemies hate you, yet fear the consequences of crossing your command power without having to lift a finger."