There was no ti to rest.
Julius dialed a number imdiately. And fortunately, after a mont, the call connected.
——Wow. Are you actually calling ? This isn’t a prank, is it—
"Gabriel," Julius cut in. "Where is Doctor Isolde?"
——Is that really the first thing you—
"I’m not joking around."
There was a short silence on the other end.
——Alright, alright. Relax. I’ll be there in a few minutes.
"Get here?" Julius snapped. "Just tell now."
——It’s better discussed in person.
Julius clicked his tongue. He didn’t like it, but he understood what that ant.
"...Fine."
——Welco back, Young Master.
After waiting for a while, the door finally opened. Julius turned just in ti to see Gabriel step inside before taking a seat across the table.
There was a brief pause as their eyes t.
"When was the last ti we saw each other again?" Gabriel asked. "A month? Two months?"
"Three months."
"I see. It’s been that long, huh?"
Julius did not bother to humor the sentint. "Where did Isolde go?"
Gabriel set his coat aside and leaned forward, his hands clasping together as his expression turned serious.
"Where should I start..."
At that, Julius fell silent and listened.
"Two months ago, Doctor Isolde recalled her share of SIBYL’s ownership and transferred it to . She told not to explain the reason to you. Still, priorities matter, and you co first in the hierarchy list."
It was nothing like what Julius had expected.
Even so, he did not interrupt.
"Of course, I asked her why. She said it was personal. She also told to pass her apologies along."
"If she’s going to apologize to ," Julius snapped, the irritation surfacing at once, "then she should do it herself. That damned woman."
Gabriel let out a chuckle. "I figured you’d react like this. So I did a bit of digging on my own."
Julius lifted his gaze. "What did you find?"
"She’s involved in a custody dispute with formal proceedings. Jurisdictional, too. Not a simple dostic case."
He paused, fingers interlaced.
"Her ex-husband filed a petition to reassu guardianship over their daughter. Anneliese."
Julius clenched his jaw, but he remained silent.
"He’s arguing parental priority. Claiming Isolde is unfit due to occupational risk, classified research exposure, and extended absence from the household during critical developntal years. He even submitted proper docuntation."
"...."
"Because of SIBYL’s nature, the court flagged her position as a liability. From a legal standpoint, it doesn’t look good. Especially not when the other party is presenting himself as stable and cooperative."
"So she had to leave..."
"She had to," Gabriel replied. "If she remained tied to SIBYL’s ownership, it would have been dragged into discovery. Worse, questions about how her work might endanger the child. She removed herself preemptively and cut visible ties."
Julius leaned back.
"She’s fighting for full custody," Gabriel continued. "Or at the very least, sole legal authority. If she loses, Anneliese gets relocated. Possibly even supervised visitation only."
Julius’s hand clenched against the armrest. "And she thought disappearing was the best option."
"She thought protecting her daughter mattered more than explaining herself. That’s the situation. Technical. And very much real."
Julius let out a sigh. "And when’s the next proceeding?"
"Preliminary hearing’s already done," Gabriel replied. "The next one’s substantive in two weeks. That’s when custody recomndations get reviewed and either ratified or challenged."
"And how does her case look?"
"...She might lose entirely. Because..."
"Because?"
"Because it’s been discovered that the first test subject for SIBYL was Anneliese."
"...."
Julius’s fists tightened at once.
This was sothing beyond his control. Technically speaking, SIBYL was originally ant for Anneliese from the very beginning.
No matter how cautious Isolde had been, no matter how many preliminary trials she had conducted beforehand, the narrative could still be frad a certain way.
On paper, it would appear that Anneliese herself had been the first recipient.
Even if every prior test had been completed before the chip was implanted into her daughter’s brain, the conclusion remained easy to weaponize.
"And why didn’t you help her?" Julius asked.
"What could I do?" Gabriel spread his hands slightly. "She rejected my help and cut off every formal tie with the Schneider Group. From a legal standpoint, I’m not even permitted to intervene."
He paused, then continued more quietly.
"If I had stepped in, it would be classified as corporate influence and conflict of interest. The opposing counsel would seize on it imdiately. Best case, I get barred. Worst case, it strengthens their argunt that she’s incapable of acting independently."
The silence that followed was heavy.
"She made it very clear," Gabriel added. "Anyone associated with SIBYL or with you stays out of the courtroom."
Julius shook his head and leaned his head back on the couch.
"No break for , huh?"
Gabriel regarded him for a mont. "Are you planning on intervening?"
"Of course I am."
"The law, Young Master—"
Julius t Gabriel’s gaze evenly.
"So?"
A cold edge crept into his voice.
"Did you forget who my father is?"
* * *
"If she wanted to run, she should’ve hidden from ," Julius muttered. "I can’t believe she went back to her old place."
Julius stepped out of the car and made his way toward the apartnt complex where Isolde used to live. A guard moved to block his path, pointing out that it wasn’t visiting hours. Julius rely flashed his Directorate badge.
That was enough.
Access was granted at once. The guard stiffened and even offered a salute as Julius passed.
Indeed, compared to his limitations in the USSR, Germany was practically his playground.
Ding— Dong.
Julius pressed the bell and waited.
"...."
But there was no response.
He tried again. And again. Still, no one ca to the door. Nevertheless, Julius kept pressing the alarm, over and over to the point where he felt like breaking it.
"Doctor, it’s Julius. Co out."
Ding— Dong.
"You signed a contract," he continued. "You don’t get to walk away without notice. Especially when I wasn’t inford."
Another press of the bell.
"I’ll make you pay collateral," he said. "I’ll fucking break your door if I have to."
The next mont, the door opened.
A woman ca into view. Her black hair was disheveled, and her eyes were dulled, as though she had not rested in days.
"M-Mister Schneider... What brings you here?" Her voice was hoarse. "When did you get back?"
"Just today. You have so explaining to do."
"Ah... can this be put on hold for a mont?" She smiled, a forced one. "I’m quite busy. Goodbye, and welco back."
She reached to close the door.
"...."
But Julius stopped it with his bare hand.
"Where’s Anneliese?"
"Ah, she’s at childcare. I left her there for the ti being—"
"Don’t lie to ."
Julius snapped the door wide open.
"Did he take her?"
Isolde bit her lip.
"...Please go ho, Mister Schneider."
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