[Well, definitely not refreshing to Leonhardt who is far more like a knight or bodyguard, so going to defenseless is a major blow to him.]

Good, then I don't have to explain that much. The Malnosso are desperate. They are trying to figure out what brings us here and what returns us. The experiments allow them to gain a greater understanding of Shifting in hopes that they will be able to return home within this lifetime when many of them have been here for multiple lifetimes.