That's a head-scratcher, with clean internals, I'd check the crank seals or base gasket next, it could be leaking there, it is also worth pressure testing the case to track it down
Thanks for the equally curious wisdom, as it is. Compression is measured at TDC. The only way to bleeds out is past the rings........bearings don't seal. Crank seals seal. Turns out the little impulse hose was dried out, cracked, not there.