[Andarkoshi]

Originally Posted by Sunder the Gold

The choice is made BEFORE the conviction, in the form of picking their legal defense and the bargain they strike, which is what determines the specific form of punishment laid upon them.

I'm pretty sure that when the defendants are willing to plead guilty from the start, they and their accusers are allowed to discuss and agree about what form the punishment should take. This process requires a number of hearings but avoids the need for a trial, since there's no argument about the verdict.

That's more or less how things worked out for Fate. She decided to plead guilty, and Chrono's legal team wrangled out an acceptable sentence over a number of hearings, before she formally made that plea.


So what happens is, Chrono and Leti meet together with Hayate and the Wolkenritter, to discuss their legal strategy. They all agree to plead Guilty from the outset if the Bureau is willing to accept their conditions and if they are willing to accept the Bureau's sentencing.

If the Bureau didn't offer terms that Hayate and the Wolkenritter would accept, they would refuse to plead Guilty and instead choose to fight a battle in public court.

So Hayate and the Bureau offered each other concessions. The Wolkenritter would continue answer to Hayate first as her servants, but Hayate would answer to the TSAB. The Wolkenritter would continue to live free as members of her family, but Hayate is held accountable for their actions, and all of them are going to be fitted with Limiters and have their actions monitored.

Well it does work... the only question is DO the TSAB courts work like the Earth ones. Shame we couldn't see any of the proceedings.