Ha Yurin - Establishing Terms and Reasons

"I have 50 minutes, Lady Yurin, to interview you, so we have time for plenty of questions. I shall ask you questions about your imprisonment and I take it you will respond honestly, without holding back the truth. I apologize if I brought up some sensitive memories-" Your attempts to socialize and show empathy were interrupted by the casual shrug of Yurin's head.

"Nah, don't worry. I really don't mind. Like I said, I'll answer everything, including even the most explicit of details. It seems you've faced plenty of the A-Rank Prisoners, and I am sure they all have gotten hardened enough from their time in imprisonment to not let it affect them much, but me? All those punishments are merely warm-ups for me. If anything, I kind of enjoy it, since it helps me express my defiance and be a bit of a showoff, you know? I haven't felt anything as intense as these shit for centuries, so I actually enjoy it." Yurin smirked challengingly as you find yourself more and more awed by the naked, chained, yet very much strong woman before you.

Shrugging off such feelings, you return to business. "First of all, your granddaughter was first caught helping the Irregular at the Last Station. For that, she was punished by military conscription, despite her prestige and owning one of the 13 Months. Were you responsible for that punishment, considering how helping out an enemy of the Empire so blatantly and then fighting an army would normally meant execution?"

At that, Yurin let out a small sigh. Clearly, it was a touchy topic, even if it was more due to how Yuri was enduring those punishments too instead of it being for her own situation. "Bingo, you got it right. I had to step in myself, and since I was still the Top 3 Family Head, I was able to exert enough influence to give her the lenient punishment of military conscription. She was very much bored and upset about it, but I made sure she realized her situation. Although... I must say I am even prouder that she didn't let that stop her from doing the right thing." Yurin said, her smile returning.

"But now, I think I'll tell you why I am not against Twenty-Fifth Bam. First of all, let me be honest and say even when the Ha Family was still on the Jahad Empire's paycheck, I was already losing much of my faith, you know? Like, I signed up to make things better for everyone, for there to be constant growth and development, but all I got over the years were thousands of people dying, including my own blood. I just... couldn't have faced Jahad. He's stronger than me, as much as I hate to admit it." Yurin said, her tone softening to reveal some of her age and experiences.

You wonder if Yurin knows of Bam's true identity as the Son of Arlene and V, and you also wonder at how her relationships with them were like. "Do you... Know who Bam is?" At that, Yurin regained her smirk, although it was a softer, more wistful one. You knew at that moment Yurin was perfectly aware of Arlene and V being Bam's parents.

"So you know of them, huh? Yeah, I know Bam is the child of my two "hidden" companions, Arlene Grace, and V. They were different, you know? Back then, when Zahard announced he would stop the climb and we could all begin to rule, I was actually fine with it. We had been climbing for 100 years, and not even I was immune to being weary over it. I've already had my first two daughters, so I wanted to settle down and raise my family. I might be wild, and I always will, but even I knew there were things more important than fighting. I honestly thought things would still progress through the Tower, even though the climb was stopped." Yurin sighed deeply, her smile remaining but showing more of her sorrow and regret.

"That was my biggest mistake. Arlene and V didn't submit, even though they were married and wanted to start a family. They were people who all of us considered good friends, so it was a huge blow, I tell you. Conflicts began to rise between the Great Warriors, but in the end, we all chose Zahard because we had agreed to not climb any further. So they lost. I really regret choosing to side against them. I was particularly close to them, you know, and thinking about them was always a thing for me no matter how many years passed."

"... Since you are clearly being honest in your change of heart and allegiance, I shall tell you about this, then." You decided to tell the woman standing before you. It was clear that she wasn't an enemy, just someone who had remained true to her core self deep down, even if she had to bow down at times, someone who had lost her closest friends and lived to regret them, and in the end, despite everything, refused to let cynicism overtake her and was able to desire redemption and making amends. "Arlene is alive, but unbeknownst to all for centuries, she is now a prisoner of Zahard, locked inside the main Imperial Prison, at the deepest depths below even the cell of Eurasia Enne, the sole S+Rank Prisoner. That's all we know, unfortunately."

Yurin's eyes narrowed as she took on a deep scowl. "Huh, figures. I should have known... Why the hell am I not so surprised? Jahad was always so obssessed with her. He wouldn't have just killed her. I guess, though... Part of me hoped there was still enough humanity in the bastard to not go that far. Guess I was a fool to hope." Your eyes softened after hardening upon making it clear how serious the revelation of Arlene being alive was. Despite everything, you couldn't help but feel sorry for the 10 Great Family Heads. They were just as much victims of Jahad's reign despite being his ultimate reinforcers and "friends". Perhaps even Jahad himself deserved some pity, since he was not always like this.

"Well, it won't be much longer now. The Imperial Prison is going to fall apart. I take it it'll be the same amount of time as when you and Yuri would be released from your detention. I've been interviewing prisoners as a spy journalist, all to gain their trust so I could interview Eurasia Enne. You're the last A-Rank Prisoner I would interview before I gain access to the sole S-Rank Prisoner. Once there, I'll be able to look over the last level of the prison, so hopefully I would be able to confirm her survival and mental state. We just have to come up with a deceiving spell."

Ha Yurin hummed at that, until her expression formed a vicious smile. "GOOD. I didn't really mind being imprisoned here, naked and getting tortured in so many ways, but hearing Arlene's been imprisoned here? This place is full of rough, hard shit. It should all burn down." Her face softened as she looked at you. "Well, good luck to you then. And tell her that I am sorry... You can even tell her all about how I've been tortured here too. It might be nothing compared to how long she's been imprisoned, but let her know I'll do everything once it's all over to make amends."

You nod assuringly even as you return to your professional questions. "5 years later since the Battle of the Last Station, a year after Bam killed the Family Head Lo Po Bia Traumerei, your granddaughter was caught helping out a few of Bam's associates. Regardless of them being Regulars and thus technically not to be harmed by Rankers, she was still quickly apprehended. Was the Jahad Empire so furious they were seriously considering executing or imprisoning her for life that you made this sacrifice to be here for 5 months like this?"

Her eyes seemed to be slightly sad upon hearing of Traumerei's fate. Not that you could blame her. Traumerei's **** was ultimately a pitiful one. He was a man who had his heart broken and lashed out over it. It seemed that despite her casual dismissal of the other Family Heads, there was a part of her that still cared for her old friends. Still, she quickly regained her composure and gave you a firm look.

“Oh, it's no longer just the Jahad Empire anymore. At that point, Jahad himself stepped in and had every bit of intention to execute her. This time, it wasn't a situation where I could just intimidate the Empire into letting Yuri go. Jahad, like I said, wasn't someone who I could win against, and he certainly wouldn't relent. Hell, he even coldly told me that the best I could do was bury my granddaughter and reattach her head once she had been decapitated." Yurin scowled at the last part. "He sure looks rather calm despite wanting to execute her. It's clearly just another routine of the centuries, executing a wayward Princess of his. As if the whole shit with the 13 Months Series wasn't enough..."

Your eyes widened as you realized the real truth of the 13 Months Series were even known to her. Clearly, Lord Gustang had underestimated her capacity to acquire intelligence even further than what he had expected.

"I knew there was no other way, so I basically decided to do all this. Before Jahad could send out the order, I asked him if he would consider if he would be able to "exercise his authority on me". That was enough to stop Jahad briefly, since he and I were never on good terms. I often disagreed with his decisions as King, so to hear I was willing to accept his authority was something he had clearly not expected." Of course. Gustang himself had suspected this, telling you that Jahad must have "jumped" at the chance to get back at Yurin.

"So I explained what I meant. Jahad wanted to show how he would no longer tolerate defiance? Well then, how about he punish me? I knew fully well he had always considered the idea of punishing me, but he couldn't really do that since I was still one of the few people closest to him in authority. He could only do that if I let him do it, which is what I was offering." Yurin said, scoffing slightly as she remembered that day when she confronted Jahad about Yuri's fate and made that deal.

"He looked a bit more interested, but then he asked me what made me think he would agree, since he could just ignore his desires for the time being and choose to deliver what he considered as a "righteous punishment". It was clear that he saw right through me, and I had to be more forceful and negotiating into it. And that was when I decided to come up with this idea. I volunteered that I would be imprisoned as an A-Rank Prisoner for 5 months full, as long as Yuri would also get that much punishment rather than life sentence or ****."

Ha Yurin chuckles sardonically. "Apparently, the idea of me "really paying my dues" was too much for him. He knew I meant I would allow myself to be stripped of all dignity and endure **** with my body laid bare and in chains, just like any other A-Rank Prisoner, a massive contrast to the old mighty Ha Yurin who seemed untouchable despite her wild and defiant nature. And so he agreed, but he imposed some terms on me that meant I would have to endure some special punishments or else I get 5 months while Yuri get 50 years."

"I didn't hesitate to agree, so Jahad accepted the order. A day later, I went to the chamber where I was going to be "prepared" for my imprisonment. Yuri was there too, her face just as resolute as I was. I cannot deny how much love and pride I feel for Princess Yuri. I would do anything to keep her alive, even if that means being chained like this. I told her not to worry. I said that she's brave and smart, and she's going to survive this. I told her that I'm proud she inherited my rebelliousness and that she should always remember to stand up for her beliefs and fight for justice, even if it means sacrificing herself." Yurin's smirk returned in full, her mood improved just by reminscing about Yuri."

"And Yuri didn't apologize or anything. She just looked at me in the eye and told me that it would be okay." Yurin chuckled softly at that. "Naturally, we were imprisoned in separate cells, but we all knew what would happen once we arrive, so we decided to start off with one particular act of defiance. We pretty much stripped off all of our clothes at that moment." Your eyes widened as Yurin's grin sharpened.

"Surprise, right? Yeah, before the guards would chain us, we decided we might as well as get naked rather than have them do it. We casually removed our dress first, revealing our tight muscles, bra and well-toned stomach, and that was already enough to stun them for a few moments. Then, we removed our pants, leaving us in just our underwears, exposing our legs and most of our beautiful curves and skin. After me and Yuri eyed each other with wicked grins, we mockingly bowed before the guards and removed our underwears, baring our naked bodies before those stunned guards. It took them an entire minute before they regained their bearings and took us away to our cells."

Yurin snorted as you couldn't help but ask "I assume as someone who's laid with so many men, nudity is no longer an issues for you? As the sole woman in the Top 3 Family Heads and one of the three only women in the Family Heads as a whole, you were known to be quite wild, after all. And was the fact that Yuri, despite being forbidden to pursue romantic relationships and thus never having laid with a man, also stripped off without any shame something you are proud of her for?"

Yurin's grin grew even wilder. "Oh yeah, I don't give shit about nudity. I've been with hundreds of men over the centuries, and I sure as hell don't give a damn about being naked in front of others. Besides, I sure as hell enjoyed looking up at Yuri's own performance. Like me, she stood tall and made a show of it in seamless tandem with her dear old grandma. She's inherited both my resilience and my beauty, it seems, and even if she can never hope to match my strength, I'll always be proud of her as a person."

"Alright, I think I shall proceed with the professional questions, Lady Yurin, but before that, for you alone, King Jahad has offered you an opportunity to reduce your sentence along with Yuri's by half a month." Now, that caught Yurin's attention, her gaze turning from playful to curiousity, especially as you wince at the reminder of what such "mercy" would lead to. "Are you willing to listen, or-?"

"Say it. An offer from Zahard, huh? Interesting. I don't trust him, but I trust you enough to consider this." Yurin said casually as she leaned forward as far as her restraints could, although you knew fully well she could very much simply snap them off her if she so wished.

"King Zahard offered a way for your sentence to be reduced by a single month, but only if you answer my questions well, first. I'll be the judge of that, and I can have your sentence be reduced by a single month... But first, you must do two sexual commands by Jahad, and I must make pictures of it as proof." You said softly, wondering if Yurin would reject the idea.

Again, Yurin surprised you by simply laughing heartily. "Alright, why not? I'll take the deal. But let's get started with the questions first. What do you have to ask me?