Night – Periyeri Industrial Zone
The area was half-dead, like a ghost town of rusted steel and silent trucks. Once an industrial hub, it now housed more shady dealings than trade. And somewhere in that decay, Ramasamy was being held.
Mano Kanagaraj crouched behind a broken wall near an abandoned godown, his breath shallow. He wasn't alone.
Beside him was Inspector Vinod, a young officer from Tamil Nadu CID.
"You sure he's inside?" Vinod whispered.
Mano nodded. "Lex System tracked his mobile signal to this warehouse. It hasn't moved in three days."
Vinod adjusted his weapon. "This is unofficial. My seniors don't know I'm here."
"You owe me that much," Mano said sharply. "Your team ignored my earlier complaint. If he dies, this case dies too."
> [Lex System Activated: Covert Mode]
Objective: Locate and Extract Witness
Bonus: Record Criminal Presence – Valid for FIR filing
Risk: Armed Hostiles Expected
---
Inside the Godown
Thennavan paced angrily while on a phone call. "No, sir... yes. I told you, the court rejected the stay. And the advocate? He's not stopping. He's already sniffing around here."
A muffled scream came from the back room.
Thennavan's eyes narrowed.
"He'll come. That lawyer—he's obsessed with justice. When he does, make sure he doesn't walk out."
He disconnected and waved at his men. "No more waiting. We end this tonight."
---
Outside – Mano's Plan
Mano handed Inspector Vinod a device—custom built from the Lex System.
"Set this up behind the godown. It creates a legal geotag. Once active, any voice or video captured becomes admissible as electronic evidence under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act."
Vinod blinked. "This is not police-grade tech."
"It's lawyer-grade," Mano said, cracking a grin.
---
Ten Minutes Later – Mano Enters Alone
He walked in through the side entrance, unarmed, every step echoing like a challenge.
A thug spotted him and ran. "Sir! That advocate came alone!"
Within seconds, four men surrounded him. Thennavan stepped forward, clapping mockingly.
"Well, well. The ghost himself."
"I want the old man," Mano said calmly. "Release him now, and I won't file a Section 307 attempt to murder against all of you."
Thennavan snorted. "You're not in court now. This is Salem's ground. This is my courtroom."
> [Lex System Recording: Active – 100% Valid]
Offenses Captured: IPC 342, 365, 506(ii)
From the shadows, Inspector Vinod crept through the back. Inside a locked room, Ramasamy sat barely conscious. Vinod picked the lock quietly and helped him up.
"Shh. I'm with Mano. We're getting out."
---
Confrontation – Warehouse Center
Thennavan approached Mano. "You think the law can protect you here? You're alone."
Mano smiled faintly. "I'm never alone."
He tapped his earpiece.
"Now."
Suddenly, floodlights burst through the rear door. CID officers, cameras, and drones swarmed the godown.
Thennavan froze.
"Say cheese," Mano whispered.
> [Lex System Update: Digital Raid Success – Evidence Captured]
Arrest Authorization: Valid
Witness Status: Safe
Skill Gained: Hostile Turnover – Level 1
You may now flip low-level criminals during interrogation
---
Next Morning – CID Headquarters, Salem
Mano sat across from SP Rajalakshmi, flipping through the CID's compiled dossier.
"It's bigger than we thought," she said. "Arumugam isn't just involved in land grabs. His network includes fake document rackets, political fund laundering, even organ trafficking tied to forced evictions."
Mano tapped the file. "We need Ramasamy's Section 164 statement before the Judicial Magistrate. Fast."
"He's under protection now," the SP confirmed. "And thanks to last night, we can officially reopen four cold cases."
> [Lex System Update: Final Evidence Secured – 3/3]
Special Feature Unlocked: Lex Strike
Effect: Enables full legal strike—complaint + affidavit + FIR + court case—in one chain move
---
Later – Court Complex, Salem
Ramasamy stood in the witness box, trembling, yet firm.
"I was forced to sign the forged documents. Thennavan threatened my life. I tried to go silent, but Mano sir found me. He brought me here alive."
Judge Vijayalakshmi nodded. "Let it be recorded under Section 164 CrPC."
The entire courtroom leaned forward as Mano stood with his final declaration.
"Your Honour, we are now ready to file formal charges under IPC 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B—and CrPC Sections 195 and 340. The truth has been resurrected."
Gavel.