Salem. Midnight. The smell of rain mixed with smoke drifted through the narrow lanes of an abandoned godown near the railway line. A man lay on the wet floor, blood dripping from his mouth, yet his eyes—sharp, furious, and unbroken—remained open.
Mano Kanagaraj, one of Chennai's most promising criminal advocates, now dying like a stray dog in the shadows.
The betrayal came not from his enemies, but from those in black coats—the very fraternity he once trusted.
He laughed bitterly.
"IPC 302... murder with intention. They'll make it look like an accident, and no one will care."
His fingers gripped a half-burned legal file—the only copy of a case that could have brought down a syndicate of builders, politicians, and even a sitting judge. He had played too close to the fire.
Lightning cracked the sky above.
"Law isn't dead yet," he muttered, as his vision dimmed. "I swear on my advocate's oath... I'll bring justice, even if it kills me."
---
Somewhere Else — The Interstice
A place outside space and time. Darkness, yet not void. Silence, yet vibrating.
A glowing screen blinked to life in front of the soul of Mano Kanagaraj.
> [Lex System Activated]
"Welcome, Mano Kanagaraj."
"Your death has been recorded as 'Unlawful Termination of Justice Process'."
"As an advocate of truth, you are granted a second chance."
Do you accept the conditions of the Lex System?
> [Y/N]
He looked around. His body was gone, but his voice remained. "What conditions?"
> "Uphold the law. Punish the guilty. And this time… use every tool the law allows."
Mano smirked. "Accepted."
> [Initialization Complete]
New Status: Lex Enforcer (Trial Mode)
Current Location: Salem, Tamil Nadu
Level 1 – Access granted to IPC, CrPC, Constitution Articles 14–21
First Objective: Uncover the illegal land grab near Mettur Dam.
A sudden shock passed through his chest. He gasped—and sat upright.
---
Salem General Hospital – 4:21 AM
Beep. Beep. Beep.
His eyes shot open. Tubes in his arms. Bandages around his ribs. He had been declared dead three days ago.
A nurse screamed and dropped a tray.
Mano sat up straight, staring at the wall clock, then at the lawyer's coat folded on the chair beside him.
"I'm back," he whispered.
From the corner of his eye, a holographic icon blinked softly, only visible to him:
> [Lex System: Awaiting Command]
He reached out, touched the coat, and stood up, shaky but breathing.
"Time to bring justice. Not just in court… but everywhere."