Two days later – Revenue Divisional Office, Salem
The sun beat down harshly as a crowd gathered near the Tehsildar's public hall. Farmers, villagers, real estate agents, and middlemen swarmed the corridor like bees. Among them stood Mano Kanagaraj, calm in his black shirt and jeans, holding a worn file close to his chest.
The RTI pressure, the PIL filing, and the media buzz had forced Tehsildar Dhasarathan to announce an open grievance session. Officially, it was to hear land disputes. Unofficially, it was bait.
> [Lex System Alert: Suspicious Activity Detected]
Event Flag: High-Risk Encounter – Ambush Possible
Mano had ignored the warning. He knew what he was walking into.
"Let them try," he muttered.
Inside the hall, the wooden dais was elevated, and Dhasarathan sat like a judge, flanked by bored assistants. His eyes narrowed when Mano entered.
"Well, well," the Tehsildar announced, adjusting his mic. "The people's hero returns! Advocate Mano Kanagaraj, resurrected and righteous."
A few people chuckled nervously. Mano didn't smile.
"I'm here regarding Plot 4B in Mettur," he said. "This grievance session is the perfect place to start reopening that file."
The smile on Dhasarathan's face twitched. "Plot 4B is already registered and resolved."
Mano pulled a laminated copy from his file. "This is the original pre-transfer document, with VAO Ramasamy's certified signature. It contradicts your office records. You've either been fooled—or you're complicit."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Dhasarathan kept his face neutral, but beneath the desk, his thumb hit a hidden button.
---
Outside the Hall – Five Minutes Later
A white van parked beside the building. Four masked men stepped out, heading toward the side entrance. No one stopped them.
> [Lex System Update: Threat Level Escalated]
Objective Activated: Escape the Ambush
Bonus Objective: Extract Official Land File No. 125/A
---
Back in the Hall
Dhasarathan stood from his chair. "This session is concluded. I see no legal standing in your claims."
Mano's voice cut through the noise. "Under the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms Act, and IPC Section 468, suppressing original government records is a punishable offense. And I have already moved a PIL."
Someone in the crowd started recording.
> [Lex System Skill: Legal Spotlight Activated]
Public Presence +30
Video Recording Triggered: Livestream Evidence
Dhasarathan's face twitched. He signaled his assistant with a nod. The assistant bent down, pretending to pick up a pen.
Suddenly, the power went out.
Blackout.
Screams echoed through the corridor.
From behind Mano, three of the masked men lunged. One grabbed his shoulder. Another pulled something from under his shirt—a long iron rod.
But Mano had seen it coming.
He ducked, spun, and slammed his elbow into the first attacker's chin.
Crack.
The second attacker swung the rod—but it hit a desk instead. Mano dove under the table and rolled across the floor.
The crowd scattered in chaos.
---
Office Record Room – Seconds Later
Mano kicked open the side door and burst into the dusty archive chamber.
He scanned the shelves.
> [Lex System Activated: File Tracker – Plot 4B Search Initiated]
Match Found: Shelf 7C – File No. 125/A
He grabbed the file, stuffed it into his bag—and just then, the fourth masked man blocked the door.
"You should've stayed dead," the man said in Tamil, tightening his grip on a switchblade.
Mano stared him down. "You're breaking Section 353 right now. Assault on a public servant. Want to add IPC 307 for attempt to murder?"
The man paused for half a second—enough for Mano to throw a thick register straight into his face and bolt out the side exit.
---
Ten Minutes Later – Salem City Signal
Mano stumbled out into the main road, covered in dust and bruises, heart pounding. Behind him, chaos still rang through the Revenue Office.
A man on a bike pulled up beside him.
It was Adv. Jothi.
"I saw the live video!" Jothi shouted. "Are you insane?"
"Probably," Mano said, grinning. He raised the file in his hand. "But I've got what I came for."
> [Lex System Update: Evidence 2/3 Acquired – Government Land File]
Bonus Unlocked: Cross-Examination Boost – Level 1
New Skill: File Authentication – Detect tampering in official government documents
Mano exhaled deeply.
"Two down. One to go."
---