Revenge By Law's
ARTICLE 16

A few days ago

Totok had just arrived at the Guttering Wind police station with a body full of sweat. He ran from the motor park which was quite far from the entrance of the police station. He had forgotten about the sale that he just stayed on. In his mind there is only his only puppet sister, Kuntet, who was caught by the police while selling one type of narcotics to a teenager.

“Pak, how about my sister?” totok asked one of the policemen on guard.

“Whose sister?”

“Cuntet. Uh, that means Teddy's son. He said he just got caught.”

“Oh, the young man who sells ecstasy at that High School, huh? So, you're his brother?”

“Iya, Sir.”

“So, you guys who live in the localization of New Batavia, yes?”

Briptu Sartono, one of the investigators who had examined Abi and happened to be there, looked towards Totok when he heard the name of New Batavia. He was quite familiar with the place.

“True, Sir.” Totok said answering the guard police question.

“Wah, I deserve to be no stranger to your sister's face. Didn't he already get away twice because of that weird lawyer? What's-her-name? Advocate Night.”

Totok bowed shyly. He realized that before he could save Kuntet because of the help of the Night Advocate and it must have caused annoyance to the police. Not only protecting Kuntet, Advocate Malam also humiliated the police who wanted to arrest his sister.

“Who is the Night Advocate?” asked Briptu Sartono suddenly.

“I only heard stories from others. They say he is just a village lawyer. Her clothes are eccentric and her way of speaking sucks. He always talks about things like the police are stupid in terms of laws.

Briptu Sartono raised his eyebrows. It was like he had just had an epiphany. Then he looked towards Totok and then threw his smile.

“Looks like I know who the Night Advocate is. I'll help your sister free if you also want to help us.”

Totok confused. However, he only thought of saving his sister. So, he agreed to help the police whom he did not know.

* * *

It has been more than half an hour in the witness stand to answer questions from the judges and the public prosecutor. His face was very calm as if convinced by every answer he gave. He was not at all intimidated by Abi's gaze.

The questions and answers that arise only open up Abi's identity as a Night Advocate. Legally, Abi was found to have committed a criminal offence beyond the criminal offense he was charged with for this trial. He can be charged under Article 378 of the Criminal Code for fraud and the possibility of being entangled in Article 263 of the Criminal Code about a false letter if he is proven to have used a false identity, a false advocate card, a false advocate education certificate, or the like.

Indira looks nervous because she does not know what to fight. This was completely beyond his estimation. All he could do was look at Abi and hope that his client had a good way out.

“Evening Advocate has saved his sister from police pursuit for drug trafficking. Twice. And he's not a bad guy either. I don't understand why he did this,” muttered Abi.

Amidst her nervousness, Indira sympathizes with Abi's current feelings. He had heard little of Abi's alter ego as the Night Advocate of Rama. The sister of her client told her how Abi had to repeatedly confront the authorities or people who had the money and power to protect their neighbors and acquaintances without ever getting any wages. And not once twice did he have to face the threat of his defeated opponents arguing with him. In fact, he had twice brandished the gun and once dodged the long sword.

“Good, Brother legal counsel, are there any questions you want to ask witness brother?” ask the judge about Indira.

“There, Your Majesty.”

“Please, Brother legal counsel.”

Indira looked towards the witness. Actually, he has not decided what to ask. Whenever he thought of a question, he already imagined the possible answer and nothing was profitable enough for his client.

Suddenly Abi whispered something that made Indira nod as if she was agreeing with what Abi said.

“Did you witness ever see a defendant selling any type of drug?”

“No. I never saw it.”

“True.”

Indira showed relief on her face. Not because Totok opened Abi's identity as a Night Advocate that made him worried. He was worried that Totok was lying and slandering Abi.

Actually Abi just had him ask to that extent to Totok then make the answer a basis for him to question the function of Totok as a witness a charge because it does not prove Abi's involvement with narcotics in any way direct. But Indira has other plans. He wanted to use Totok to inform the judge and the public that Abi was acting as a Night Advocate for good reasons.

“Given that he is a Night Advocate who defends the law-blind citizens from the law-savvy people who try to oppress them, according to Brother, is it possible for an Abhimanyu Alexander to commit a crime like the one he was accused of?”

Totok sighed as if he was thinking hard. Abi knew that the man was too good to lie, especially after he swore under the scriptures.

“We've known each other since childhood. And I've thought for a long time that Abi was a psychopath and would one day commit a heinous crime. Therefore, I was not surprised when I first heard this case.”

The whole room was back in shock because of Totok's words. Especially Indira. His body looks weak. The joints in his body seemed to disappear due to an unexpected answer.

* * *

Twenty-five years ago

The scorching heat stings up to the crown. Totok and Oding try to neutralize the hot temperatures in their bodies with green bean flavored ice cream stalks.

“What is it?” totok asked when he saw there was a crowd behind the school. Since there was no answer to that question, they decided to check it out for themselves

Totok and Oding peek out from behind the bodies of his friends. They saw a child of their age lying with bruises on his face. The tip of his lips until he bled. They know the kid. Abhimanyu Alexander, their classmate.

“Definitely beaten again by Sumadi,” muttered Totok while continuing his ice cream licking activities. Sure enough, they also saw Sumadi in front of Abi was stroking his fists. “This time because of what, yes?”

“I heard because Sumadi ruined his new watch. He was angry and tried to beat Sumadi,” said Fiko who had been watching the fight.

“Sometimes I'm confused, Abi is smart or stupid, huh? If he studies, he's always a champion. But he always fought Sumadi whose body was like those fathers. Though he never won and will not have a chance to win.”

Although not close, Totok has known Abi since they were very small. They are the same age and their house is only a few different alleys. Totok knows that Abi never had any close friends. All he had were roommates and classmates. No one has ever played with him.

Abi is not a child who stands out except for his cleverness. He always won the general champion in his school and is a hobby of learning. Unlike children his age, he prefers to read books rather than play. Besides reading, he also loves to draw. His work is very good. However, he always refused to be included in any race.

“Eh, the Abi stood up,” said Oding while nudging Totok.

True, Abi struggled to stand up even though he was feeling pain all over his body. His eyes were nilar as if he still wanted to challenge his opponent, even though the condition of his body did not support it.

“Why? Still want to get some more compensation? Jammu is cheap, so it breaks down quickly. Not because of me.”

Abi was still busy breathing. The blood on the corner of his lips had dried up so occasionally he licked it and spat because it was quite disturbing, but the blood did not disappear. He slowly advanced towards Sumadi. Everyone watching back was enthusiastic for thinking about looking back at how the most annoying boy in this school would be hit.

“I'll reply to him,” Abi said. Sumadi and everyone who saw were shocked. Not because of Abi's words, but because of the smile that expands on his lips. A smile filled with dark aura.

“Ba, how do I do? You want to beat me up again?”

“I'll learn you.” This time Abi made Sumadi and everyone who was looking confused. “I will follow you day and night. I'll see how you eat, how you drink, study, sleep, bathe, b*rack and whatever it is. I'll always find a way to make you wretch without touching you. I'll make you regret for breaking my watch. I will -”

Not finished Abi spoke, Sumadi again raised his fist to Abi's face. No matter how many times his fists touched Abi's face and body, he could still be frightened by the threat that the skinny boy was spreading.

At that time Totok realized the strangeness of Abi. He knew his neighbor had something sinister inside him and would one day encourage him to do something sinister as well.

His guess grew stronger when a few days later Sumadi had a severe accident on the back mountain of the school. His body was full of wounds and his legs were broken. He could not attend school for a month. There was no one else to blame because it was a single accident and was purely the fault of Sumadi himself.

However, according to rumors, some people often see an unknown little boy often wandering around Sumadi's house with suspicious behavior.

It's not wrong anymore. That must be Abi!