Chapter 23: Hero or a Villain
The following morning, after getting some much-needed rest, Lara was determined to find a way to get help—or at least get her message across—to the one people were calling The Fool. The figure had become something of a hero in recent times, known for targeting and killing criminals who many believed deserved their fate.
Knowing her leave from work had ended, Lara decided to return to her office. She thought it might be a good idea since many of her coworkers idolized The Fool. Perhaps she could gather information from them to aid her search.
Upon arriving at the office, Lara was greeted warmly by her colleagues, many of whom expressed concern over her absence. None of them knew that her father was in jail, and she preferred to keep it that way. The last thing she wanted was for her father—or herself—to face judgment or gossip within the workplace.
As she approached her desk, she immediately noticed something was off—Daniel wasn't there. It was unusual for him to miss work. She thought back to the bus accident he had been involved in the day before and reasoned that he was probably just resting.
Shrugging off her curiosity for now, Lara made herself a cup of coffee and returned to her desk. She decided to ease back into her work routine before executing the plans she had in mind for the day. However, deep down, her focus remained on finding a way to connect with The Fool and uncover the truth behind her father's actions.
After working for a while, it was finally break time at the office. Lara stretched her body, feeling the strain from catching up on the pile of tasks she had left unfinished during her time away.
As she relaxed for a moment, she overheard her coworkers chatting nearby.
"Look at this, bro," one of them said. "Looks like The Fool has taken out more criminals. There are new reports on the news about criminals dropping like flies these days."
Their conversation caught Lara's attention. They continued discussing what they'd read in the news, sharing tidbits about a website they claimed was the official hub for people who "worshipped" The Fool. Apparently, it was a platform where users could submit the names of individuals they believed deserved justice—justice the legal system failed to deliver fairly.