Chapter 2: A Web of Deceit

Hiroshi's words hung in the air, and Korra could sense the tension building between them. She took a step forward, her eyes locked on his, and replied, "I know Asami. I know her schedule, her habits, and her concerns. And I know that she wouldn't just disappear without a reason. Something's wrong, and I think you're not telling me the whole truth." Hiroshi's expression remained calm, but Korra detected a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "I assure you, Avatar, I'm doing everything in my power to help you find Asami. But I need you to understand that her work here at Future Industries is...sensitive. There are certain...confidentialities that I must maintain." Korra's grip on her bag tightened. She didn't like the sound of this. "Confidentialities?" she repeated, her voice firm. "Asami's safety is all that matters right now. I need to know everything you know about her last night here." Hiroshi sighed, and for a moment, Korra thought she saw a glimmer of genuine concern in his eyes. "Very well," he said. "I'll tell you what I can. Asami did have a meeting with one of our investors last night. But it was a routine meeting, and I don't see how it could have anything to do with her disappearance." Korra's eyes narrowed. "Who was the investor?" she asked, her voice low and even. Hiroshi hesitated, and Korra sensed that he was choosing his words carefully. "The investor wished to remain anonymous," he said finally. "But I assure you, Avatar, it was a legitimate business meeting." Mako, who had been standing quietly behind Korra, spoke up. "That's not good enough, Mr. Sato," he said. "We need to know who that investor was. It could be the key to finding Asami." Hiroshi's expression turned stern, and for a moment, Korra thought he was going to refuse to cooperate. But then, he seemed to relax, and his voice took on a more conciliatory tone. "Very well," he said. "I'll tell you. The investor was...Vincent." Korra's eyes widened. Vincent was a notorious industrialist with a reputation for ruthlessness. She had heard rumors that he was involved in some shady dealings, but she had never been able to prove it. "Vincent?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "What does he have to do with Future Industries?" Hiroshi's expression turned guarded. "That's not something I can discuss here," he said. "But I assure you, Avatar, I'll do everything in my power to help you find Asami." Korra's eyes locked on his, and she knew that she couldn't trust him. Not yet, anyway. She turned to Mako, and together, they exchanged a look. They were going to have to dig deeper, to uncover the truth behind Asami's disappearance. "We're going to investigate Vincent," Korra said, her voice firm. "And we're going to find out what really happened to Asami." Hiroshi's expression turned warning, but Korra just smiled. She was the Avatar, and she was not going to back down.