Beyond the Veil of Secrecy

"I wish I could, but it's not my say," Hiroshi Sato said, his expression apologetic, as he shook his head in response to Korra's demand. Korra's eyes narrowed, her frustration growing. "What do you mean it's not your say?" she pressed, her voice firm. "You're the CEO of Future Industries, aren't you? Don't you have access to all the company's files?" Hiroshi leaned back in his chair, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice. "Asami's project was a special case, Korra. The research was being funded by a third-party organization, and they insisted on complete secrecy. I wasn't even cleared to know the details of the project." Mako frowned, his brow furrowed in concern. "What kind of organization would require that level of secrecy?" he asked. Hiroshi hesitated, his eyes darting between Korra and Mako before responding. "I'm not at liberty to disclose that information," he said finally. "But rest assured, it's a reputable organization with a vested interest in the success of Asami's research." Korra's eyes flashed with skepticism. "A reputable organization that requires secrecy?" she repeated. "That sounds suspicious to me." Hiroshi's expression turned stern. "Korra, I understand your concerns, but I'm telling you all I can. You need to trust me on this one." Korra's jaw clenched in frustration. She didn't like being shut out of the loop, and she was starting to suspect that Hiroshi was hiding something. She decided to try a different approach. "Okay, Mr. Sato," she said, her voice measured. "If you're not willing to share the details of Asami's project, can you at least tell me who I should talk to? Who might be able to help me find her?" Hiroshi's expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "I can give you the name of Asami's research partner," he said. "Dr. Jianzhu Li. He's a renowned expert in his field, and he might be able to provide some insight into Asami's work." Korra's eyes lit up with hope. "That's something, at least," she said, pulling out her notebook and pen. "What's Dr. Li's contact information?" Hiroshi provided the details, and Korra jotted them down, her mind racing with possibilities. She was one step closer to finding Asami, and she was determined to follow every lead, no matter where it took her.