**Chapter 5: Unraveling the Mystery**

"Do you know where Asami is?" Korra said, her voice low and urgent as she leaned in, her eyes locked onto Dr. Zhang's. Dr. Zhang's expression turned cautious, and he glanced around the room before responding. "I don't know anything about Asami's disappearance," he said, his voice measured. "But I do know that she was acting strange in the days leading up to... whatever happened to her." Mako's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by 'acting strange'?" he asked, his voice firm. Dr. Zhang hesitated, collecting his thoughts before speaking. "She was distant, preoccupied. She kept getting mysterious messages and would often step out of meetings to take calls. I tried to talk to her about it, but she just brushed it off, telling me it was work-related." Korra's grip on her hands tightened. "Did you ever see any of these messages?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Dr. Zhang nodded, his eyes clouding over. "Once, I saw her reading a message on her comms device. It was a simple text, just a few words: 'The project is a go.' But the way she reacted to it... it was like she'd just received a death sentence." Emily's eyes widened. "That sounds ominous," she said, her voice soft. Dr. Zhang's expression turned grim. "It was more than that. Asami's whole demeanor changed after that message. She became even more driven to push the project forward, no matter the cost." Korra's mind was racing. Who could be behind these mysterious messages, and what did they have to do with Asami's disappearance? She turned back to Dr. Zhang. "Do you have any idea who might have been sending these messages?" she asked, her voice firm. Dr. Zhang shook his head. "No, I don't. But I do know that Asami was getting pressure from high up to move forward with the project. I overheard her talking to someone on the comms device, mentioning something about 'the board' and 'the investors.'" Mako's eyes locked onto Korra's, a spark of understanding passing between them. This was getting bigger, more complex. They needed to dig deeper, to follow the trail of clues and see where it led. Korra stood up, her eyes never leaving Dr. Zhang's. "Thank you, Dr. Zhang. We'll look into this. If we need any more information, we'll be in touch." Dr. Zhang nodded, his expression somber. "Be careful, Korra. If Asami was in over her head, you might be too." As they left Dr. Zhang's office, Korra couldn't shake off the feeling that they were walking into a web of deceit and danger. She glanced at her friends, her heart pounding in her chest. They were in this together, and they would uncover the truth, no matter what it took.