𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | 𝐓𝐥𝐨𝐊

XXIV

That same night, Korra met with Tenzin, Chief Beifong, and Sora on the roof of the police headquarters.

"So you think Mr. Sato is building weapons for the Equalists and plotting against Cabbage Corp?" Tenzin asked Korra. His brow furrowed, creasing the light-blue arrow tattoo that began at the base of his shaved head and came to a point above his forehead. The airbending master stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"That's a risky accusation," Lin said, folding her arms across her chest. "What proof do you have?"

"Well, I don't exactly have proof," Korra admitted, glancing between the three of them. "But I know what I heard. Sato is up to something."

"The accusation isn't the problem," Sora said, interrupting Tenzin before he could respond. "The problem is proving it."

A cool breeze swept across the rooftop, stirring the white-haired captain's neatly combed hair. She stood beside Chief Beifong, a bandage wrapped around her forehead and one arm still wrapped in fresh bandages beneath her uniform jacket. Despite the fatigue that lingered in her body, she had insisted on being there—much to Lin's and Saikhan's irritation.

Three pairs of eyes turned to her.

"What do you mean by that, Sora?" Tenzin asked, his brow knitting in confusion.

The white-haired girl didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked toward her chief. After all, this was classified information she was about to reveal.

Lin, for her part, gave a short nod, granting her permission before turning her attention back to Korra and Tenzin.

"On the Chief's orders, I started tracking down potential financial backers connected to the Equalists," Sora explained. "The equipment they're using isn't cheap. Someone has to be funding it."

"What did you find?" Korra asked.

"From Future Industries? Very little." She instinctively folded her arms, only to wince as pain shot through her injured shoulder. She quickly let them fall back to her sides. "On paper, Future Industries is clean. Taxes are paid. Shipping manifests check out. Their suppliers are reputable. Everything is in perfect order."

She paused.

"Too perfect."

Silence settled over the rooftop.

"I found inconsistencies," Sora continued. "Small ones. Cargo transfers that didn't match warehouse schedules. Deliveries rerouted after midnight. Security records that disappeared before I could request copies."

"There are enough irregularities to justify another investigation," the captain concluded, "especially when you combine them with what Korra overheard tonight."

Korra gave Sora a small, appreciative smile. The captain returned it with a slight nod.

"There's still something I don't understand," Korra said. "Why would Hiroshi Sato get involved with the Equalists?"

"Maybe he got bored and decided funding a terrorist organization sounded exciting," Sora muttered in amusement, the corner of her lips curling up.

No one laughed.

The girl slowly looked between Lin and Tenzin, both of whom were staring at her without amusement.

"...Right." She cleared her throat. "Terrible timing."

Korra couldn't help smiling as she watched someone nearly a head taller than everyone else somehow shrink beneath Lin Beifong's disapproving glare.

"He has a motive," was all the police chief said, pondering the matter.