Chapter 4: Are We Working for an Equalist?

Bolin was ecstatic with the news brought by his brother. The Fire Ferrets will be able to enter the Pro-Bending Tournament. "Cool! I can hardly wait until we tell Korra the good news!"

"I'm glad you don't mind Asami Sato is the one sponsoring us in spite of her father, Bolin." Mako stoically commented.

"Mako, Asami's Dad might supply weapons for the Equalists but she's innocent." Bolin cheerfully replied.

"Hiroshi Sato only made and sold those gloves as means of personal protection." Mako firmly said. "It's not his fault that some people decided to misuse them. I only hope Korra sees it the same way?"

"Why wouldn't she?" Bolin naively asked. "I'm sure she'll say 'great idea, Mako'."

The next day, at Tenzin's home

"Terrible idea." Korra said as Mako feared. "Tenzin already told me about the Equalists and how Hiroshi Sato made anti-bending weapons for them."

"I also told you how it wasn't necessarily his intention, Korra." Tenzin replied with a scolding tone.

"Come on, Korra." Mako pleaded. "The team needs a sponsor."

Seeing Mako's and Bolin's face, she begrudgingly accepted. "Fine. But don't expect me to like working for an Equalist by helping him look good."

Meanwhile, at Hiroshi Sato's office, he and his daughter Asami were discussing the sponsorship idea. "For the last time, Asami, NO!" He angrily replied. "I'm not promoting any bending sports!"

"Dad, the good publicity can do something about the rumors about you being an Equalist." Asami suggested.

"We don't need that kind of publicity, Asami." Hiroshi retorted. "If you feel the need to sponsor his team to make up for the moped incident or whatever else would make you do this, use your own money."

"I will, Dad." Asami bluntly replied and then left his office. After her shift at Future Industries ended, she drove to the power plant to meet Mako. Arriving there, she found out Korra and Bolin arrived there first. "You must be Bolin and the Avatar." She commented.

"That's right." Bolin cheerfully replied. "I'm Bolin, in case you don't know who's who." He stupidly added.

"Nice to meet the both of you." Asami commented. "I am Asami Sato."

"Cool Satomobile!" Bolin commented.

"How many stun gloves did your father have to sell to be able to make it?" Korra accusingly asked.

"Korra?" Mako asked as he stepped out of the power plant while she asked that question. "That's not a nice question to ask."

"Mako, don't you find it even a little suspicious an Equalist like Hiroshi Sato would sponsor a pro-bending team?" Korra asked.

"About that…" Asami hesitantly replied. "Dad said he won't sponsor. He said Future Industries doesn't need that kind of publicity. But don't worry. Like I said, if he won't sponsor the team, I will."

"What do you want in return?" Korra asked, not believing Asami would make that offer out of the pureness of her heart.

"Half the money your team wins at the tournament." Asami asked, having already figured out the Fire Ferrets would be too proud to accept her help for free. They might have accepted that a company would consider publicity as enough payment but Asami was an individual with no authority to speak on behalf of any business on that matter.

"May I confer with my teammates before we make a decision?" Mako formally asked.

"Sure." She replied and the pro-benders started whispering among themselves.

"Is that the coolest Satomobile you've ever seen?" Bolin excitedly asked.

"Bolin, we were supposed to discuss Asami's offer." Mako reminded his brother.

"I vote that we should accept it!" Bolin quickly replied. "Can we speak of her Satomobile now?"

"I also believe it's the coolest one and we should accept Asami's deal." Mako stated. "What about you, Korra?"

"I'm not sure." She answered, still not trusting Asami.

"What? Have you seen a cooler Satomobile?" Bolin skeptically asked and then noticed Mako and Korra staring at him. "Oh, you meant Asami's offer. Come on, Korra. We need the money unless you have a better idea."

Korra reluctantly agreed and then they turned around to face Asami. "Asami Sato, in name of the Fire Ferrets, I inform you that our team has unanimously decided to accept your offer." Mako formally stated.

"Good." Asami replied. "The paperwork is inside the Satomobile. You can read it while I drive us to the training grounds."

Later, at the training grounds, Asami was handing over rent money to the grounds' owner. "I believe this covers everything." She said in a business-like tone. "May I take a receipt now?"

The owner handed it with a look that clearly showed mistrust towards her. "Why're you doing this?"

"Doing what?" Asami asked with a frown.

"Sponsoring a pro-bending team." The owner clarified. "I thought your family was Equalist."

"They merely misused one of the inventions my father made." She formally and sternly replied. "And I'm sponsoring the Fire Ferrets in exchange for half the money prize they receive at this championship."

"I'm keeping an eye at you, Sato." The owner replied. Shrugging at this, Asami went to the Fire Ferrets' training room to see how her new friends were faring. "Watching over your investment?" Korra asked. It could have been playful teasing but her frown clearly indicated mistrust.

"What if I am?" Asami mockingly asked.

"Look here, Miss Sato, I don't know what you and your father are up to but I'm going to find out even if it takes the whole tournament." Korra threatened.

"My father has nothing to do with this." Asami protested.

"Plausible deniability." Korra grunted. "You probably want something more than money or publicity."

"I know! I know!" Bolin exclaimed. "She likes Mako!"

Mako and Asami felt uneasy about Bolin's comment. "Bolin, whatever Asami might feel about me or anybody else is not something one can so carelessly guess." Mako reprimanded his brother.

"Either way, Asami, thanks for your help." Bolin said. "If not for you, Mako and I would have to get back to…"

"Unemployment line." Mako quickly interrupted out of fear Bolin would bring up their past with the triads.

"Oooookay." Asami said, not completely believing Mako's lie but unwilling to pursue the topic. "I have to go home now but I see you at your first match."

"Tomorrow night, Asami." Bolin happily replied.

As Asami left the place, she noticed Lin Beifong entering. "Chief Beifong? I didn't know you're a fan of pro-bending?"

"None of your business." Chief Beifong rudely replied and then went her way. She entered the building to meet the Fire Ferrets. "May I help you, Chief Beifong?" Mako asked.

"I've heard the Fire Ferrets accepted sponsorship money from Asami Sato, Mako." She commented.

"Is that a crime now?" Bolin asked in confusion.

"No." She answered. "It's an opportunity."

End chapter.