Helping out and going bad

"Ugh, this can't go on."

During the break between classes, Kori was about to go find Kahn to hang out when she saw him slumped in his seat, letting out a sigh for no apparent reason.

"What's wrong? Why the long face?"

Kori asked.

"Uh, nothing. A few friends and I are looking for something, but we haven't found it after all this time. It's giving me a headache."

Kahn made up an excuse. After all, he couldn't casually tell her about Azula's business.

The [Adventure Game] had been going on for a while, but they had found very little. Conducting a blanket search without any intelligence, like blind men feeling an elephant, was frighteningly inefficient.

At this rate, they might not find the clues even by the time they were old.

Never mind the distant future-at this rate, they would probably wear themselves bald!

Kori had no idea what Kahn was really after, but hearing that he was looking for something, she immediately smiled and said confidently:

"Looking for something? I'm good at that! Let me help!"

"You're good at it?"

Kahn gave her a sidelong glance, his voice full of disbelief. You don't even know what we're looking for, and you're already saying you're good at it?

"Don't believe me? Let me show you what I can do."

Unfazed by Kahn's skeptical look, Kori gently pressed her hand against his desk and closed her eyes as she spoke. A short while later, she said:

"There are five books, two pens, and a paper bag you forgot to throw away after breakfast inside your desk. There are also a few slips of paper stuck in the gap on the right side of the drawer."

The books, pens, and paper bag were all there, but slips of paper...

Kahn moved aside the books on the right side of the drawer and reached in. Sure enough, he found several slips of paper!

There was some idle chatter written on them, probably left behind by a previous occupant of this seat while passing notes to classmates during class. At any rate, he had never noticed those slips of paper before.

Now Kahn was genuinely surprised. "How did you do that?"

"Did you forget? I'm an Earthbender."

Kori smiled as she spoke in a low voice. She had been rather reckless when school first started, but now she knew to mind how her actions might come across.

After all, not everyone was as reasonable as Kahn. There were plenty of clueless little brats around, and Kori didn't want to keep spending her energy on pointless disputes.

Back to the matter at hand: although he had beaten this Earthbender up every day at the Training Ground before, he had never known Earthbenders had a trick like this. It really surprised him.

Kori explained that Earthbenders could sense things in contact with the ground through it. This was one of an Earthbender's fundamental skills.

Of course, it wasn't limited to the ground.

For instance, as she had just demonstrated, she could sense objects on a desk through its surface. Or she could touch a wall to understand and "see" the structure of an entire building. Its applications were quite broad.

Fuck, what kind of godlike skill was this?!

Look at the fundamentals of Earthbending-now that was something useful. Then look at the fundamentals of Firebending-

Breathing! Breathing, which everyone could do!

Kahn was instantly envious.

Come to think of it, though, he remembered having read about it in a book back then. After all, Earthbending had been taught by giant moles.

In the end, how cool Firebending was gradually brought Kahn back to his senses. Still, in that case, it really was as Kori had said: she was very good at finding things, especially what they were looking for.

Having an Earthbender find an underground chamber was like having a Sichuan chef prepare rabbit heads-a perfect match!

But the problem now was that this was no ordinary Adventure Game. Would bringing Kori in put her in danger?

"Well? Do you think I can help?"

Beside him, Kori was still waiting for his answer, but the smug look on her face made it clear that this was actually a statement.

Kahn came back to his senses and smiled.

"Of course you can. That ability of yours is amazing!

"But my friend's identity and this whole business are a little unusual. I need to discuss it with her first."

"An unusual friend? Sounds kind of interesting."

Hearing that only piqued Kori's interest. She didn't see anything wrong with his explanation.

This was the capital of the Fire Nation, full of royalty, nobles, officials, and wealthy merchants. As the daughter of a Prefect herself, she naturally understood that every family had its own secrets.

The unusual business Kahn mentioned was probably something involving an official or a noble. To her, that was nothing strange.

So she said casually:

"It's fine. We're good friends, and I trust you. Just come find me if you need anything."

"Okay."

Having come up empty-handed yet again that day, Azula was feeling irritated, so she went to Kahn's house, planning to fight him and let off some steam.

But as soon as Kahn came home, he brought her some news that sounded rather promising-

"I have a friend who could be a great help to our operation."

Kahn briefly explained Kori's ability, and Azula's eyes immediately lit up. She said in a bright voice:

"I didn't think you had a friend like that. Not bad, not bad. Looks like your judgment isn't that terrible after all."

Kahn was outright baffled.

"When has my judgment ever been terrible?"

"If it weren't, would you be hanging around Zuzu? Oh, maybe you're just blind."

Kahn was instantly speechless. Good grief, she could turn even this into a jab at Zuko?

"But if you put it that way, aren't we friends too?"

"That's why I said your judgment wasn't that terrible."

Azula's words were watertight.

Kahn couldn't be bothered to keep bickering with her. He simply looked at her pleased expression and said:

"One thing first. That friend of mine isn't like us, and she isn't very strong. I don't want her getting in too deep. If you want her help, I have to make sure she'll be safe."

"Tch, you certainly have a lot of demands."

Azula frowned slightly and asked, "Can you guarantee she's trustworthy?"

Kahn recalled his various experiences with Kori, along with what she had said at school. Finally, he said slowly:

"I can't, so you'd better not let her know too much. But her safety is nonnegotiable."

Sorry, Kori.

Although he personally believed Kori genuinely treated him well, objectively speaking, he still knew far too little about her.

His own situation was still precarious. He had to put caution first.

"Good. That's more like it."

Kahn's answer, however, pleased Azula greatly. She patted his shoulder and whispered in his ear:

"Given our current situation, we have to make absolutely sure nothing can go wrong, especially when it comes to choosing people. Not everyone can be trusted."

She had no intention of telling even Mai and Ty Lee, who had grown up with her, about the plan.

As for Zuko, he really ought to have been overflowing with gratitude toward her. She had never shown such extraordinary kindness before.

Kahn was special to her, but if he really made some foolish decision, she might-she might not do anything to him, but she would definitely find a way to dispose of that so-called friend to ensure their absolute safety.

Now, however, Azula smiled in satisfaction. After leaving him with a promise, she turned and left.

"No problem. I'll keep my word."

Only after Azula's retreating figure had vanished completely from sight did Kahn shake his head despite himself and sigh.

"Have I gone bad?"