JK considered for a moment how much he should embellish the story. Tomoko was more likely to help him, and not to ask too many questions, if she thought he was in direr straits than he was. On the other hand it made him uncomfortable to outright lie to her face, "... our paper is missing funds. If we don't find out where they've gone, our jobs could be in danger - and if I can find out, I'll be a hero. I'll get promoted. I need this."