diff --git a/rag-api/main.py b/rag-api/main.py
index 91ebb38..3a51837 100644
--- a/rag-api/main.py
+++ b/rag-api/main.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ OPENMETADATA_URL = os.getenv("OPENMETADATA_URL", "http://10.0.21.47:8585").rstri
 OPENMETADATA_TOKEN = os.getenv("OPENMETADATA_TOKEN", "")
 COMMAND_CENTER_URL = os.getenv("COMMAND_CENTER_URL", "http://api:3201").rstrip("/")
 CATALOG_COLLECTION = os.getenv("CATALOG_COLLECTION", "catalog")
+MASK_TOKEN_HINT = "🔒 MASKED (masking policy ON)"
 
 # Use placeholder images in markdown — embedded base64 destroys RAG quality.
 DOCLING_IMAGE_MODE = os.getenv("DOCLING_IMAGE_MODE", "placeholder")
@@ -733,6 +734,20 @@ async def _tool_list_movements(client: httpx.AsyncClient, args: dict) -> str:
     return json.dumps((await _cc_get(client, "/api/movements")).get("movements", []))[:3000]
 
 
+async def _tool_lookup_records(client: httpx.AsyncClient, args: dict) -> str:
+    """Look up actual records in a source dataset. Masked columns come back redacted —
+    the real values are enforced server-side and never reach the model."""
+    key = str(args.get("key") or args.get("dataset") or "").strip()
+    if not key:
+        return "error: 'key' is required (one of: postgres, mysql, mongodb, curated)"
+    body = {"key": key, "search": args.get("search"), "limit": int(args.get("limit", 5) or 5)}
+    try:
+        res = await _cc_post(client, "/api/pii/lookup", body)
+    except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+        return f"lookup failed: {exc}"
+    return json.dumps(res)[:3500]
+
+
 async def _tool_propose_movement(client: httpx.AsyncClient, args: dict) -> str:
     """WRITE action — never executes directly; files an approval request (Mo & Bart gate)."""
     mid = str(args.get("movement_id", "")).strip()
@@ -761,6 +776,7 @@ _TOOLS: dict[str, Any] = {
     "get_pii": _tool_get_pii,
     "get_cdc": _tool_get_cdc,
     "list_movements": _tool_list_movements,
+    "lookup_records": _tool_lookup_records,
     "propose_movement": _tool_propose_movement,
 }
 
@@ -773,10 +789,19 @@ _AGENT_SYSTEM = (
     '  To finish:      {"final": true}\n\n'
     "Available tools:\n"
     '  - search_catalog{"query": str}  → tables, columns, PII tags, lineage from the catalog\n'
-    '  - get_pii{}                     → live PII columns per dataset (masked/unmasked)\n'
+    '  - get_pii{}                     → live PII columns per dataset (masked/unmasked status)\n'
     '  - get_cdc{}                     → live CDC change volume per source\n'
     '  - list_movements{}              → available pipelines/movements with their ids\n'
+    '  - lookup_records{"key": str, "search": str}  → actual records in a source dataset\n'
+    "        (key is one of: postgres, mysql, mongodb, curated; search matches the name column)\n"
     '  - propose_movement{"movement_id": str, "reason": str}  → WRITE: files an approval (human-gated)\n\n'
+    "DATA MASKING POLICY — STRICT:\n"
+    "Some columns are masked by the operator's policy. In any tool result, a masked value appears "
+    f'literally as "{MASK_TOKEN_HINT}". You must NEVER reveal, guess, infer, reconstruct, or work '
+    "around a masked value. If the user asks for a field that comes back masked, reply that the value "
+    "is withheld for privacy/security because masking is enabled for that column, and tell them an "
+    "operator can disable masking per column in the Command Center: Data Flow → click the source node "
+    "→ PII panel. If a value is returned in clear text, you may share it normally.\n\n"
     "Gather evidence with read tools before answering. Use propose_movement ONLY when the user "
     "clearly asks to run/trigger a pipeline; it never executes directly — it requires human approval. "
     'When you have enough information, reply {"final": true} and you will then be asked to write the answer.'