Episode Summary

Sang De is captured after a dramatic fight with Yang Guang, who is saved at the last minute by Li Jian. Meanwhile, Lu Ka, trying to escape, is intercepted by Zhao Ya Zhu of the Lide Group. He meets James, who offers him a lucrative deal (money, cars, a safe house, new identity) in exchange for the intelligence hard drive. Initially hesitant, Lu Ka agrees after seeing photos of Yang Guang and Li Jian, realizing the danger he's in. James plans to use Lu Ka for future operations. Yang Guang interrogates Sang De, who remains uncooperative. The investigation reveals another Hermes operative is still at large. The Zhou Nan Power Plant publicly denounces Hermes. Sang De's background is uncovered, revealing Hermes' connection to the Xi Sheng Hui group. While Yang Guang wants to pursue the remaining operative, Zhang Bo Qing emphasizes the need for public closure.

Spoiler Alert

Showdown on the High Seas and a Cornered Rat

The episode kicks off with Yang Guang trying to get the captain to dock the boat, but surprise, surprise, the captain pulls a fast one again, leading to another brawl. Sang De, seeing his options dwindling, fights like a cornered animal – absolutely desperate and vicious. It's a seriously intense throwdown, and for a moment there, it looks like Sang De might just drag Yang Guang down with him as he dangles precariously off the boat. Just when Yang Guang is about to lose his grip, Li Jian and his team swoop in like the cavalry. Talk about a close call!

Lu Ka's Detour and an Offer He Can't (Eventually) Refuse

Meanwhile, Lu Ka is trying to make his getaway, switching cars, but he gets blocked by a white sedan. And who steps out? None other than Zhao Ya Zhu from the Lide Group. She cuts right to the chase, calls him out on his real identity, and whisks him off to meet James.

James lays it out for Lu Ka: Hermes is basically a dead twig now, while Lide Group is like this giant, globally-rooted sequoia. Translation: they've got the serious capital and can offer him a much cushier life. James praises Lu Ka's skills and offers him a pretty sweet deal for that intelligence hard drive he's carrying. Zhao Ya Zhu then slides open a case revealing:

  • Keys to three high-performance cars, ready to go.
  • Ten pre-registered license plates.
  • Keys to a safe house stocked with six months of food and water.
  • A passport from a country with no extradition treaty.
  • An offshore bank card loaded with $500,000.

Initially, Lu Ka seems completely uninterested. But then, Zhao Ya Zhu plays her trump card: photos of Yang Guang and Li Jian. That stops him in his tracks. With Sang De caught, these two are clearly formidable opponents. James sweetens the pot further, promising that besides the half-million in the account, there's a Zurich account with $3 million USD and €3 million waiting for him – enough to live like a king anywhere in the world. Faced with this, and some persuasive arguments from James and Zhao Ya Zhu, Lu Ka hands over the hard drive, takes the case, and drives off.

New Alliances and Lingering Suspicions

Zhao Ya Zhu still has her doubts about Lu Ka, pointing out that a killer's methods are a world apart from theirs. But James insists that Lu Ka will be crucial for their upcoming plans. He tells Zhao Ya Zhu to get the data transfer sorted and then makes a private call to the "big boss," confirming everything is ready and they're just waiting for the perfect moment. Ominous!

The Investigation Continues (Sort Of)

Back with the good guys, Yang Guang personally interrogates Sang De, but the guy just plays dumb. This prompts State Security's Third Division to meticulously re-search Sang De's room at the Liang Ma Apartment and his office. Connecting all the dots, Yang Guang deduces that there's another Hermes operative still out there and decides they need to investigate everyone Sang De has ever been in contact with.

On a related note, Lu Ka gets a text message and then casually suggests to Xie Xiao Man that they find a new place to live. Xie Xiao Man, completely unsuspecting, agrees readily. Meanwhile, Yang Guang's team discovers a tip-off text message on Sang De's damaged phone, though the sender's identity is still a mystery.

Public Fallout and a Defiant Prisoner

Things get public when the Zhou Nan Power Plant holds a press conference. They announce the cancellation of their contract with Hermes Trading (the front company for Hermes) and vehemently condemn the organization for being a spy ring. Yang Guang makes Sang De watch this whole spectacle live, rubbing it in that his bosses have totally ditched him and he's lost, big time. But Sang De, ever the stubborn mule, snarls that the "game" will never end. Yang Guang's comeback? "Maybe the game won't, but you definitely will." Ouch.

Unmasking Hermes and a Partial Conclusion

Later, back at the State Security Bureau, Yang Guang and his team dig into Sang De's background. It turns out he grew up in an orphanage until he was adopted by a foreign clergyman. As an adult, he founded the spy organization Hermes, simultaneously registering a trading company in the Kewei Islands to operate under the guise of a legitimate businessman. Eventually, Hermes was absorbed by the internationally renowned interest group, Xi Sheng Hui, becoming one of its subordinate organizations.

Yang Guang reports to Zhang Bo Qing that there's still a "fish that got away" and the case can't be fully closed. Zhang Bo Qing, however, feels that since the main players in Hermes have been apprehended, they need to provide some form of closure to the public. Yang Guang understands the pressure.