Episode Summary
Man Wai-sam goes missing, but she's actually undercover at a resort investigating a suspected crystal-worshipping cult that preys on the wealthy. She uncovers their business scam and sends the evidence to Cheung Ka-yin. Back at the office, Cheung's resignation is blocked, while Lau Yim gets a lead on the cult from an unrelated story. Cheung passes Man's information to Lau Yim, officially kicking off the investigation.
Spoiler Alert
Where in the World is Man Wai-sam?
So, Man has been missing for three days. Nobody at SNK has a clue where she is. Lau Yim finds a brochure for something called the "Jing Yao Research Academy" on her desk. It's all about crystals. She asks Chan Tsz-kit if Man was into that stuff. He says he's never heard her mention it.
Things are a mess without her. This company, Hong King Po, is demanding a public apology. They don't just want an apology, though. They want Man to get on her knees and beg for forgiveness in front of everyone. That's intense.
The network's main investor, Pak Shu-kwan, is also furious. He calls up Yu Ying-fei, basically yelling that he's pulling his money. He makes it very clear. He invested in Man Wai-sam, not the network. Without her, he's out. Yu Ying-fei tries to calm him down, saying he has it all under control. Pak doesn't sound convinced. I'm not either.
Chaos Back at the Office
Cheung Ka-yin Tries to Quit
Cheung Ka-yin has had enough. She puts in her resignation letter. Her boss, Koo Chiu-wah, decides to be a jerk about it. He refuses to sign off on it. He tells her she has to stay for the full three-month notice period, as per her contract. Everyone knows what this is. Koo helped George Leung, so now he's taking it out on Cheung. It's petty office politics at its worst.
A Power Play with Handbags
Koo goes to see Mrs. Fong for advice. She does this very strange thing. She pulls out several expensive, vintage designer bags. She says each one represents a former top executive at the company. Then she talks about getting rid of them, one by one. Koo gets the message loud and clear. He tells her he can replace all of them. He's making his move to consolidate power.
The "Purple Banana" Theory
Yu Ying-fei is trying to make his own moves. He finds Hui Sze-ching. He's angry that his Open Platform wasn't selected for a government media partnership. She tells him she has no power. She's been completely sidelined.
He suggests they team up. He explains his "purple banana" theory. The idea is to find a media partner that is so weak and non-competitive in every way. This would force the news department to have no other choice but to work with his Open Platform. It's a sneaky, clever plan.
Man Goes Undercover in a Crystal Cult
The Initial Pitch
It turns out Man isn't missing. She's at a fancy resort, trying to unwind. The owner, a woman named Mrs. Yau, starts chatting with her. She gives Man the same Jing Yao academy brochure. Mrs. Yau tells a sob story about how the academy saved her when she was at her lowest point.
She convinces Man to join a class. A guy called "Master Wang Kwong" is leading it. He talks about the magical powers of crystals. Man immediately thinks it's a sales scam. She stands up and calls him out on it. But Mrs. Yau tells her the crystals are actually free. This throws Man off, so she just leaves.
The Confession Circle
The resort hosts a big "Jing Yao exchange meeting." Mrs. Yau practically drags Man into it. A woman named Lo Tsz-han comes up to Man and acts friendly. She says her husband is a journalist, so she feels a special connection to her.
Then Master Wang Kwong shows up. He tells everyone to confess their deepest guilt. A lawyer admits he feels terrible for twisting the truth to win a case. A nurse talks about her pain from seeing so much sickness she can't stop. Then a rich heir, Cheng Chi-wo, speaks up. He wanted to buy the whole island for the group, but his employees laughed at him. He admits he even started to doubt the Master. In response, Master Wang Kwong performs a little ritual. He dabs some water on Cheng's forehead to "cleanse" him of his sins.
The Real Scam is Revealed
After the meeting, Man finds Cheng and starts a conversation. She asks him why he's so willing to pour money into this. He says that everyone else only cares about his fortune. He believes Master Wang Kwong is the only one who connects with his soul.
He then shows her the business plan for turning the island into a "spiritual sanctuary." Man looks at the documents. She spots the catch. Master Wang Kwong gets 50% of the company shares. For free. He contributes nothing but "guidance."
Man immediately pretends she wants to join. The next day, she asks for a meeting with the Master. They turn her down. They say her heart isn't "sincere" enough. This is all the confirmation she needs. It's a massive scam targeting the rich and vulnerable.
The Investigation Begins
Man knows she can't expose this alone. She writes a detailed whistleblower letter and sends it to Cheung Ka-yin.
Cheung gets the letter and tries to launch an investigation. She calls a meeting, but nobody comes. Her colleagues are too afraid of getting fired. Even her usually reliable ally, Poon Chi-ngo, backs out.
Meanwhile, Lau Yim is at the Wan Chai courthouse covering a story. She tries to interview a guy named Boss Tung, but he blows her off. So she turns to his wife. Mrs. Tung is furious. She complains that her husband is donating all their money to the Jing Yao academy instead of giving her any. It's the same group.
Later, Cheung secretly meets with Lau Yim. She gives her the evidence she got from Man. She also tells her exactly where to start digging. She needs to investigate the cult's core members and figure out where those crystals are really coming from. The hunt is on.
