Episode 9 of *Confidence Queen* truly picks up steam as it unfolds in April 2020. James is deeply worried about Yi-rang's well-being; she's struggling with sleepless nights, her mind haunted by the lingering trauma of her kidnapping. Consumed by a thirst for vengeance, Yi-rang is relentless in her pursuit. It's during this tense period that Yi-rang and Gu-ho first cross paths. Gu-ho is instantly captivated by her striking beauty, unaware that they are both lodging at his inn as they prepare for their latest clandestine mission. However, Gu-ho harbors plans to shut down the inn soon, as dwindling patronage makes its continued operation untenable.
Yi-rang's primary focus centers on Jin-su, the informant who might be the key to unraveling the entire mystery. After receiving an award, Jin-su mysteriously vanished, only to be discovered a year later, his bones reduced to a macabre testament of his fate.
Seizing an opportunity, Yi-rang and her companion wait for Gu-ho to succumb to the effects of excessive drinking and pass out. They then meticulously search his house. Among their findings is a special pass to the Anyworld Theme Park, along with Myung Jin-su’s wallet and phone, stashed away in boxes within the guest room.
Yi-rang deduces that Jin-su, too, was coerced into submission through blackmail. She believes the vital clue might be hidden within a teddy bear—a teddy bear featured in a photograph on Jin-su’s phone and also residing in the attic of the house where she was once held captive.
It gradually becomes apparent that the same man responsible for kidnapping Yi-rang also ensnared Gu-ho in his sinister web. This is how Jin-su was coerced into paying a hefty ransom. The perpetrator then orchestrated Jin-su's demise to appear as a tragic accident, a mere stumble leading to his death. This revelation also confirms Gu-ho's status as another unwitting victim, sharing the same harrowing fate as Yi-rang.
Back in the present, we find ourselves embroiled in yet another complex case, with Ha Jung-ho at its very heart. This man is no ordinary figure; he's a colossal seafood magnate and an avid cinephile... but lurking beneath this facade is a man of staggering corruption. His illicit empire is built on the clandestine blending of illegal oilfish with toothfish and tuna, a scheme that has flown under the radar of unsuspecting consumers.
Not content with just deceiving the public, Jung-ho also has a penchant for crushing the competition. One such victim, Chang-dae, finds himself teetering on the brink of suicide, a direct consequence of Jung-ho's ruthless tactics. Jung-ho is infamous for his ability to shift blame onto his subcontractors and unsuspecting owners, leaving them to bear the brunt of his nefarious activities. These innocent factory proprietors are left with no choice but to shutter their operations after being ruthlessly undercut by Jung-ho and his cronies. Chang-dae is just one among many casualties of this corporate carnage.
However, the gang isn't one to sit idly by. They concoct a daring plan to take down Jung-ho, one that cleverly exploits his passion for cinema. They substitute Jung-ho's usual movie magazine with a counterfeit one of their own creation. Within its pages lies an article that piques Jung-ho's interest, detailing a "favourite haunt" for artists known as Cafe Soran-soran.
True to form, Jung-ho arrives at the cafe, where Yi-rang, masquerading as a member of the film industry, awaits. James and Gu-ho are also present, feigning a heated discussion about a major film project, all the while intentionally leaving a script behind to distract and entice Jung-ho.
Their ploy is to entice him into investing in the movie, but Jung-ho is no easy mark. He remains skeptical, requiring additional persuasion. The gang responds by erecting an elaborate film set, even going so far as to flatter Jung-ho by proclaiming him a producer and inviting him to take a seat in the Director's chair.
When the lead actress "quits," the ruse becomes all the more convincing. The "producers" (Gu-ho and James) lament their predicament, stating they need 4 billion won to save the project. Alas, Jung-ho remains unmoved.
Enter Yi-rang, who steps in where the men have failed. She presents herself as an aspiring lead star eager to make her mark in Korea. Jung-ho, seeing this as a potential solution to the film's woes, signals his willingness to step in. It seems the game has truly begun, with stakes higher than ever.
