Episode 9 of "Hunter with a Scalpel" kicks off with a tender scene where young Eun-seo and Se-eun meticulously place a photograph of themselves inside a book, adorning it with colorful stickers. Outside, casting a wary eye on the harmonious tableau, stands Se-eun's father, his expression tinged with suspicion.
Elsewhere, Se-hyun awakens to a phone call from her father, who mentions her "assignment" concerning the evidence, insisting she handle it independently, sans his assistance.
At the police station, Choi Jong-soo intercepts Jung-hyun just as he's about to broach the subject of an old, unsolved case in front of their supervisor. Jong-soo discreetly advises Jung-hyun to seek assistance from a colleague in another precinct rather than expend the current department's resources fruitlessly.
As Jung-hyun departs, his mind wanders to Se-hyun and her peculiar demeanor. He dials her number, but it rings unanswered.
Meanwhile, Se-hyun arrives at work, subtly planting the strand of hair she had meticulously gathered into one of the evidence containers. Concurrently, Mr. Choi visits the police station, depositing a mysterious box intended for the criminal investigations team before departing.
Over at the NFS, Joon-kyung confesses to Se-hyun that she disclosed the information about pancuronium to Jung-hyun. Subsequently, she urges Se-hyun to meet with Director Kim, who delivers the devastating news that her temporary autopsy center in Yongcheon will be discontinued. Se-hyun voices her protest, but to no avail.
Jung-hyun and Chang-jin seek out Detective Jin-woo from the other precinct we had earlier mentioned, entreating him to delve into the unresolved mystery. He assents, vowing to persuade his team to take up the case. Upon their return to the police station, they are handed Choi's box, brimming with flash drives, each encapsulating crucial footage of Se-hyun hauling a dark suitcase.
Back at the NFS headquarters, the director sternly instructs Se-hyun to return to Seoul and conclude the Nam Seung-hyeop investigation, reminding him of his solemn pledge to shoulder the responsibility. With that, she storms off, only to discover upon returning to her office an internal audit squad meticulously gathering her belongings, suspecting Se-hyun of dishonesty and report falsification.
The tension escalates drastically when Oh Min-ho's enraged mother storms in, assailing Se-hyun with accusations of manipulating her son's case outcome. Se-hyun, maintaining her composure, replies candidly that her son's conduct was indeed as depicted, prompting the incensed mother to slap her across the face. Security personnel are compelled to intervene and escort her away.
Meanwhile, the digital forensics team alerts the detectives to the location identified in the video featuring Se-hyun. They swiftly recognize the address as belonging to Kwon Hyung-jo, the obsessive stalker of Yeon-ju.
Elsewhere, Jung-hyun confronts Se-hyun, his eyes burning with suspicion as he confronts her about withholding crucial information. Stunned by the sight of herself dragging the suitcase, Se-hyun remains tight-lipped, merely informing Jung-hyun that once the culprit is apprehended, their paths should never cross again.
