Episode 2 of *Tempest* opens with a gripping flashback to two months prior to Jang Jun-ik's tragic demise. In the heart of Washington D.C., Deputy Secretary of State Anderson Miller is jolted awake from his slumber by the insistent ringing of his phone in the dead of night. After hastily attending a clandestine meeting with the American President and a coterie of high-ranking government officials, he carefully conceals a letter within a pen and dispatches it to Jang Jun-ik with utmost secrecy.
Fast forward to the present, Mun-ju poses a pointed question to Park Chang-hee, the head of security, inquiring about the exact moment Jun-ik's paranoia regarding his safety escalated. Chang-hee recalls that it was approximately two months ago when Jun-ik began conducting confidential meetings and taking private phone calls that even he, as the head of security, was kept in the dark about. He also reveals that Jun-ik once mentioned being tailed by the "Squirrel." Mun-ju's mind races as she realizes that "Squirrel" must refer to Jun-sang, given that it was his childhood nickname.
Meanwhile, Mi-ji, who has been keeping a vigilant eye on Sergeant Kim's family, reports to Mun-ju that a group of mysterious men are assisting the family in packing, as if preparing for an abrupt departure. She follows them all the way to the airport, where she discovers they are en route to Melbourne. However, her pursuit is abruptly cut short when the enigmatic men from before spot her and abduct her.
Elsewhere, Father Yang, the priest, imparts crucial information to San-ho. He informs him that he has sent a message to San-ho's grandmother in North Korea, instructing her to meet San-ho in China. He also reveals that Jun-ik entrusted him with a task but remains tight-lipped about the details. San-ho bids a solemn farewell to the priest and accepts his Bible as a keepsake. During his journey, he stumbles upon the same card bearing a phone number that Sergeant Kim had inside the Bible. This discovery prompts him to make a hasty return to the church.
Back at the church, Mun-ju receives a call from Jun-sang, who now has Mi-ji in his custody. When she confronts him, he claims that he had been concealing the truth all along: Jun-ik was a spy. Furthermore, he suspects Baek San-ho of being the mastermind behind Jun-ik's murder and divulges that San-ho is a mercenary working for a shadowy organization called Valkyrie. Jun-sang issues an ultimatum to Mun-ju, ordering her to leave the country within 24 hours. He permits her to speak to Mi-ji over the phone, and Mun-ju vows to secure her release.
Mun-ju rushes to the church, only to find Father Yang's lifeless body. San-ho is also present, lamenting that he arrived too late to save the priest. The assassin re-enters the room, and San-ho engages him in a fierce battle, demanding to know what the man was searching for. The assassin cryptically replies, "the whale in the distant sea." As footsteps approach the priest's door, the assassin flees the scene. Unwilling to be discovered by others, San-ho opens a hidden door, revealing a narrow corridor. Both he and Mun-ju venture inside, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
Elsewhere, Lim Ok-seon sits down for a crucial meeting with Director Yoo Un-hak. With a solemn air, she unveils herself as the enigmatic benefactor who, years prior, had saved his son's life through a generous donation. Now, she comes seeking his assistance. In return, Director Yoo divulges that he and his team had been probing Jun-ik for treason in the months leading up to his untimely demise. He also hands over San-ho’s profile, cautioning her to remain vigilant around him, as the full extent of his entanglement with Jun-ik remains a mystery.
Meanwhile, San-ho and Mun-ju descend into a clandestine passageway that leads them beneath the earth's surface. San-ho elucidates the existence of an intricate network of catacombs that interlink churches spanning both the North and the South. When Mun-ju inquires about his current endeavors, he reveals that his contract with Valkyrie concluded a year earlier. San-ho further speculates that Father Yang had intended to unveil Jun-ik’s cryptic message during the following day's mass, a revelation that likely sealed his fate. As they navigate the catacombs, San-ho stumbles upon the wine bottle Father Yang had once shared with him. Concealed within, they uncover the hidden message Anderson had dispatched to Jun-ik.
A flashback transports us to a pivotal moment when American intelligence uncovered North Korea's construction of a colossal nuclear submarine. Anderson Miller, the voice of reason, declared it inconsequential, a stance that landed him in hot water. The military swiftly devised a counterattack strategy against North Korea, one that threatened to escalate into a full-blown war. Yet, Anderson harbored doubts. He questioned North Korea's financial capacity to undertake such a monumental nuclear project. Hence, he reached out to Jun-ik, pleading for his aid in averting the impending catastrophe.
Back in the present, Mun-ju grasps the gravity of Jun-ik’s intentions to forestall the war. She urges San-ho to safeguard his grandmother in the North and resolves to take up her husband’s mantle. She orchestrates a meeting with President Chae and lays bare the entire truth.
However, President Chae, with a steely gaze, sets the letter ablaze. She discloses that she had already pieced together the puzzle and intended to leverage Jun-ik’s death to gain an upper hand with the Americans. She admits to knowing the identity of Jun-ik’s assassin but chooses to shield the culprit, all in pursuit of a grander scheme. Labeling Mun-ju an "honest fool," she reveals her intention to terminate Mun-ju’s employment regardless. The encounter culminates with President Chae instructing Mun-ju to leave the country.
Upon arriving home, Mun-ju strikes up a conversation with Ok-seon. With a hopeful glint in her eye, Mun-ju inquires whether Ok-seon still believes she could stand as a formidable contender against President Chae. Aware of the pivotal role Ok-seon played in shaping her late husband's public image, Mun-ju now beseeches her to weave the same magic for her own political ascent. In a gesture of profound commitment, Mun-ju vows to relinquish all claims to her inheritance should she emerge as the chosen candidate. Captivated by the proposition, Ok-seon seals the deal.
Mun-ju's first order of business is to enlist Ok-seon's help in orchestrating a swift exit for Jun-sang. She instructs Ok-seon to contact Jun-sang, demanding that he return Mi-ji and vacate the country within a mere 24 hours.
Meanwhile, San-ho embarks on a perilous journey to China. Accompanied by a band of men, he traverses treacherous terrain until they reach a river that serves as a clandestine gateway to North Korea. However, their hopes are dashed as they encounter a blockade of soldiers, who unleash a hail of bullets upon any who dare to cross. Amidst the chaos, San-ho frantically dials Ethan's number, offering his services to safeguard Mun-ju's interests.
