Episode 12 of "The Art of Negotiation" kicks off with Joo-no's mysterious acquaintance approaching a former colleague to engage in the treacherous game of market manipulation. Meanwhile, Joo-no stands his ground during the disciplinary hearing, steadfastly refusing to apologize even after acknowledging all accusations. He insists that the hearing must proceed, unyielding in his resolve.
Director Dong-joon's requested recess provides an opportunity for CFO Ha and the HR director to hatch a scheme. They conspire to coerce Joo-no into speaking, hoping to exploit his words and leak incriminating articles about him. Their plan is to portray Sanin as a formidable corporation weeding out a detrimental element.
During this brief interlude, Joo-no confides in Dong-joon, revealing his true motive for returning to Korea: to uncover the hidden truths behind his brother's untimely demise. He makes it clear that he has nothing left to lose.
When the disciplinary hearing resumes, the HR director grills Joo-no on the mechanics of market manipulation. Joo-no meticulously describes the technique of "matched orders," illustrating how a syndicate of swindlers artificially inflates stock prices by strategically placing buy and sell orders. These scammers lure unsuspecting investors, who ultimately buy at inflated prices, while the con artists cash out at the peak, leaving the market in tatters.
Elsewhere, Joo-no's contact deliberately involves himself in the "matched orders" racket, oblivious to the fact that his own team is plotting to double-cross him. He uncovers a shadowy figure known as "the doctor," and in a daring maneuver, follows his lead to a co-working space. Disguising himself as a delivery man, he slips into an office where a stunning revelation awaits: the CEO of JUMBO Pharmaceuticals is none other than "the doctor."
Concurrently, Joo-no admits that he too has been on the hunt for "the doctor," albeit unsuccessfully thus far. He further elaborates on his earlier recommendation against Sanin's investment in JUMBO Pharmaceuticals, a decision that now carries a deeper significance.
We are then transported into another nostalgic flashback, where Joo-no unveils the damning report to Ha Tae-su, exposing JUMBO as a fraudulent enterprise. Tae-su's eyes widen with immediate alarm upon realizing the substantial amount of shares he holds in this deceitful company. Additionally, Joo-no inadvertently overhears the M&A team whispering about Tae-su's connections to JUMBO Pharmaceuticals. Desperate to spare his brother from impending ruin, Joo-no urges him to offload his shares, but to no avail; blinded by the hope of recouping his losses, his brother stubbornly refuses. Conversely, Tae-su, though reluctantly, decides to sell his stakes. Seizing this opportunity, Joo-no's greedy brother snaps them up, confident that the stock price will soon soar.
The narrative then takes a solemn turn, shifting to Joo-no's brother's funeral—a poignant scene where Joo-no assumes the responsibility of raising his niece.
Flash forward to the present, the disciplinary hearing adjourns momentarily. Amidst this hiatus, Joo-no receives a call from his informant, who has successfully stolen the laptop of JUMBO Pharmaceuticals' CEO. Swiftly, Joo-no's team reaches out to the CEO of Chacha Games, seeking assistance in unlocking the device.
As the disciplinary hearing resumes, Joo-no recounts how he inherited both his brother's shares and debts following his untimely demise. He unveils that his brother had hastily acquired those shares immediately after Tae-su's disposal, yet despite his assertions, solid proof against Tae-su had remained elusive—until now. With the timely arrival of documents detailing both Tae-su's and his brother's stock transactions, Tae-su finds himself cornered. Confronted with irrefutable evidence, Tae-su concedes his involvement and is subsequently terminated from his position.
The Chief Executive Officer of JUMBO Pharmaceuticals, along with the entire cabal of fraudsters, finds themselves in police custody. Furthermore, it transpires that Joo-no was the anonymous tipster who alerted the audit department to his own stakes in JUMBO Pharmaceuticals. With the case successfully concluded, the M&A team resumes their routine duties, diving into negotiations with SAMOEL over the matter of debt repayment. However, a stunning revelation awaits them at the meeting: Tae-su has taken the helm as SAMOEL's new director. The episode concludes on this dramatic cliffhanger.
