Episode 5 of The Fiery Priest Season 2 kicks off with Detective Gu, Ja-yeong, and Gozhaev dashing to Hae-il's rescue, their hearts pounding with anticipation. When Hae-il cautions them about the perilous situation, they initially bolt, but Hae-il effortlessly keeps pace with the Laotian thugs, leaving them in his wake. Hong-sik, watching in awe, pulls his men back when backup arrives, signaling the end of the confrontation.
The battle makes headlines across the news, leaving Du-heon furious and tasked with covering it up. However, their efforts yield a vital clue: the identity of the "fake" priest. Du-heon is eager to eliminate Hae-il, but Hong-sik, thrilled to have found a formidable adversary, refuses.
Meanwhile, Du-heon finds himself engrossed in a game of Go with an elderly gentleman who employs a clever distraction tactic. This strategic maneuver sparks an idea in the prosecutor's mind. He reveals to Chairman Kim that the fight was a clever ruse to bury the case involving Kim's son's drug involvement. Grateful for the revelation, Chairman Kim wields his influence to shut down the Laotian case.
As the Gudam vigilantes make their way to Gozhaev's place, Hae-il teases them about their hasty retreat. He also updates Kyung-sun on the Laotian cartel's involvement and loans her a luxurious car to gain closer access to Du-heon. Back at Gozhaev's, their attempts to track down the culprits hit a dead end. But Hae-il has a hidden card up his sleeve.
His NIS contact grants Ja-yeong access to their facial recognition system, a process that takes an eternity and requires everyone to split up in search of leads. Hae-il, however, is on a secret mission, haunted by the memory of a lizard tattoo on the Laotian thugs. Unfamiliar with its significance, he calls upon Songsak and Yo-han, who, though initially giving him the cold shoulder, jump at the chance to assist him in Busan.
At the bustling shipyard factory, Mrs. Song's health takes a perilous downturn. Meanwhile, ruthless thugs circulate a nefarious substance among the elderly, deceitfully portraying it as a panacea for all ailments. That fateful night, Mrs. Song ingests the substance and becomes woozy with its intoxicating effects. Similarly, an eerie evening unfolds for Kyung-sun, as her room is enveloped in an eerie ambiance—a painting lies in disarray, and a peculiar reflection casts a sinister shadow. Hae-il, on the other hand, narrowly escapes detection by Dean Lee after being caught sneaking in, cleverly distracting him and bolting away.
At breakfast, Chae Do-u alerts Hae-il to Mrs. Song's precarious health condition and the telltale scent of chemicals emanating from her person. Hae-il, wary of the situation, launches an investigation into the clandestine "food" factory. Meanwhile, Chae visits Mrs. Song and beholds her in a trance-like state, making her way towards the thugs' van. Sister Kim and Father Han have forged a bond with the Uma clerics, who are scouting for fresh talents for their theatre troupe. A curious waitress expresses her interest, and they warmly welcome her into their fold.
Elsewhere, Du-heon and Ma-ri scrutinize Hae-il and identify Detective Gu as well. They surmise that the duo is probing into the Sang-yeon case but puzzle over their connection to Ja-yeong. Kyung-sun interrupts the proceedings to pay her respects to Du-heon, adhering to protocol. Though he scoffs externally, internally, he is taken aback by her demeanor. She professes her self-absorption and ambition, prompting Du-heon to assign her a minor case. Her wild and chaotic approach terrifies him, but his senior's call brings a stark reminder: Kyung-sun, now in Busan, is one of their finest.
As they await facial recognition results, Gu, Ja-yeong, and Hae-il keep Captain Lee and his corrupt cohorts under surveillance. Like clockwork, the Uma policemen extract protection money, bribes, and kickbacks from drug peddlers. Our vigilant trio confronts them during a transaction involving defective creams and effortlessly overpowers them.
Suddenly, Gozhaev alerts them to facial recognition matches—Capelin, Jellyfish, and Boss Park. As they set their sights on capturing the trio, Gu tries to abandon his formal demeanor with Ja-yeong. She reluctantly agrees, but he persists in addressing her as 'aunt.' Their hunt for the thugs remains fruitless until Gozhaev recalls Capelin from his cooking class. It transpires that Capelin is smitten with their teacher and visits her every night.
Regarding Chae's situation, both the city hall and the police steadfastly maintain that the food factory operates legally. Determined to uncover the truth, Chae decides to take matters into his own hands and sneaks into the facility. However, his reconnaissance mission is cut short when he spots Hong-sik moments before being apprehended and ejected.
Meanwhile, the initial drug shipment is almost ready, albeit with a series of comic mishaps orchestrated by Boss Park, who accidentally amputates the legs of their customs contact in a fit of rage and drafts college bullies, affectionately known as the "ball boys," to serve as packers. Back at the factory, the sheer volume of drugs overwhelms Mrs. Song, leading to her untimely demise. Fearful of her family launching an investigation, the criminal underlings transport her body to her home and stage the scene to resemble a peaceful death in her sleep.
Elsewhere, the upright Chief Prosecutor Park harbors ambitions to dismantle Du-heon's criminal empire, news of which reaches Du-heon's ears. Du-heon is also intrigued by Kyung-sun's dedication to handling trivial cases and her unwavering commitment to serving her superiors. Seeking assistance in dealing with Chief Prosecutor Park, Du-heon meets with Hong-sik and decides to extend an invitation to Kyung-sun. Upon her arrival, Kyung-sun worries about her greasy hair, but Hong-sik is instantly enchanted by her charm.
Songsak and Yo-han's journey to Busan is fraught with obstacles, yet they persevere and eventually arrive at their destination. Gozhaev greets them warmly, and a playful exchange of barbs ensues as they mistakenly perceive him as the villain. As for Gu, Ja-yeong, and Hae-il, they keep watch outside the teacher's residence, placing bets on her reaction when Capelin arrives with flowers and gifts. Ja-yeong's wager pays off as the teacher not only rejects Capelin but also slaps him in the face. They trail him as he weeps his way back to the ball boys' lair. In a chilling cliffhanger that concludes The Fiery Priest Season 2 Episode 5, Hae-il enters the hideout with a sinister smile, while Capelin cowers in hiding.
