In the gripping ninth episode of "The Manipulated," we find Tae-joong confronted with the gruesome aftermath at Yo-han's warehouse, his mind reeling with the information Yo-han sends him – including So-kyung's details – and turning his social media profile public as a gamble, hoping Tae-joong will be lured into a confrontation. Through the now-public feed, Tae-joong discovers that Do-kyung is in Busan, prompting him to embark on a journey there, his determination to uncover the truth palpable in every step he takes.
Meanwhile, Tae-joong's friends are visited by Detective Hwang and Officer Yoon, who leave with a sense of unease. As they depart, Yoon receives a call from Tae-joong, his voice filled with resolve as he declares his intention to hunt down the real culprit and prove his innocence. Detective Hwang, overhearing this from Tae-joong's current location at the Busan train terminal, senses a shift in the case's dynamics.
We are introduced to Yoo Seon-gyu, a notorious Busan gang leader who harbors a connection with Baek Do-kyung. Do-kyung, eager to invest in Seon-gyu's upcoming club and seeking more funds, is introduced to a new drug and tasked with arranging a lavish party on a ship that night.
Back at the electrical repair shop, Yong-sik frets over Tae-joong's whereabouts, while Eun-bi suggests tracking his phone under Yong-sik's name. They discover that Tae-joong is indeed in Busan, an idea that Detective Hwang soon shares and confirms with both of Yong-sik's phones being located in the city. However, Officer Yoon has received a picture from Tae-joong, containing a locker number and password, hinting at a potential lead.
Elsewhere, Yo-han attends a somber memorial service for his parents. An uncle urges him to let go of the guilt but, as soon as he leaves, Yo-han's expression betrays a sinister satisfaction. After the ceremony, one of his aunts brings up the issue of sorting out the shares, leaving the room. As Yo-han is about to depart for lunch with his nanny, who declines to join him for other plans, we witness a gruesome scene – a Chinese assassin mercilessly taking down Yo-han's family members gathered for dinner. The nanny, now wounded herself, reveals to Yo-han that she is his real mother and accuses her of manipulating him. The nanny recounts how Yo-han, whose heart had only opened to her and no one else in the family, blinded her with mercury to keep her by his side forever. The nanny then stabs her way to her own revenge.
As Do-kyung and Yoo Seon-gyu embarked onto the party boat, the latter's gaze fell upon Tae-joong waiting patiently outside. Tae-joong sneaked aboard, brandishing his phone to record a confession, but the guards arrived swiftly, and Seon-gyu sprang into action, knocking Tae-joong out cold.
Back at home, the nanny delivered a chilling message to Yo-han: a raging inferno had engulfed the dining room where his family gathered, claiming their lives in a gruesome blaze. Soon after, Do-kyung's call brought him to a chilling realization – Tae-joong had been captured, and a ransom demand was made. Yo-han acquiesced, his heart heavy with reluctance.
Tae-joong found himself tied up and locked in a room, while Yong-sik arrived with his daughter and Detective Hwang accompanied by the cops. Seon-gyu was forced to allow the lawmen to search the premises. Meanwhile, Do-kyung, now under the influence of drugs, decided to take matters into his own hands and dispatch Tae-joong himself. He made his way to the boat where he had kept Tae-joong only to discover an empty room – Yong-sik, searching the boats, had found Tae-joong and untied him.
As they fled, Officer Yoon and Detective Hwang hot on their heels. But Eun-bi's timely intervention, knocking the detective out cold, gave them the window of opportunity they needed to escape. They sought refuge at Eun-bi's friend's house. The next day, Officer Yoon ventured to the locker Tae-joong had texted him about and discovered documents brimming with information about Do-kyung.
Meanwhile, Seon-gyu dispatched his men in a desperate bid to track them down. Do-kyung's call to Yo-han revealed that he was not done playing his game yet. The episode ended with Do-kyung's defiant post on social media, inviting Tae-joong to come for him, while Tae-joong fashioned a makeshift gun from the tools he found.
