In the Nine Puzzles episode 10, hit hard. Things escalated fast. Han-Saem raced to protect Prosecutor Jang-Beom. The killer was faster. Security at the hospital was intense. Only staff could enter. Yet, the Puzzle Killer reached Jang-Beom. The prosecutor didn’t survive. It was a devastating blow.
I-Na stayed focused. She suggested making the case public. More tips would likely come in, she reasoned. That offered a small spark of hope. Han-Saem then shared a vital clue. He remembered that Senior Officer Jung-Ho had visited the One City building. This happened right after Yoon-Su’s death. Yoon-Su led the construction project there.
Why did Jung-Ho go back? Han-Saem wondered. Maybe he returned something? Something like a handkerchief? It seemed minor. But nothing here is random. Every piece matters.
I-Na revisited the shooting scene. She needed a fresh perspective. A key detail clicked. The killer saved Jung-Ho during that attack. Yet, he shot Sang-Beom, an experienced hunter. Why spare Jung-Ho? This felt significant. I-Na sensed a possible link between Jung-Ho and the killer.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hwang vanished. His clinic stayed shut for two days. Calls went unanswered. I-Na decided to check his office. Inside, she spotted a unique keychain. Then she saw a painting. It bore an “H” initial. Just like the puzzle pieces. This raised alarms. She pocketed the keychain. Both Dr. Hwang and Dr. Lee were now suspects. Han-Saem recalled that both had helped rescue I-Na years ago.
Both also possessed medical skills. Suddenly, Han-Saem’s phone rang. A man’s voice asked a chilling question. Were they sure the puzzle came from the killer? Han-Saem recognized the voice. It was Dr. Hwang. The call cut off abruptly. Security cameras confirmed it. Dr. Hwang made that call.
The “H” Holds a Secret
I-Na used the keychain. It led her to Dr. Hwang’s home. She entered cautiously. Artwork covered the walls. One piece stood out. Its style perfectly matched the puzzle’s “H” mark. She called Han-Saem immediately. Her conclusion was clear. Dr. Hwang wasn’t the killer. He drew the puzzles. But he drew them for someone else.
Inside the Therapist’s Twisted House
I-Na walked up to Dr. Lee’s house. It stood right beside Dr. Hwang’s home. The door was unlocked. She went inside. What she found shocked her. This wasn’t a normal therapist’s house. Not at all.
Dolls were everywhere. Colorful balloons filled corners. Puzzles covered surfaces. Bright lights shone from the ceiling. It felt strange. Another puzzle lay on the bed. It showed a cartoon figure. This figure sat on a throne. It wore a crown. The whole scene felt creepy. It felt deeply unsettling. This seemed very wrong for a mental health expert.
Police held Dr. Hwang. He shared an old memory. Dr. Lee asked him to draw something. That was ten years ago. He insisted he never understood why. He just did what she said. I-Na pushed him about the new puzzle. Dr. Hwang repeated his ignorance. He claimed he only followed orders.
Then, chaos hit. Phones started ringing nonstop. Important news arrived. Assemblyman Kim was missing. He was the land and transport minister. A major piece just vanished. I-Na questioned Dr. Hwang again. This time, he confessed something personal. He was homosexual. Dr. Lee knew his secret, he said.
He revealed more about Dr. Lee. She once left medical school for a year. Something bad happened. She had no close friends, he added. Sergeant Nam confirmed this. She wasn’t close to Dr. Lee either.
I-Na remembered something. Dr. Lee skipped a school trip. She refused to go to the amusement park. Why? Her mother abandoned her there. She was only seven years old. After that, she lived in an orphanage.
The Past Catches Fire
Dr. Seung-Joo once told I-Na something dark. She said she would kill her mother if she ever found her. That statement haunted I-Na. She decided to investigate. I-Na checked the old amusement park records. She found a girl listed: Seol-Lee, age seven. The guardian’s name was Lee Nam-Suk. They lived near Shindoga Market.
Meanwhile, Han-Saem visited the orphanage. The manager spoke up. Jung-Ho had been there too. Recently. He asked about a specific girl. Her mother once owned Seojin Diner. That diner stood where One City was built. Jung-Ho worked at that diner long ago. But he didn’t recall any orphanage girls. The diner owner died twenty years ago.
Memories flashed back twenty years. Residents protested the One City project. Jung-Ho was young then. Chi-Muk and his thugs beat him badly. They wanted everyone out. Miyoung (the bar owner) tried to convince Nam-suk & bribed her as well. Lee Nam-Suk refused to leave. Her daughter was missing. She had to wait.
That terrible night, the gang set fires. Buildings were bulldozed. Jung-Ho escaped, just barely. Nam-Suk wasn’t so lucky. She died in the flames and chaos.
Yoon-Su, the construction boss, was pleased. The area was finally clear. Architect Cheol-Jin lied to officials. He claimed Nam-Suk was asleep inside. The assemblyman approved this cover-up. Prosecutor Jang-Beom ignored the fire report. A journalist named Gang-Hyun wrote lies. He blamed Nam-Suk. He said she started the fire for more money.
Back home from where everything started, I-Na felt uneasy. Someone stood behind her. It was Dr. Lee. “Can you turn around?” Dr. Lee asked calmly. The moment froze. The screen went black.
Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
