Eom Joong-ho finds himself in a precarious situation as a former detective turned dishonest pimp, struggling with financial difficulties stemming from the disappearance of two of his girls. In an attempt to stabilize his crumbling life, he sends Mi-Jin, one of his remaining girls, to meet a customer. Unbeknownst to him, this customer, Je Yeong-min, is the last person known to have seen the missing girls. Convinced that this man is reselling his women, Joong-ho embarks on a desperate search for Mi-Jin.
As he seeks assistance from his former police task force, they are unable to help due to the chaos surrounding an incident where the Mayor of Seoul was attacked with human faeces during a public event. The police find themselves dealing with the resulting media frenzy and the public outcry regarding their failure to protect the mayor. Meanwhile, Mi-Jin wakes up in a grimy bathroom, bound and frightened. Her would-be assassin, Je Yeong-min, enters with a bag of tools, threatening her with gruesome intentions. He ominously reveals that a previous victim suffered greatly for their scream, stating that she had her tongue cut out, and begins to use a hammer to inflict pain upon her. However, a commotion from a local church interrupts him, forcing him to momentarily abandon his gruesome task.
As he and Mi-Jin's fates intertwine, Yeong-min's life takes a turn when he collides with Joong-ho's vehicle in a narrow alley. Joong-ho suspects that Yeong-min is hiding something and quickly makes a call that connects him to his instincts about the man. What follows is a tense confrontation where Joong-ho beats Yeong-min, a situation that ultimately leads to both men being arrested by a watchful local police officer. During questioning, Yeong-min admits to killing multiple individuals but alludes to the possibility that Mi-Jin might still be alive.
A power struggle among competing police divisions arises, as they all want to investigate the high-profile murders associated with Yeong-min. The police chief, concerned about the implications of Yeong-min's injuries—which might soon draw media attention—rebukes the officers involved. Unfortunately, without concrete evidence, the police can only hold Yeong-min for 12 hours, urging Joong-ho to gather more information. Joong-ho heads to Mi-Jin's apartment to collect DNA samples that could connect the suspect to the blood found on his clothing. Upon arriving, he is met with an unexpected sight: Mi-Jin’s daughter, Eun-ji, is home alone. Despite his reservations, Joong-ho feels compelled to take her with him while he follows leads about Yeong-min's background.
As Joong-ho delves deeper into the suspect's past, he learns that Yeong-min once spent time in prison for attacking his nephew. Tragedy strikes when Eun-ji wanders off, following a woman resembling her mother. She is unfortunately struck by a delivery driver during a tense off-screen moment. Joong-ho's frantic search leads him to a hospital where he signs in as her father to ensure she receives care.
As time runs out for the police, prosecutors urge the release of Yeong-min due to the lack of evidence. The embarrassment of publicly reopening high-profile murder cases during a period of disgrace for the police is deemed unacceptable, leading to Yeong-min’s release. At the same time, the chief opts to scapegoat Joong-ho, arresting him for his prior assault on the suspect. Yet, Joong-ho manages to escape from custody, driven by the need to find Mi-Jin.
Unbeknownst to Joong-ho, Mi-Jin has freed herself and fled the clutches of her tormentor. Severely injured, she finds temporary refuge at a corner shop. Coincidentally, Yeong-min also stops at the same shop for cigarettes, where the shopkeeper unwittingly reveals Mi-Jin’s previous situation. The episode takes a dark turn as Yeong-min kills the shopkeeper, only to brutally finish what he started with Mi-Jin.
Joong-ho, later arriving at the scene, finds chaos—a bloodbath unfolding around him and the police closing in on Yeong-min. Their desire to salvage their reputation pushes them to intensify their search for the suspect. In a moment of despair, Joong-ho turns to his old detective instincts, visiting the local church to find any leads that might connect the dots between the earlier incidents. The drawings within lead him to a startling discovery, connecting the dots back to Yeong-min.
Upon discovering Yeong-min, now more composed but sinister with a bag of tools, a fierce battle erupts. As the fight reaches its climax, Joong-ho destroys a tank filled with the remains of Mi-Jin, yet as he prepares to deliver the final blow to Yeong-min, police intervention stops him. Facing the ground, Joong-ho gazes into the lifeless eyes of Mi-Jin, forcing him to confront the stark reality of the victims intertwined in this horrifying spiral.
The film closes with Joong-ho in a hospital beside Eun-ji, holding her hand silently, left to ponder the aftermath of these events—an emotional blend of loss, action, and hope amidst personal tragedy.
