The Roundup: No Way Out

Detective Ma Seok-do and his team are promoted to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit, kicking off a high-stakes investigation into the death of Go Sun-hee. The autopsy reveals Sun-hee had been using a drug called Hiper, setting the central mystery in motion. The team starts piecing together how the drug links to the victim and the broader drug network.

Ma Seok-do visits a nightclub to interrogate the club president. Through interrogation, they learn of a Yakuza member named Hiroshi who is supplying Hiper from Incheon. The discovery links the local drug trade to the international Yakuza network.

Ma Seok-do's colleagues manage to capture Hiroshi and seize 20 kilos of Hiper at the club. The operation appears successful, but the situation takes a dangerous turn when corruption surfaces. This checkpoint exposes the depth of the drug market and the risk to the team.

Unknown to Ma Seok-do, a corrupt cop Joo Sung-chul steals the seized Hiper and murders Hiroshi. The ambush is sudden and deadly, forcing the team to scramble and survive the hit. The betrayal reveals that a police officer is deeply entangled with the criminal hierarchy.

Ma Seok-do's team narrowly survives the ambush and begins to uncover a larger conspiracy. They learn that Joo Sung-chul is protecting a syndicate called the White Shark Clan and has been siphoning Hiper for profit. The investigation widens beyond a single drug shipment.

With knowledge that the White Shark has stolen Hiper, the Yakuza hire a hitman named Ricky to seize back the drug. The stakes rise as rival factions clash over control of the supply. The pursuit shifts into a full-blown underworld drug war.

Ma Seok-do locates another supplier named Tomo and attempts an arrest. Ricky, the hitman, intervenes and kills Tomo, escaping before the authorities can intervene. The killing triggers a rapid escalation between Ricky and Joo Sung-chul as both sides maneuver for advantage.

The conflict between Ricky and Joo Sung-chul intensifies, turning into a full-blown drug war. Ma Seok-do continues to track clues while the underworld battles for control of Hiper. The tension builds toward a dramatic confrontation.

Following a key clue, Ma Seok-do goes to a boat yacht where they locate Hiper. He negotiates a deal with Joo Sung-chul, aided by an acquaintance named Chorong. The plan seems to offer a path to resolution.

Joo Sung-chul shifts strategy and makes a deal with Ricky again. He abandons the prior plan and aligns with the hitman to protect his own interests. The betrayal sets the stage for Ma Seok-do's capture.

Ma Seok-do is captured and taken away by Ricky, while Joo Sung-chul steals the Hiper. The criminal alliance tightens as Ma Seok-do fights to survive and reclaim the drug. The balance of power shifts decisively toward the underworld.

Ricky conducts an interrogation of Ma Seok-do, but the detective fights back and defeats him. The confrontation demonstrates Ma Seok-do's resilience and tactical prowess. A tracker hidden in a bag helps them pinpoint Joo Sung-chul's location.

Using the tracker, Ma Seok-do locates Joo Sung-chul at his office. The police launch a crackdown and arrest Joo Sung-chul along with the White Shark Clan. The resolution brings an end to the immediate criminals' operation and clears the way for formal consequences.

With the case closed, Ma Seok-do and his team celebrate their victory. In the aftermath, the mid-credits scene hints at future investigations and connects to new cases. The events set the stage for the sequel's storyline by bringing in Jang Yi-soo.

In the mid-credits scene, Ma Seok-do enlists Jang Yi-soo's help for investigating another case. This setup points to ongoing investigations that will lead into the sequel.