In the adrenaline-fueled sixth episode of "The Killing Vote" Season 1, titled "A Race Against Gaetal's Reckoning," the stakes are higher than ever as Mu-chan and his team find themselves in a desperate race against time to thwart Gaetal's latest plot. The episode kicks off with a dramatic scene, Mu-chan crashing a car into the hospital to evacuate the civilians, while Joo Hyun is attacked by the deliveryman with gas cylinders. In a heroic moment, Seok-joo saves Joo Hyun, taking down the deliveryman and securing him.
As the situation unfolds, Gaetal's spy infiltrates the hospital with a sinister mission to eliminate Jung-ho. Pretending to be a member of the bomb squad, the spy manipulates Jung-ho into opening his office door. However, a timely call from Mu-chan alerts Jung-ho to the danger, and he refuses the spy's demands. The spy releases gas into the office, forcing a tense standoff. Meanwhile, Mu-chan and Joo Hyun are informed that Seok-joo's tracker is not functioning, and they are unable to reach Joo Hyun.
In a twist of events, Joo-min informs Mu-chan that Jung-ho is holding Ji-hoon hostage. Mu-chan, determined to apprehend Gaetal and find Seok-joo, assigns tasks to his team. Joo Hyun briefs the arriving team about the arrest of the deliveryman and the connection to Seok-joo's past. She is then informed about the hostage situation involving a student, prompting her to rush to Jung-ho's office.
Jung-ho, in a clever move, pretends to hold Ji-hoon at knifepoint and confronts Gaetal's spy. The spy, impressed by Jung-ho's audacity, lowers his weapon. Ji-hoon seizes the opportunity to escape, but the spy is about to stab Jung-ho when Mu-chan intervenes. The spy takes Jung-ho hostage, demanding Mu-chan let him go. Jung-ho warns against shooting, as the room is filled with gas. Mu-chan attempts to persuade the spy to surrender, suggesting he would rather be known as a fighter for justice than a killer. Seok-joo, watching the scene unfold, intervenes by kicking a gas cylinder, causing a distraction that leads to Jung-ho's death and the spy's injury.
Mu-chan is furious with Seok-joo for causing Jung-ho's death, but Seok-joo claims he was doing what Mu-chan wanted. The interrogation of the spy proves fruitless, as he has removed his fingerprints and remains silent. Mu-chan, however, recognizes the wounds inflicted on the spy from their encounter at Seok-joo's house. Convinced that the spy is Lieutenant Lim's fiancée, Mu-chan orders DNA tests for confirmation.
Joo Hyun takes Seok-joo to his house to search for clues, thanking him for saving her life. Meanwhile, Mu-chan clashes with his superiors, who wish to close the case and announce Gaetal's capture, a claim Mu-chan disputes. The team continues to investigate Jin-wook's whereabouts and Min-soo's involvement. Mu-chan orders Joo Hyun to return Seok-joo to prison without explanation. Before leaving, Mu-chan informs Seok-joo of his plan to set a trap for Gaetal, irritating Seok-joo who believes Mu-chan's methods are predictable. Seok-joo demands to know the identity of his daughter's accomplice, but Mu-chan remains silent. Seok-joo insists that he believes Mu-chan is Gaetal, a claim Mu-chan denies.
Joo Hyun, eavesdropping on their conversation, is left in the dark as Mu-chan whispers something to Seok-joo. The next day, she returns Seok-joo to prison. Mu-chan brings Jin-wook's father-in-law to speak with him, leading to an emotional breakdown and a decision by Jin-wook to cooperate with Mu-chan. He reveals that he had an accomplice with whom he communicated only through the dark web, with clear division of labor: Jin-wook handled the murders, and the accomplice managed the technical aspects.
Joo Hyun discovers Lee Yun-seong's file, now known as Min-soo, and finds a recording from her sister's phone made during the second incident. Her attempt to hack Min-soo's computer is thwarted by his advanced security measures. Jin-wook discloses that the accomplice was his number one fan and had once hinted at having harmed someone Seok-joo loved.
The episode ends with Assemblywoman Ji-young questioning Min-soo about his crimes, to which he casually responds. The next day, Min-soo brings Ji-hoon to the police station, where he and Seok-joo share a charged moment. Joo Hyun and Mu-chan observe this encounter, while Ji-young receives a video from Gaetal, asking if she wants the killing vote.
The episode leaves viewers with burning questions: Is Min-soo Gaetal, as all evidence suggests? Or is there more to the story? With Mu-chan still a potential suspect in Seok-joo's eyes, the possibility of a shocking twist remains. As Min-soo and Seok-joo come face-to-face, the stage is set for a climactic showdown. Will Seok-joo exact his revenge, or will Min-soo meet the same fate as Gaetal's victims? And what is Assemblywoman Ji-young's role in this deadly game? As the plot thickens, one thing is clear: the race against Gaetal's reckoning has only just begun.