Kia decides to go with her son to Europe on the smuggler Hakim’s bus without the protection of her cousin. She arrives to find most of the other passengers to be young men, excited as if they were going to war. Abdul also decided to travel on the bus to Libya as it is transporting the cocaine. He hopes it will lead him to the terrorist headquarters of Hufra. He sells his car and stock of cigarettes to explain how he has money for the journey and is attacked by a group of men who plan to rob him. Abdul easily overpowers them and has to hold back on his desire to inflict more harm than necessary. His rejection by his girlfriend and her rich, racist parents add to his backstory.

Kai travels to Yanji near the North Korean border to meet his asset Ham Ha-Sun. The situation in North Korean is becoming desperate since the indirect attack on China of tightening adherence to the US sanctions on the country left it with only six weeks of food. Kai meets with his CIA asset Neil Davidson to discuss the increased tension between their countries. China wants to punish North Korea for selling arms, and the other government members agree to Kai’s idea of withholding aid until the last moment as a form of punishment.