The investigation does not have enough evidence to prove Pavlov's guilt in torturing Gubin. Vershinin is forced to let him go. Pugachev, outraged by the fact that the killer is on the loose, gets drunk in a bar. It is there that Andrei encounters Pavlov again. Upon seeing the colonel, the criminal begins to insult him. An enraged Vershinin drags him outside. Pugachev, who arrived at the noise, discovers Pavlov shot dead, and Andrei lying unconscious nearby.

A temporary police chief has been appointed in the city. While Ilyina is being held hostage, Medushevsky is promoting his candidate for mayor. The balance of power in the Port is changing — the "Moscow resources" are clearly losing their positions. Meanwhile, the opera continues to search for evidence that Vershinin was not involved in Pavlov's murder and encounters an unexpected obstacle.