Still recovering from his previous assignment in Arabia, imperial agent Cassius Corbulo is sent north, tasked with smashing a counterfeiting gang. He tracks the criminals to the city of Berytus, where his investigations are hampered by civil unrest and uncooperative officials, not to mention the personal problems of his servant Simo and bodyguard Indavara. Despite this—and intense pressure from his superiors—the young officer eventually closes in on the gang. But his enemies will do anything to protect their profits, and Cassius and Indavara soon find themselves fighting for their very survival.