Cover features a provocative illustration. The four young Romans come to assistance of their friend, Vinctrix, a gladiator who is being doped by the Guard. Akeops, the intendant of the villa, is accused. Akis and its friends carry out the investigation.
Brigands seize the cart of the four friends in Rome.
Travelling acrobats help the friends to find it. During a Roman bread riot, Marcus finds himself hostage of the rebellious Rufus, planning a terrible plot on the emperor. On the advice of Atropos, a specialist on horses, he decides to play the races. But the team loses and he is ruined. Akis and its friends are convinced that Atropos is a crook who fixed the race.