Pursuing his suspicions during the Nemesis investigation, Inspector Harry Hole attempts to convince the Chief Inspector that his colleague, Tom Waaler, is a smuggling kingpin known as 'The Prince', who has been involved in smuggling weapons into Oslo as well as the murder of a number of witnesses, including Hole's former partner Ellen Gjelten. Due to a lack of evidence, Hole is refused and goes on an alcoholic binge. His superior reluctantly sends termination of employment papers to the Chief Inspector, but Hole gets a short reprieve as the Chief is on holiday for three weeks and thus cannot sign them.