Albert Batali

After six months in a Swedish psychiatric hospital—stubbornly referring to it as an "intensive program"—the American idealist Sokrates is released alongside the impulsive Caligula. Bound by their grand philosophy of "maximization," they embark on a relentless pursuit of greatness, only to find that ambition gives way to obsession, self-deception, and brutal collapse.

When Valentino Argento of the Argento crime family steals his father's ancient chess piece, a hunt across the city for him and the chess piece ensues. The hunt is further complicated by wannabe adventurer Benjamin, who reveals the chess piece is tied to the legend of King Malfrydius; a tyrant who outsmarted death herself and gained immortality.