It is six months on from his failed attempt to destabilise China (Operation Yellow Foam) but James Melrose is only just starting. While the world's economic situation is deteriorating by the day, the power-mad trillionaire has his eyes on the big prize although he's in for another shock. A timebomb has been ticking for more than 70 years and is about to go off at just the worst possible time. Melrose's last-gasp plan to save himself and his reputation is threatened by a rag-tag band of campaigners and truthseekers. More than 1,500 years of tradition is also at stake. With the Chinese also piling on the pressure, Melrose is feeling the heat and is pinning his hopes on the boy genius to come to the rescue.