1849, South China Sea: Before Kit Killigrew and the crew of HMS Tisiphone have even arrived in Hong Kong, they have the good fortune to capture China's most ruthless pirate Zhai jing-mu and save the life of his hostage Peri Dadabhoy. After handing Zhai over to the local authorities, Kit is free to enjoy the many pleasures the colony has to offer, including that of Peri's company. But Hong Kong seethes with tensions: the Triads are rapidly gaining more influence; the hostilities that started the Opium War are easily revived; and, when Zhai jing-mu's escapes from jail, the air of menace only intensifies. Even more dangerous are those who conspire to manipulate these circumstances to satiate their own greed. Only Killigrew sees the connection and it involves him in his most dangerous undertaking yet: one that will take the love of the only woman he's ever truly cared for, his professional integrity and, maybe, even his life...