At the Twice Lucky restaurant in Janloon, sixteen-year-old Bero and his accomplice Sampa prepare to steal jade from Shon Judonrhu, a drunken Green Bone regular. Bero believes the theft will change his life, because jade represents status, power, and escape from his lowly place as a waiter and dockworker’s bastard.

Bero drugs Shon Ju’s preferred drink and serves it to him while avoiding the attention of the Maik brothers, known No Peak clan Green Bones. Sampa, an Abukei teenager immune to jade’s effects, is supposed to remove and carry the jade because he can handle it without immediately reacting.

Meanwhile, Kaul Hiloshudon, the Horn of the No Peak clan, sits with Maik Kehn and Maik Tar. They discuss signs of trouble: low-level Fingers shaking down No Peak-affiliated businesses in the disputed Armpit district and the disappearance of the black market jade carver Three-Fingered Gee. Hilo worries these events suggest a larger threat moving against the clan.

After Shon Ju becomes ill and staggers to the restroom, Bero follows with a hidden pistol. Sampa emerges from hiding, and the boys begin removing Shon’s jade earrings while Shon lies unconscious. Sampa gets two studs free, but when he yanks the third from Shon’s ear, Shon wakes in pain and rage.

Shon’s sudden struggle knocks Bero’s arm as Bero fires the gun, sending the shot into the ceiling. Sampa is caught by Shon, but Bero grabs the packet containing two jade stones and flees, falsely shouting to the diners that there is a jade thief in the restroom.

As Bero runs through the restaurant clutching the stolen jade, its power floods through him. He experiences heightened senses, speed, and Lightness, smashing through the restaurant and racing toward the harbor in a euphoric, reckless state. Before Bero can fling himself over the patio railing, Maik Tar seizes him and stops him.