Roderick Corrino attends a secret evening exhibition on the Imperial Palace grounds, where masked nobles watch lobotomized combat robots fight behind safety barriers. The events are legal only because the robots have no artificial intelligence, but Roderick remains uneasy because Butlerian influence on Salusa Secundus is strong and discovery by Manford Torondo could create political disaster.

Emperor Salvador Corrino treats the robot combats as harmless noble entertainment, arguing that the machines are ultimately destroyed. Roderick, more cautious, has secretly doubled security and restricted invitations to trusted nobles. During the fight, Salvador hears petitions from nobles seeking Imperial favors, while Roderick guides the awkward negotiations and anticipates the administrative work that will follow Salvador's promises.

Lord Alfonso Nitta requests help against a business rival on Hagal and clumsily offers expensive gowns for Empress Tabrina, a suggestion that misjudges Salvador's strained marriage. Salvador gives only a cool promise to look into the matter. Meanwhile, Salvador and Roderick wager their summer villas on the outcome of the robot battle, revealing both Salvador's sharpness beneath his absentminded act and Roderick's awareness that he is the steadier, more ethical brother.

After the copper-skinned robot defeats the chrome robot and palace guards destroy the victor, Tibbar Warik raises another concern: the Suk Medical School is defaulting on payments for its extravagant new complex on Parmentier. Salvador then tells Roderick about a scandal involving a Suk doctor who allegedly cheated the late Lars Ibson of Caladan with bogus bone-cancer treatments.

Roderick connects the accusation to his own suspicions about corrupt Suk practices, including the late Dr. Elo Bando's questionable treatments of Salvador. Roderick suggests a detailed audit and closer monitoring of the Suk School's finances. Salvador worries that a scandal could strengthen Butlerian attacks on advanced medicine and still wants a new personal physician, but he agrees to deepen financial investigations into the school.