Employees of the special department of the capital's investigation, led by Roman Muromtsev, have been assigned a new investigation – the mysterious disappearance of officials in the provincial town of S. They are to face a series of strange coincidences, mystical hints, and deadly secrets.
Local authorities blame revolutionaries, but the evidence points to something darker and more ancient. Father Gleb penetrates underground circles, Lilya Anselm immerses herself in the world of decadent mystics, and former Narodovoltsy Barabanov seeks answers in science. However, the closer they get to the solution, the clearer it becomes: the murderer acts according to some monstrous logic of his own.
What connects the victims? And who is behind these crimes – terrorists, a maniac, or forces better left unknown?