As Allon follows Stern's research, he becomes the target of a larger conspiracy to hide damaging information about the role of the Catholic Church during the Holocaust.

Allon learns that Stern had visited the Convent of the Sacred Heart in the village of Brenzone and contacts its superior, Mother Vincenza.

Allon travels to London, where he finds that Stern's death was orchestrated by Crux Vera, a secret society established to defend the reputation and power of the Catholic Church at all costs.

Meanwhile, an internal power struggle develops within the Vatican as the newly elected Pope Paul VII announces his desire to speak at the synagogue of Rome.

This angers powerful members of Crux Vera, including Cardinal Marco Brindisi and security chief Carlo Cassagrande.

Details of Brindisi and Cassagrande's plot are leaked to the press and the pope seizes the opportunity to rid the Curia of members of the Crux Vera.

Shamron returns to Tel Aviv and creates Team Leopard, a task force devoted to identifying and killing Eric Lange.