In the tumultuous period leading up to the First World War in East Africa, an unlikely partnership is formed between Flynn O’Flynn, a brash and wily American ivory poacher, and Sebastian Oldsmith, a somewhat naive and British gentleman. Despite their stark differences in background and temperament, they are brought together by a shared thirst for adventure and profits. O’Flynn, who has been conducting his illicit trade with a gleeful disregard for the law, sees in Oldsmith not just a partner in crime but an opportunity to exploit the young man’s naivete and connections. Oldsmith, captivated by the promise of wealth and O’Flynn's charismatic, if unorthodox, approach to life, willingly joins the American on his dangerous ventures. Their primary adversary is the German Commissioner Fleischer, who is determined to put an end to O’Flynn’s activities and maintain order in the increasingly volatile region.

As their escapades unfold, the duo’s greed-driven quests inadvertently entangle them with much larger geopolitical tensions brewing in Africa. The outbreak of World War I throws their world into chaos, transforming their pursuit of ivory and riches into a much more perilous game of survival and espionage. Their partnership is further tested by personal entanglements with Rosa, who becomes an integral part of their lives under the most unexpected and tumultuous circumstances. The onset of global conflict forces them to reconsider their motivations and the nature of their alliance, as their actions begin to have far-reaching consequences beyond their immediate concerns for profit and adventure.