Gracchus Garovirus is governor of Condate; it is a Roman, fried with orgies. Arrive the quaestor (collector of taxes) Claudius Malosinus. Gracchus, very ravenous, gives only 3 pieces of gold to the quaestor. The latter, wanting to eat, is brought a broth of vegetables where Gracchus has discreetly poured poison. After seeing in vain several Roman doctors, Claudius wants to call on Panoramix. This last diagnosis a poisoning that can only be cured with a potion containing edelweiss. Panoramix charges Asterix and Obelix to go to Helvetia to get it. There, the Romans will do everything to prevent them from saving Claudius.