When Spirou, pretending to be a Palace bellboy, meets Fantasio, a reporter looking for a scoop, things get off to a very bad start! These two have no chance of becoming friends. But when the Count of Champignac, an inventor as brilliant as he is eccentric, is kidnapped by the henchmen of the infamous Zorglub, our two heroes set off in search of him. In the company of Seccotine, Fantasio's rival journalist, and SPIP, a mischievous little squirrel, they are drawn into a frantic chase between Europe and Africa. Spirou and Fantasio must team up to save Champignac... and, incidentally, the rest of the world!