Tochtli, a boy who loves hats, dictionaries, samurai, guillotines and everything French, wants an African dwarf hippopotamus for his private collection. His father, Yolcaut, the leader of a cartel, is willing to get him anything, even if he is an endangered species. They live in a hideout in Mexico with a bunch of shady characters and Tochtli's tutor, Mazatzin, who believes the world is full of injustice. Despite the harsh reality, they see life as a simple game.