To win them over and enhance their productivity, Getafix gives the workers his magic potion which enables them to continue effortlessly with the construction of the palace. Artifis raises tensions amongst the construction workers by convincing them that they are being exploited by Edifis and encourages them to strike. Edifis refuses and Artifis swears vengeance, angered further by the injuries he sustains while negotiating Edifis' house (which later collapses altogether). His scheming rival Artifis proposes that they collaborate in order to build Caesar's palace on time and divide the reward between them the catch being that Edifis alone be thrown to the crocodiles should they fail. Upon reaching Egypt, it becomes clear that Edifis is not a particularly gifted architect in Cleopatra's words his buildings are the laughing stock of those who don't live in them. Poetic justice rules the day as the pirate ship is boarded by Asterix and Obelix, who scuttle it after a largely one-sided fight. En route to Egypt, Edifis' ship is met by a gang of pirates. Obelix further insists that Dogmatix be allowed to join the voyage and smuggles him along despite objections from Asterix. Getafix agrees to return to Egypt with Edifis, while Asterix and Obelix insist on accompanying them. Daunted and distraught, believing the task to be insurmountable without some sort of magic, Edifis travels to Gaul to seek help from the famous druid Getafix. She gives this enormous task to her best architect Edifis (despite his shortcomings), informing him that he will be covered with gold if he succeeds or thrown to the crocodiles if he fails.
The synopsis below may give away important plot points.