What is the main conflict in Soulless by Gail Carriger?

Soulless by Gail Carriger is a novel of many genres. Its setting is London, England in Victorian times. The culture is more than one: werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and the natural humans. We also have one preternatural who is a soulless person who can touch a supernatural person and neutralize them. The mixed society is involved in the comedy of manners. Propriety is the top priority. We have the steam-punk genre that showcases the inventions of the day. The werewolves and vampires seem to have the market on the inventions. We also have scientists who hide their devious tricks and horrible experiments to bring London under the power of one man.