Several days after the teens' shopping trip, in the Wilson family's mansion, and unusual gathering was taking place.
"That fellow George just sent in a report." said Theodore's wife, Katherine. The farms have increased production, and we should recover 30% of our capacity by the end of the month."
"Have you double checked? I don't trust that peasant."
"Certainly. I'm telling you, him losing his powers was actually for the best. He's excellent with paperwo…"
"For the best!?" snapped Theodore. "Some servant from the Hunt family humiliated our son, and you're saying it's for the best?"
Katherine Wilson maintained her calm. It was not the first time her husband shouted at her, and at this particular dinner, they were entertaining guests. After wiping her mouth with a napkin, she responded calmly.
"I am just as aggravated as you darling. However, Charles has already assured me he will deal with him and his wench in the upcoming tournament. I got him pills from house Laurel, so not even the Hunt's eldest son may be his match."
"Good." Theodore continued eating in silence. 'I should make some time to attend to the boy personally.'
"About the farms…" one of their guests finally opened her mouth. "Has there been any progress with the investigation?" she asked.
Everyone's attention moved towards one person. In fact, this dinner was quite unusual. The times when all the family leaders were gathered in one room could be counted on one's fingers.
There was Theodore and his wife, her brother and his spouse, as well as the former family heads of the Shaw family which merged with the Wilsons 2 decades ago. All of them were peak rank 3 mages with Theodore having stepped into the next realm.
"We haven't caught the culprit if that's what you're asking." said the family head annoyed. "However, we do know more than enough to be suspicious."
Everyone pricked up their ears. However, Theodore did not bother explaining further and just continued his meal. As if it was only natural, Katherine began talking in his stead.
"According to reports, the culprit was male, 5.9 feet tall, was extremely powerful, and knew formations just as well as Lady Agatha."
"Impossible!" huffed her brother Cristian. "When it comes to formations, nobody in this city can match that hag's skills."
"True. Yet, the suspect was skilled enough to hack and modify Agatha's work in a matter of minutes."
Those at the table fell into thought. Though the old woman was just a commoner, her skills were the real deal. It was her work that basically brought the Wilsons out of poverty. Now that she was dead…
"Did someone raise another formations expert?" wondered Nolan Wilson, former head of the Shaw family.
"It could be the Hunts since they seem set on opposing us or the Hayes since their business is also farming." added his wife Magnolia.
In truth, while the Hayes were in the farming business too, their operation was nowhere near as developed as the Wilsons'. In lack of a formations expert, Autumn's father had to turn every piece of land he owned into arable soil. Even his buildings had pots on their roofs, and they even grew herbs outside of the city.
"If a giant tower appears in any of their lands, then we will know for sure." said Katherine. "However, I and my husband have a different theory." Her eyes became sharp.
"Indeed." said Theodore in a suspicious tone. "You see, there are 2 pieces of information I haven't mentioned yet."
He spoke as if it was him who explained things thus far. Then once again, he went silent leaving his wife to clarify his words.
"The first you already know." she said. "The culprit killed Lady Agatha, a mid level 3 mage. In one fell swoop, he ensured that only he'd be able to create crop towers in all of Last Heaven."
The others nodded gravely. The old woman's death threatened the very future of the family.
"The second piece of information you probably don't know." Katherine paused for effect. Finally, after several long breaths, she delivered the news. "It seems that on several occasions, the culprit used an attack that can only be described as… Burst Nova."