Chapter 5 A NEW ALLY

With the stakes rising, Theo knew he couldn't handle this alone. He reached out to an old friend from university, Emma, who had spent years working as an investigative journalist. If anyone could help him navigate the murky waters of international politics and uncover who was behind the threats, it was her.

Emma arrived at the farm within days, her sharp mind already racing with ideas. "This is bigger than just farming," she said, after Theo had filled her in. "If what you're saying is true, this seed could disrupt entire markets. And if people are willing to break into your house for it, then you're dealing with some serious players."

Together, Theo and Emma began investigating. Emma used her contacts to dig into the backgrounds of the mysterious men who had been lurking in the village, while Theo focused on the farm, keeping an eye on the crops and ensuring that no one got too close. But as they delved deeper, they began to uncover connections to powerful corporations and shadowy government agencies, all of whom had a vested interest in controlling the world's food supply.

Emma's research led them to a name: Viktor Kuznetsov, a former Russian agribusiness tycoon with ties to the government. Kuznetsov had been quietly buying up farmland across Europe, exploiting the chaos of the war to expand his empire. Now, it seemed, he had set his sights on Theo's farm.

THE FIRST ATTACK

The first attack came without warning.

Theo had been out in the fields, inspecting the crops, when he heard a loud crash from the direction of the farmhouse. He sprinted back, heart pounding, only to find the front window shattered and the door hanging off its hinges. Inside, everything had been overturned-furniture smashed, papers scattered, cabinets ripped open.

Jasper lay on the floor, blood seeping from a wound on his head. Theo rushed to his side, fear gripping his heart.

"Jasper!" he cried, kneeling beside the old man. "What happened? Who did this?"

Jasper groaned, his eyes fluttering open. "Men... they came looking for something," he gasped. "Asked about the seed... told them nothing."

Theo's blood boiled. Whoever these men were, they had crossed a line. He called for an ambulance, his hands shaking as he tried to keep Jasper conscious. But as he waited for help to arrive, he knew that things had changed. This wasn't just a quiet conflict anymore-it was a battle for survival.

As Jasper was taken away in the ambulance, Theo stood in the wreckage of his home, fists clenched. He had been pushed around enough. Whoever was behind this attack had just made it personal.

He glanced out at the fields, where the rare crops continued to grow, their vibrant green leaves waving gently in the wind. He knew that he couldn't abandon the farm, not now. But if he was going to protect it-and the seeds-he would need to be ready for whatever came next.