The man blinked, as if surprised to be asked, but Poe wasn't buying it, not given how smoothly he answered: "Questions are for if you merely believe others to be plotting against you, if they've already moved against you the time for questions is over and the time for action is at hand." He took a sip of his own drink, "And I couldn't help but overhear that it seems they've already made a move."

Poe snorted softly, barely disguising the laugh as derision, "Once again a stranger sides with my wife." He shook his head, "And if we don't have proof of what rival it was? Or that it even is a rival at all and not just indescribably bad luck?"

The man shrugged, "Then pick a rival of about equal strength and resources to your own and obliterate them. If they're actually the responsible party you'll have solved the problem, and if not you'll likely have struck enough fear into those responsible to keep them from trying again."