"Do you really have to dress like this? It's just a banquet......

"No way, although it is a banquet on the surface, it is just another form of battle, and if it is too casual, it will be underestimated by the other party. ”

"You don't have to dress up, a normal wizard's robe does, and it's so uncomfortable to wear - I haven't worn such tight pants yet......"

"Uh... That's actually a sock. ”

"Socks... It's so long, I thought it was pants!"

In the room, a small wizard holding up a colorful stocking frowned, and looked at the black-haired wizard with a twitch at the corner of his mouth in shock.

Indeed, the "two-legged" stockings in front of me can already be called "pants".

Among the principalities of Sackland, Byrne's costume can be called the most elaborate - dress, etiquette, cultivation, and family background, these four points are the standard for distinguishing commoners from nobles in Byrne.

Loren, who had had an experience at Ebolden, changed into the same red and black long-sleeved trench coat as last time, while the gray-eyed boy who was the escort got a navy blue outfit of a Byrne squire, with a shirt and trousers with a ribbon to look very smart.

As for the little wizard with no experience at all, he became the object of a butler who had nowhere to vent his energy - and even though he was not allowed to measure (Ain's identity is still a secret), he still relied on his eyes to prepare an extremely gorgeous aristocratic dress.

Based on the lead-black color that symbolizes the alchemist's legend of "lead turning into gold", the tuxedo is paired with half-length close-fitting trousers, the chest is decorated with decorative tassel bands and turquoise buttons, the cuffs and sides of the shirt are decorated with silver daffodils on both sides, and the long blonde hair is tied into a single ponytail with a headband made of chiffon, and the base is velvet satin.

Paired with high riding boots and a small top hat adorned with a ribbon, the white-gloved hands hold delicate wands...... Amazing!

To be honest, Al Yin, who was born in the northernmost part of Lothair, was not very beautiful, and did not have much proud capital - but this dress, which was originally intended for the thin aristocracy, completely showed off her slender but well-proportioned and slender figure.

When the little wizard who had changed into this body was awkward, standing in front of him with his hands behind his back, Loren's brain was instantly empty, and even his eyes were straight.

"Hey!"

When the black-haired wizard lost his mind, the awkward Ain woke him up, and his face was faintly hot: "You, what are you looking at......"

"Uh... Holy Cross, right?" Loren said casually.

"Huh?"

The little wizard's expression was very confused, and it took a minute to react, and his face turned red: "You, you bastard, what are you talking nonsense?!"

"Just tell the truth!"

"It's—you're fooling me again, aren't you?! If you want to laugh, just laugh, it's too late to change your clothes anyway. ”

"Really, I didn't lie to you!"

"The devil will believe you big liar!"

A minute later, the door rang.

As if hearing the quarrel in the room, the gray-eyed boy first tentatively stuck his head in, and only showed a solemn expression after confirming that everything was normal between the two people:

"Lord Loren, Lord Ain, it's time. ”

................................................

When night fell completely, the banquet of the Red Blood Castle officially began.

Stepping on the brand-new bluestone slab under his feet, Loren walked into the banquet hall, and the lively atmosphere came to his face.

Unlike the noisy feasting scene in other regions, the Byrne nobles regarded noise and loud noise as rude and vulgar, especially in public places—even the conversation was a whispered exchange between two or three people, and no one would howl at the top of their throats, except for the toast at the time of the toast and the applause at the end of the performance.

Servants come and go, nobles who talk and laugh quietly at the wine table, musicians who play in the corners of the hall...... The tranquil atmosphere creates a unique aesthetic, and the arrangement between the tables is very unique, allowing the guests present to enjoy a feast while enjoying a touch of relaxation and leisure.

In the midst of the staggering, the black-haired wizard narrowed his eyes at the Countess and the Governor Gaspar, who sat at the farthest end of the ballroom—both of them with cold expressions, glass in hand, not even pretending to be friendly.

If it weren't for Charles's proper arrangement and the selection of musicians and dancers to perform live, I'm afraid this quiet and harmonious banquet would really be "deathly silent", right?

Thinking like this, Loren, who had a distracted gaze, glanced at the steward of the Red Blood Castle who was standing behind the countess, and his gentle but sharp gaze made the black-haired wizard can't help but hook the corners of his mouth, remembering the expression of the other party when he came to him before.

But it doesn't matter... The next plan, even if you don't take the initiative to interfere, it doesn't matter.

Just as Loren shrugged his shoulders and was about to turn away, his footsteps suddenly stopped - there was a middle-aged man in a gorgeous robe standing in front of him, and the most important thing was that the appearance of the person in front of him made him very familiar.

"You... It should be the wizard advisor of 'His Highness', His Excellency Loren Turin, right?" the other party smiled, his voice was modest, with a hint of respect: "Here is a merchant in the Red Blood Castle, you can just call me Old Roger." ”

"I wonder if old Roger has the honor to talk to you alone?"

After hesitating for a second, the black-haired wizard looked back at the frowning little wizard and the vigilant Lusen, and made a "reassured" gesture to them, before the two nodded and walked to a wine table not far from him.

"Excuse me, what's the matter with you?"

"Ah, no big deal. The middle-aged man squinted his eyes and shook his head with a somewhat embarrassed smile: "Mainly to show your gratitude, and in addition... And a hint of apology. ”

"Now the Red Blood Castle is full of rumors, including those who say that damn beast... In fact, you killed you. The middle-aged man smiled and said, "As a member of the Red Blood Castle, shouldn't I thank you for your help?"

A formulaic smile appeared on Loren's face: "You also said, that's a rumor - that monster was solved by the Turin family and the Doge, and I am only assisting from the side." ”

Even so, you deserve it. The middle-aged man sighed: "You can also see that during the period when the next merchant - the evil beast is raging, the trade between the Red Blood Castle and the outside world is almost cut off, and there are people everywhere who are hoarding goods and want to take the opportunity to make a fortune!"

"Isn't this the essence of a businessman?" Loren curled the corners of his mouth, "You are also a businessman, you must have taken the opportunity to make a fortune, right?"

"Yes, making money is never a fault, but the nature of this behavior is wrong, and it is very wrong!"

The middle-aged man frowned, and his expression, which was very gentle a moment ago, suddenly became much more solemn:

"Hoarding in a good harvest and selling in a poor harvest – this simple truth is understood even by the peasants in the countryside, and the same is true for the merchants, but it is different!"

"After all... What does that mean to you when you have hoarded food that you will not be able to eat for a lifetime and silk that you will not need for a lifetime? Your guest has only money to buy a sack of wheat, and when he finishes buying it, he will no longer need you, because you have drained them and are so poor that they cannot afford anything!"

"Only small profits can sell more, keep the trade routes and trade smooth, let the market be stable and prosperous, a region can really prosper, and we businessmen can make a fortune in the long run." The gentle middle-aged man looked at Loren with a smile:

"So, for you who are making the trade routes open again... Isn't it worth thanking me as a little businessman?"

"As for that apology...... the middle-aged man suddenly sighed, looking like he had something unspeakable: "It's really hard to speak... But in any case, please accept my father's sincere apology, and please forgive my reckless son!"

Loren narrowed his eyes slightly: "...... Who the hell are you?"

"Didn't I just say that, you just call me Old Roger. ”

The middle-aged man who raised his head smiled gently:

"Roger Yod... I'm the one who is your enemy, little Yod's father!"