The list of engagement banquets gave Otto a bit of a headache.

Although he was raised as an heir from an early age, Otto was actually not exposed to the intricate interpersonal relationships of the aristocracy.

Perhaps the Count of Allgäu thought the time had not come, or perhaps Otto himself was not interested, but in short, Otto skimmed through his memories and found that there were few nobles in his mind who could count names.

At this time, it is time to thank Lady Kaylin and Steward Simon for their assistance.

As the saying goes, there is a treasure in the family.

Although Madame Kaylin is not old, as a countess, she has always dealt with noble ladies, and naturally knows the interpersonal relationships of nobles very well.

Otto was glad that he had been kind to Lady Kaylin for his brother El's sake, otherwise he would not have known who he would invite to the engagement ceremony, wouldn't it be very embarrassing.

Oh, if you are spicy to Lady Kailin, you won't have to worry about it, after all, no one will give him a marriage.

After repeated deliberations by the trio, the list of guests to be invited to the engagement ceremony was finally determined.

Among them, the number of nobles in Switzerland is less than a third, while the nobility in Swabia and North Germany is in the majority.

It seems that Alahorf has deep roots in the Swabian region.

Among them, the most important guests were undoubtedly the Duke of Swabia and the Duke of Bavaria.

Otto also wondered how the Alachollf family, a small family from the Swabian region, could be related to Bavaria, and after Lady Kaelin and Steward Simon explained the twists and turns of kinship, Otto still did not understand.

However, Otto didn't dig deeper, this is the norm in Europe, the number of nobles is said to be a lot less, more is not much, if you insist on a relationship, maybe the Alahorf family and the Carolingian family can be related.

After deciding on the list of guests to be invited, Otto also entered a short period of busyness.

First of all, every guest, in order to show sincerity, needed Otto to write a letter himself, and in the face of the long list of guests, Otto almost didn't write his hand.

Secondly, it is to prepare for the banquet.

Anyway, it is an engagement banquet plus a housewarming banquet, which also represents the face of the Alahorf family, and the quality of the banquet has to be raised, and many things also need to be prepared in advance and purchased from the past merchants.

Due to the turmoil caused by the serious illness of King Lothair II of Lotharingia, merchants raised the prices of goods, much to the pain of Otto, who purchased supplies.

Although the magnitude of the price increase may not seem large, the more you buy, the greater the additional overhead.

In particular, when Otto heard that the price of the iron pot of important strategic materials had tripled, he could not sit still for a moment.

"Ibarra, my friend, it's not the first time we've worked together, and it's not appropriate to suddenly raise the price so much this time."

Otto looked at the bearded Arab profiteer with a white cloth on his head and a beard in front of him, and couldn't help but ask softly.

"Oh, my dear Baron Otto, I know that our cooperation has always been pleasant, and I don't want to raise the price.

However, Your Excellency the Baron, the East is not at peace, and the purchase price of strategic materials like this has also increased significantly.

Do you know how difficult it is to transport these things to the present Aargau, your Excellency, and that those damned Roman officials are not easy to deal with.

Your Excellency, it doesn't hurt if you think the price is too high, and I am sure that there will be no shortage of buyers for my goods in the present situation.

I think the Dutch duke, whom I have never met, will definitely give a more reasonable price. ”

Ibarra had a smile on his face, but told Otto the reason for the price increase.

The rise in commodity prices is nothing more than the reason for the increase in demand and the rise in costs, and now that both are satisfied, it is reasonable for people to increase prices, but they have skyrocketed by three times, and even Otto, who is not short of money now, can not stand it.

After thinking silently in his mind for a while, Otto said a price, which was more than double the previous price.

After listening to Otto's offer, Ibarra shook his head like a rattle.

"Oh, gods, dear baron, this price is too low. I'm already giving you the lowest price.

Your Excellency, I can't agree to this price. ”

"Really?" Otto smiled, as if talking to himself. "Recently, war is about to go, and all the nobles are full of thirst for iron. It's just that now the situation is chaotic, and the nobles have no time to fight, bandits from all over the country have appeared one after another.

Since we can't make a deal, I wish Lord Ibarra a good time finding a buyer, and may the gods bless you from encountering those vicious bandits. ”

"Little bandits are not to be afraid, the guards of my caravan are all well-trained..."Ibarra replied subconsciously, and then, he thought of some rumors, and saw Otto staring at him again, and instantly shivered, and his face turned pale.

"Your Excellency, you... You can't do that! Ibarra panicked and began begging for mercy. I... Aren't we friends? ”

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

Otto began to pretend to be confused.

"Friend, I treat Your Excellency as a friend, and I kindly remind Your Excellency to pay attention to safety, but Your Excellency sits on the ground and starts the price like this, it seems that you don't treat me as a friend."

At this time, Ibarra had already cordially greeted Otto's ancestors for the eighteenth generation, but he didn't dare to put a trace of cruelty on his face, he knew very well that now let alone making money, his life was in Otto's hands.

Life is important, or money is important, Ibarra feels that life is still important.

These damn Western barbarians, one by one, say that they are aristocrats, how can there be a trace of aristocratic demeanor.

"No, no, no, I think His Excellency the Baron has some misunderstanding, I am willing to sell all the goods to the Baron at the previous price, and ask the Baron to send an army to protect my safety."

"What do you say?" Otto frowned in displeasure. "You say this as if I was threatening you to rob you, and if it gets out, who will come to Aargao to do business with me Otto in the future.

This batch of goods is according to the price I said before. We are friends, and since His Excellency Ibarra is so sincere, our Alachoph family will never treat our friends badly.

Well, do you want to buy some raffite this time and take it home, and I will have someone sell it to you at a low price this time.

In view of the rampant banditry now, I personally present you with ten crossbows to protect your caravan, rest assured, you will love this weapon after you have seen the power of crossbows.

Now that we have reached a satisfactory cooperation, can you, my friend, tell me about the current situation of the Roman Empire? ”