It wasn't unreasonable for Ellie to judge this way; setting aside Snow Elf for a moment, Chao Lu's subsequent words weren't a finishing blow but a perfect collaboration.
This meant that when Ellie suggested taking them to the special treasury, Chao Lu might have already sensed the intentions of her 'fake' master.
Someone who could instantly catch on to her little tricks like that—if such a person were her opponent, then any schemes she devised in the future would likely be easily seen through!
"This guest has excellent taste. This longsword is named Cold Light. Besides Kerslin Tim, who was tricked away, this sword is the second-best weapon in E-Rantel." Chao Lu turned to Ged without any change in her tone or expression, making things up.
How could that be?! That broken sword didn't look like anything that could compare to an Adventurer's Guild weapon, but for an unsophisticated native, it should be enough.
Ged, even more excited by Chao Lu's boasting, immediately held the sword and approached Ellie, looking at her with an expectant gaze that clearly asked, 'Can I take it? Can I take it?'
"Since Ged has taken a liking to it, then I'll lend it to you for now!" Ellie only said 'lend'; she naturally couldn't say 'give' directly.
After all, Chao Lu had boasted that this thing was the second best. If she gave it away for free, it would surely arouse Ligurit's suspicion, and Chao Lu would also suspect her.
Ged, overjoyed at receiving permission, bounced back to the pile of "junk" with the sword. Ligurit, however, merely watched from the side and didn't rummage through it herself.
"Miss Snow Elf, I would like to ask if there are any pieces of equipment here that are particularly effective against vampires or Undead?" Ligurit turned to Snow Elf and inquired.
Hey, hey! Old Hag, your intentions are too obvious! Targeting vampires is one thing! But what's with targeting Undead?
Although vampires are also a type of Undead, for you, Old Hag, to separate them like that—isn't that deliberately telling me that you're looking for equipment that can restrain Shalltear and Papa Ainz?
You're truly bold! If it weren't for the upcoming plan needing you, I'd have Chao Lu tear you to shreds right now! Ellie was extremely displeased upon hearing this.
Although she showed no negative emotions on her face, Ligurit even deliberately glanced at Ellie after asking her question, as if trying to gauge Ellie's reaction.
"Vampires and Undead? There's no such equipment in the special treasury, no." Snow Elf replied without even thinking.
"Then does that mean there is in other treasuries?" Ligurit pressed on.
Oh no, this idiot Snow Elf... couldn't she have just said no? Why did she have to say 'not here'? Doesn't that just tell Ligurit that there are some elsewhere?
Ellie grew even more annoyed. After all, this place was full of trash, so taking something wasn't an issue. But the other treasuries likely contained good items.
If Ligurit now asked to go to another treasury for that equipment against vampires and Undead, Snow Elf would surely have to ask for her permission again.
If she didn't agree, her original plan couldn't be carried out. If she agreed, she would have to sacrifice a very specific piece of equipment to Ligurit. This was truly a bit troublesome.
If absolutely necessary, she could only agree for now, let her take that equipment... and then, after her plan succeeded, kill the useless Ligurit and retrieve the equipment.
"Uh... it's not in other places, actually. Those pieces of equipment are right here, it's just... uh... that... they probably can't be lent out, right?" Snow Elf hesitated for a long time, then secretly glanced at Chao Lu several times, speaking hesitantly.
Snow Elf's attitude puzzled Ellie. Wasn't her 'fake' master standing right here? Whether to lend it or not should be her decision, right? Why was she secretly glancing at Chao Lu, as if seeking Chao Lu's opinion? And she said those pieces of equipment were right here? This place was a junk pile, wasn't it? And hadn't Snow Elf just said there was no such equipment here? What was with this contradiction?
"If even the second-best sword can be lent out, why can't those pieces of equipment be lent?" Ligurit continued to press Snow Elf. Indeed... since the second-best weapon Chao Lu had made up could be lent out, it was too strange that those pieces of equipment couldn't.
"That... that's because... uh..." Snow Elf looked at Chao Lu, clearly hoping Chao Lu would help her out of the predicament.
"Let me answer for this silly cat! The reason why those pieces of equipment cannot be lent out is..." Chao Lu finally walked over slowly, still staring at the expressionless man.
"The reason is... among all of E-Rantel, the best equipment against Undead and against vampires—those are all my equipment." As Chao Lu spoke, she dramatically whipped out a shimmering, chain-like object from her sleeve and struck a very, very awkward pose.
"By the way, my full name is Chao Lu Belmondo." Chao Lu added.
Is your profession a Vampire Hunter?! Is that iron chain in your hand the Holy Whip Vampire Killer?!
Hey, hey! Lord Bai Xia is playing too much! Is she directly copying this setting?! Ellie forcibly suppressed her urge to complain.
"So they're all your equipment? Then I truly apologize." Ligurit, being a native, naturally didn't know the Castlevania reference from that other world. She could only apologize, looking at the "Holy Whip" in Chao Lu's hand with slight disappointment.
Even the Vampire Hunter Belmondo family has appeared. It seems Lord Bai Xia is indeed quite playful.
However, the premise is that this isn't something Chao Lu made up. After all, judging from their initial cooperation, Chao Lu is quite good at making things up, just like herself.
"Is that Belmondo a title? I remember that wasn't the name of the legendary Vampire Hunter family?" Ellie interjected, naturally to test if Chao Lu was making things up.
"Hmm? Lord Ellie, are the side effects of being infantilized really that severe? Didn't you give me my name? However, seeing that you still remember the name of the Vampire Hunter family, there might still be hope..." Chao Lu looked at Ellie with some disbelief and then responded.
My goodness! Her name really is Belmondo! What exactly does Lord Bai Xia intend to do? Ellie noticed something from the response, but Ellie's reaction seemed to have been misunderstood by Chao Lu.
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