Although he couldn't go up to Spirit Alliance Mountain himself, he helped Grace deliver the appeal letter to Deputy Alliance Master Victor Li's residence.
Victor Li read Grace's appeal and summoned her to Spirit Alliance Mountain to ask about the details.
Grace recounted everything honestly, and Victor Li then called in Lily Xu.
"Lily Xu," Victor Li said. "Grace claims that she was the top candidate in the Blue Moon Spirit Alliance assessment, earning three 'Excellents.' But the results you submitted show two 'Excellents' and one 'Fail,' which means she was eliminated. What happened here?"
Lily Xu replied, "Deputy Alliance Master Li, she really did get two 'Excellents' and one 'Fail.' On the last assessment, she scored a 'Fail.' If you don't believe me, you can ask President Sophie Sun of the Blue Moon Spirit Alliance."
"President Sophie Sun is my enemy," Grace said. "Her words can't be trusted."
"Enemy? What kind of grudge?" Victor Li asked.
Grace hesitated for a moment before answering, "You must have heard about President Charles Sun of the Blue Moon Spirit Alliance—he illegally opened a spirit iron mine, was exposed, executed, and lost all his family's property."
Victor Li nodded.
"The person who exposed him... was me."
Victor Li raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Deputy Alliance Master Li, I really did pass the assessment! Sam Summers and Sam Yuan from the Blue Moon Spirit Alliance can both testify!" Grace said.
"Alright, I'll call them in and ask." Victor Li instructed his people to bring Sam Summers and Sam Yuan.
Both of them confirmed that Grace was telling the truth.
"...Deputy Alliance Master Li, I personally recorded the scores at the time, there was no mistake. She was the top candidate in the Blue Moon Spirit Alliance and got three 'Excellents.'" said Sam Summers.
"That's right! It must have been Ms. Xu who tampered with Grace's scores," Sam Yuan agreed.
"Why are you so sure?" Victor Li asked Sam Yuan.
"Because back at the Blue Moon Spirit Alliance, she and Sophie Sun teamed up to make things difficult for Grace, and even brought in a pair of twins..." Sam Yuan explained everything that happened to Victor Li.
"Although I didn't see it with my own eyes, now that Elder Conrad is sick, she had the chance to alter Grace's scores. She had the motive, the opportunity, and a history!"
"Sam Yuan is right," Sam Summers added. "My master originally planned to return to the Alliance and report her actions to all the Alliance Masters."
Victor Li nodded, looked at Lily Xu, and asked, "What do you have to say?"
Lily Xu, completely unfazed, shook her head at Sam Summers. "Sam Summers, Elder Conrad raised you since you were young and treated you like his own. Now that he's in trouble, you use him to make up stories? You really are heartless!"
"What do you mean my master is in trouble? He's not dead yet!" Sam Summers retorted. "If it's made up, let him speak for himself!"
"Fine! Go and invite him here then!"
"He... can't come right now," Sam Summers replied.
Lily Xu sneered.
The spirit alchemists sent by the Alliance Master had already returned. She even overheard them say that the Conrad residence had hung mourning banners.
Two days had passed by now—Elder Conrad must have already passed away, right?
'Can't come right now!' Who are you trying to fool?
He won't be able to come for the rest of his life!
Calmly, she took a letter from her pocket and handed it to Victor Li. "Deputy Alliance Master Li, take a look at this."
Victor Li took the letter, glanced at Grace, and frowned deeply.
"This is a handwritten letter from Vice President Winston Wu. You recognize his handwriting, don't you?" Lily Xu asked.
Victor Li nodded.