Obtaining the Exam Token

After some polite small talk and tea, Charles Sun discreetly dismissed the servants. "Miss Lawrence," he asked, "you mentioned in your note that this was about Lucky Star. What brings you here?"

"A few days ago, while my father and I were away on a trip, Lucky Star was robbed," Grace said. "President Sun, have you heard about this?"

Charles Sun replied, "No, I haven't."

"Fortunately, my father had people guarding Lucky Star. Several of those thieves ended up dead! The whole city was in an uproar—President Sun, you really didn't hear about it?"

"So what are you here for? Just say it," Charles Sun said coldly.

Showing up at someone else's house just to rub salt in the wound—what's that supposed to mean?

All the Spiritual Alchemists who registered yesterday received one.

"That's nonsense—"

"Wait, don't get upset! Don't misunderstand!" Grace quickly said. "I'm not here to go after the thieves. I came to discuss a deal with you."

He took out a round Exam Token, wrote "Grace" on it, and handed it to her. "Take this, and you can participate in the exam."

"I want to register for the Spirit Alliance exam, but your daughter blocked me," Grace said. "So I want to make a trade with you."

"You? Want to join the Spirit Alliance?" Charles Sun raised an eyebrow. "You may have all five elemental roots, but you've never studied alchemy. Are you sure you can handle it?"

"That's my business. All you need to do is let me sign up."

"So... what are you offering in exchange?" Charles Sun asked.

"Time."

"What?"

"I'll give you one night," Grace said. "I'll have my father's people at Lucky Star drugged, and I'll send the rest of the staff home."

Charles Sun's eyebrows twitched.

"Honestly, I have no idea what it is at Lucky Star that interests you, and frankly, I don't care," Grace added. "I just want to join the Spirit Alliance. We both get what we want. President Sun, why not consider it?"

Charles Sun looked at her. "How do I know this isn't a trap set by you and Minister Zhuo?"

"You can send someone to check things out before you go! Of course, if you can't even tell if there's an ambush and you don't have the guts, just pretend I never said anything!"

Last time's failure had already put Charles Sun on alert; getting what he wanted would be even harder now.

But now that Grace was offering this deal, he was tempted.

After thinking it over, he said, "Alright, I agree! As long as you keep your word, I guarantee you'll get to take the Spirit Alliance exam."

"No! I want the Exam Token first," Grace insisted. "Otherwise, if you get what you want and then refuse to pay up, who am I supposed to complain to?"

The Exam Token is the credential needed to participate in the exam.

All the spirit pharmacists who registered yesterday received one.

Charles Sun smiled, "Alright! Here you go!"

Registering for the exam was no big deal to Charles Sun.

He took out a round Exam Token, wrote "Grace Zhu" on it, and handed it to her. "Take this, and you can participate in the exam."

"Great! Thank you, President Sun!" Grace accepted the token. "So, when do you want to do this?"

"Tonight," Charles Sun said.

No point in dragging things out—sooner is better!

"Alright," Grace said. "Send your people over tonight."

Charles Sun nodded.

......