There was no class D limitation in this clearance.
Yes there was, "Climb to VFR within the Smallville surface area."

.... and thus the crux of my question. Where does it say where the
Smallvill surface area stops (vertically). The glossary in the AIM just
says "upwards" but does not say how far up. There is no reason to infer
that it would stop at a class boundary. There is a reason to infer that
it would stop at the top of controlled airspace (where the VFR rules are
"clear of clouds" anyway); that reason would be that special VFR
requires a clearance, and clearances cannot be given in uncontrolled
airspace. But if E or C overlays D, you're still in controlled
airspace, and there is no reason a D controller could not coordinate
with the owner of the airspace above the D.

If there is a place where it says where the top of a surface area is,
I'd like to see it.

Jose
--
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