Lux and Ino rested in Kalamanda for three full days.
(Lux strongly protested Klein's mockery and strictly forbade him from revealing her seasickness.)
In addition to resting and completely recovering from seasickness, Klein also took this time to meticulously plan their next steps with Lux.
After their rest, they would leave Kalamanda and head to Piltover.
Upon arriving in Piltover, they would convert some of their supplies into cash, then take the capital into Piltover's Undercity, and finally reach Zaun.
And Zaun was their ultimate destination for this journey.
"Why Zaun?" Ino asked, a bit confused, when she heard they were going to Zaun. "I heard the sailors on the ship say that Zaun is a terrible place... We could stay in Kalamanda. There are many farmlands in Kalamanda's northern suburbs. Even for learning magic, we could stay here and establish our own farm!"
"To be honest, if I could, I'd also love to stay in Kalamanda," Klein sighed. "However, for Lux, wanting to stage a glorious return within six years, staying in Kalamanda to farm simply won't be enough time."
"I understand not being able to stay in Kalamanda, but why Zaun?" At this point, Lux was also very curious. "I remember you said that Piltover and Zaun are very special places, and their birth and rise were mainly due to trade between Valoran and Shurima Continent..."
"And precisely for this reason, Zaun and Piltover are the easiest places to leverage in all of Runeterra," Klein affirmed. "Many people don't know that Zaun used to be called Vazuan, an important port city of Shurima—I have quite a few good things left there!"
"Oh? Good things?" Hearing Klein say that, Lux immediately perked up. "What are they?"
"Just some insignificant seeds," Klein said in a nonchalant tone. "Mainly, too much time has passed, and I'm not very sure what might still be left there. I didn't tell you mainly to avoid you having high hopes and then being greatly disappointed."
"What's there to be disappointed about?" Lux frowned. "I've noticed, Klein—you seem to be hiding something from me!"
"It's not really hiding; it's just that I'm not sure myself," Klein said with some helplessness. "I've been asleep for too long. Although I've woken up a few times during that period and tried to understand a bit about Runeterra's situation—time is always merciless, and I can't confirm that Zaun is exactly as I imagine it. So if you insist on me explaining everything clearly, I can only say, 'we'll see as we go'."
"So, going to Zaun is your first step?" Hearing Klein say that, Lux finally nodded. "Then, if Zaun is as you believe it to be, what should our every step look like?"
"The very beginning is observation," Klein weighed her words. "Understanding the current Zaun, and incidentally, inquiring about some of my old friends."
"Very understandable—but, Klein, can Zaun still have your good friends now?" Lux nodded, then said with some surprise, "Is it also those... Darkin?"
"Not Darkin," Klein denied Lux's guess, then warned in a serious tone, "Moreover, do not speak the name of Darkin so easily, and do not approach Darkin. Although they once fought alongside me, I cannot guarantee if they still have their sanity—in fact, a large part of the reason I didn't want to stay in Kalamanda was that I didn't want you to get involved with Darkin at this time."
"I see..." Lux nodded, indicating that she understood. "What then, after understanding Zaun?"
"If Zaun is really similar to what I believe it to be, then the next step is very simple!" Klein said in a lighthearted tone. "From nothing, establish a political power, gain true power through your own efforts and not by bloodline, and prepare for your return to Demacia and the transformation of Demacia..."
"Wait, what are you saying???" Lux was dumbfounded and immediately interrupted Klein. "Saying you want to establish a political power in such a relaxed tone? Are you going to overthrow Zaun?"
"Do I look like that kind of villain who incites trouble?" Klein denied Lux's accusation in a dramatic, very sorrowful tone. "If you don't count the gangs, Zaun doesn't even have a political power; it's completely a barbaric land in a civilized world—since there's no political power, how can there be an overthrow?"
"...Really?" Lux was even more confused. "How can a commercial city not have a political power?"
"Of course it's real," Klein said with certainty. "And you will build a city-state from scratch on that ruin, and through competition and cooperation with Piltover, you will understand the important meaning of diplomacy..."
"Diplomacy too?" Lux was a bit stunned now. "Wait, Klein, this isn't what I imagined! This shouldn't be what I'm supposed to do, right? I just want to find a way to resolve Demacia's current situation. Why do I have to establish a city-state in Zaun?!"
"Many of Demacia's problems stem from its very core," Klein said earnestly. "If you want to make a change, it requires a complete upheaval, and Zaun will be your training ground."
"That sounds like you're treating Zaun as my training ground?" Lux blinked. "If I fail, then Zaun would be..."
"So you must do your best and never fail," Klein chuckled. "As long as you succeed, you can both lead the people of Zaun out of their plight and prepare for Demacia's future reform. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
"...Klein, you really think highly of me!" Lux rubbed her forehead upon hearing this. "But, you know I hate politics the most!"
"What I'm talking about isn't politics," Klein sighed. "This is fighting for an ideal."
"Don't use wordplay to quibble here," Lux also became serious. "Tell me honestly, have you been planning all this since you first met me?"
"Want to hear the truth?" Klein was startled for a moment, then sighed helplessly. "The truth is... yes."
"You finally admit it, villain!" Lux gritted her teeth. "I knew it, from the very beginning, you had ill intentions!"
"Then are you willing?" Klein did not deny Lux's accusation this time. "To go to Zaun, abandon your identity as a noble lady, start everything from scratch, and transform that dilapidated place into what you hope it to be."
"Go! Why not go!" Lux lifted her face proudly upon hearing this. "After all, I am your best student!"
"Clearly the worst batch I've ever taught—"
"Now there's Ino!"
"Ino, Lux says you're not as good as her."
"Miss Lux is always right!"
"This is when you should say 'not right'!"
"Miss Lux is always right!"
"Lux, look at Ino! What have you turned her into?"
"..."
"..."
Ultimately, Klein's Zaun strategy was unanimously approved by the three-person team.
On the fourth day of arriving in Kalamanda, Lux and Ino purchased two boat tickets and boarded the passenger ship bound for Piltover.
Klein's Small Class: Klein's Sleeping Days:
Klein has been asleep for a very long time, so his understanding of Rune Power mostly comes from hearsay and rough inferences based on those accounts. Considering the butterfly effect, the world Klein is in can already be considered a parallel universe.
Therefore, although Klein had prepared a complete Zaun strategy early on, reality might very well give him an interesting surprise—it should be noted that Klein does not know about the War of the Twin Cities.