Upon learning that Lux was not a Piltoverian, but rather from a place called Demacia, Vi's attitude visibly softened.
She even offered to lead the way when Lux mentioned going to The Last Drop, and she shooed away the disgruntled Zaunite kids around them.
While this form of "friendliness" was still rude and ill-mannered, Lux could clearly feel that Vi's animosity seemed to be entirely directed at Piltover.
"So you're not a Piltoverian—you should've said so earlier." After shaking off the trash on her, Vi extended her fist, "As you can see, we Zaunites are generally quite friendly when Piltoverians aren't involved."
"So, can you tell me about Zaun?" At Klein's reminder, Lux extended her fist and bumped it against Vi's, "Your thoughts on this city—all aspects of it."
"What thoughts could I have about Zaun?" Vi grinned at Lux's question, looking bored, "Zaun is Zaun. I grew up here. It's been like this since I was little—wet, dirty, and everyone's broke. The only difference is, back then I still had my parents, and now I only have Vander and Powder."
"What do you usually eat?" Lux, very seriously, started with the most basic questions, "Where does the food come from?"
"Huh? Eat what? Of course we eat!" Vi looked at her as if she were stupid, "Some people eat bread, some eat fish. I personally prefer Gromp. I can treat you to some if you get the chance—it tastes amazing."
"Aquatic animals… Does Zaun have a river?" Lux blinked in surprise, "I only know about the Pilt River, in the north of the city."
"Zaun definitely has a river!" Vi nodded, "How else would we mine or wash the ore without a river? Most of that river is underground though, and only the skilled ones can fish in it."
"Do you farm then?"
"Farm? What's that?" Vi looked puzzled, "I know about growing flowers, a lot of Piltoverians like that sort of thing, but farming… Wait, I think I heard Vander mention that word—never mind, I can't remember. Anyway, I haven't heard of anyone farming."
"No one farms!" Lux said "Oh" at this, "Then where does your bread come from?"
"We buy it from the bakery, of course." Vi shrugged, "Don't ask me where the bakery gets its bread. They make it themselves, with wheat mixed with sawdust."
"What I mean is, where do you get the money to buy bread?!" Lux realized that her way of speaking might be too subtle for Vi, so she rephrased it more directly, "And, it seems like the amount of bread is limited, so you also have to fish or catch frogs, right?"
"Yes, yes, that's right!" Lux's repeated confirmation made Vi a little impatient. "Bread definitely comes from working—are all you Demacians so long-winded?"
"Sorry, I just want to understand this city." Lux posed the next question, "So, what kind of work do you usually do?"
"Work? There's a lot." Vi thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers easily, "Some people mine, some wash ore, some operate machines in factories, some are bone-skinners, some work as thugs, and of course, some open taverns or bakeries, and some collect protection fees… Of course, everyone might rip off a Piltoverian."
"Do you have merchants then?" Lux listened carefully to Vi's words and continued to ask, "Specialized peddlers or merchants who deal in bulk goods?"
"Zaun doesn't have any big merchants." Vi shook her head, "People who specialize in buying and selling all go to Piltover. How could they stay in Zaun?"
"Then do you know about the Chem-Barons?" Lux continued her questioning, "Those nominal rulers of Zaun."
"Chem-Barons? The rulers of Zaun? Where did you hear that news?" Hearing this question, Vi couldn't help but burst into laughter, "A bunch of dogs wagging their tails waiting for a Piltoverian to throw them a bone, and they dare call themselves the rulers of Zaun?"
"Barons in name only, another gain." Lux nodded, pushing open the tavern door in front of her, "Last question, did you blow up a building in Piltover yesterday?"
"Powder did that—you're trying to trick me!" Vi's eyes widened, "Damn it, you're a Cop!"
"A Cop? What's that?"
"Don't play dumb with me anymore—damn it, you're a damned Piltoverian!"
The next moment, Vi raised her fist again.
However, this time Lux didn't move—because just as Vi was enraged, the owner, who had been behind the bar, suddenly darted out and pulled her behind him.
"Vi!" The man, as strong as a giant bear, called out to Vi with some helplessness, "Didn't I tell you to behave yourself lately?!"
"Ekko's in trouble!" Vi gritted her teeth, glaring at Lux, "And now the Piltover Cops are here, behaving won't do any good!"
"Is this Mr. Vander?" Lux scrutinized the muscular man in front of her, a look of surprise on her face, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Speaking of which, since leaving Demacia, it was the first time Lux had seen someone of this physique—in terms of sheer muscularity, Vander was almost comparable to Petyr.
However, unlike Petyr's heroic bearing, Vander seemed more rugged, exuding a powerful deterrent just by looking at him.
"You're not an Enforcer." Vander held back the agitated Vi, then turned to look at Lux and Ino behind her. Upon seeing Ino's hair color, he couldn't help but frown, "But you seem to know some things you shouldn't."
As Vander spoke these words, the drinking patrons in the tavern all stopped their movements, their eyes, not very friendly, turning towards Lux and Ino.
"If you're talking about that explosion, I already know about it." Lux completely ignored these gazes, walked over to the bar, and sat down, "And, I was there at the time—please give me two glasses of goat milk, with extra sugar, thank you."
"The bar doesn't sell goat milk." Vander gave Vi a look, prompting her to sullenly find a chair and sit down, while he returned behind the bar, "Outsider, you'd best leave Zaun now, and leave Piltover. This is Dark Alley's last mercy."
"What a pity." Lux naturally picked up two cups, filled them with water, and handed one to Ino, "I'm already involved."
The next moment, just as Ino took the cup, the water in it instantly froze, shattering the cup—as glass shards flew, the entire tavern fell silent.
At this point, Vi, who had been held back by Vander and unable to interject, finally confirmed Ino's identity.
"You're the Mage from yesterday!"
"That's right." Lux stroked her sword, nodding, "Too bad, no reward."
The identity of a Mage still made everyone in The Last Drop wary.
Although Lux noticed that many people still had their hands on their weapons, at least their gazes towards Lux were no longer so brazen.
If possible, they did not wish to be enemies with a Mage.
"This matter has nothing to do with you!" Facing Ino, who had revealed her identity, Vander remained unmoved, "For you, this matter is already over!"
"Familiar words, that money really has something to do with you." Lux gently removed her filter, revealing a face that was excessively young and clean, "So, what's your relationship with her—"
"Alright, we can talk properly." Hearing Lux's words, Vander finally sighed helplessly, "There's still some powdered goat milk in the warehouse, it should still be drinkable…"
Klein's Small Class · Zaun's Kids:
Most children and teenagers in Zaun are idle street urchins. The best education system here comes from the traditional and primitive master-apprentice model—but considering the pitifully short average lifespan of Zaunites, few are qualified to take on apprentices. Only a few truly gifted individuals can, through self-study, pass the entrance exam for the Piltover Academy of Science and Progress, but unfortunately, after graduation, they often cannot find a sponsor willing to fund them and usually have to work as assistants in others' laboratories until they gain some reputation and a few patents.