Regarding Sevika being chosen, Faen actually didn't feel any surprise.
Because in many cases, Sevika was the best choice—just like in the ending of Arcane Season 2, Sevika joined the Piltover Council as Zaun's representative. It seemed Sevika might not be the best choice, but under the mutual involvement of multiple interests, no one was more suitable than Sevika.
A strong Zaun nationalist would make things difficult for Piltover; someone favoring Piltover would only trigger a new round of riots. In contrast, she once chose to help Silco due to dissatisfaction with Vander's weakness, and after clearly recognizing reality, she helped Silco stabilize the situation pragmatically from deteriorating further.
Under these circumstances, it was no exaggeration to say Sevika was a gender-bent Vander with not-so-strong personal charm and appeal.
It was just that this 'not so strong' was only relative to Vander. As a neighborhood boss in the Vander era and a right-hand man in the Silco era, Sevika's reputation, in terms of status alone, was somewhat similar to the old Sleepy Joe who just announced running for US President. Belonging to the situation where no one cared before, but suddenly standing out, people realized, 'Oh right, there's also this one!'
Hmm, limited to the old Sleepy Joe during his first election run against the MAGA Emperor.
For the two cities, Sevika, who recognized reality, was the best choice. And now, discovering the situation at the bottom seemed to have changed...
Opening the envelope and taking a look, Faen's face also showed an unsurprised expression.
The secret letter sent to Sevika wasn't in the name of the Piltover Council, but in the name of House Ferros. Of course, besides House Ferros itself, there were also personal signatures of some other family members.
"The Hextech Crystal factory is House Ferros's industry, and also the lifeline of the entire Piltover. Piltover is a large interest group, but under this, each family is an independent interest group. Among these families, different factions also have different interests. Intertwined and influencing each other, this forms today's Piltover."
Faen said peacefully: "And the business of the Hextech Crystal factory involves many people in Piltover. As long as the chaos in Zaun doesn't stop for a day, the production of the Hextech Crystal factory cannot resume for a day. For these merchant families, watching their factories stop running and revenues decrease is naturally harder to bear than killing them. And 60% or more of the pollution in Zaun comes from the Hextech Crystal factory. Before they solve the pollution, wanting to resume production is impossible."
Hearing this, Sevika also nodded thoughtfully, then asked: "What should I do?"
"No need to do anything."
Faen appeared very calm: "The reason why revenue decrease is harder to bear than killing them is because they didn't really die."
Feeling the indifference revealed in Faen's calm words, Sevika seemed to realize something, and didn't continue to ask about this matter. Instead, she said: "Silco asked me to ask you, what is Zaun preparing to do next? Continue to maintain martial law?"
"Continue to maintain. I'll tell him when it needs to be lifted. But before this..." Faen rubbed his chin and said: "Lay down some signal equipment; it's also time to prepare Piltovians to realize why Runeterra is called Runeterra, not Techterra."
Hearing this, Sevika nodded. After confirming there were no other questions, she turned and left.
Seeing Sevika leave, then glancing at the secret letter on the table, Faen didn't produce any extra expression because of this.
The most criticized part of Arcane Season 2 was that the two cities didn't truly reconcile or understand each other; the actual problems weren't solved. Relying entirely on Noxus's Deus Ex Machina to introduce a powerful external enemy, making the two temporarily cooperate.
Although this cooperation alleviated the hatred between the two cities, and took this as an opportunity leading to Sevika, who inherited Silco's political legacy, entering the Piltover Council—but so what?
Other merchant families all had foundations operated for decades or centuries, family interests highly bound with city interests; that's why merchant families had a transcendent status.
Without these resources, Sevika's best result was nothing more than becoming a council mascot like Heimerdinger... When it really came to interest conflicts, they could even vote out Heimerdinger, the founder of the City of Progress Piltover. Could a mere Sevika not be voted out?
Regardless of the purpose, using this method to sow discord was too low-level—especially when Faen could also read others' thoughts directly through the spirit realm.
On the other side, getting Faen's message, Silco also immediately acted cooperating with Soona.
But somewhat disappointing to Faen, although Silco knew Faen's purpose, whether Silco, Soona, or anyone else in Zaun, none knew how to truly change Zaun.
Just like Caitlyn didn't know demons truly existed until seeing them appear with her own eyes, Silco and others living in Zaun also faced the problem of "not knowing the true shape of the mountain because of being on the mountain."
Simply, Faen held a temporary meeting.
"Zaun's governance work absolutely cannot rely only on fighting violence with violence like in the past." Located in the conference room, Faen looked at everyone in front of him with a calm face.
"Changing Zaun can never be accomplished just by shouting a few slogans, but is a long systematic project. And the solutions to these related problems are also multifaceted, but after simple division, they can be divided into surface and deep levels."
Hearing Faen's words, no one spoke, just looking at Faen quietly, waiting for Faen's advice or orders.
And Faen didn't talk nonsense, simply saying: "The surface problem is environmental pollution originating from chemical factories and Hextech Crystal factories. This led to continuous deterioration of Zaun's environment, but it can be researched by appointing and employing scholars; the specific plan will be approved by me."
"Besides this, there is also economic exploitation originating from Piltover. This economic exploitation is all-round, not only overt transactions, but also including black market business. And related reform plans can complement environmental transformation. Whether developing clean energy, purification devices, or labor-intensive industries like mechanical manufacturing, they are providing employment opportunities for bottom-level people, while also reducing reliance on the black market and criminal gangs."
"And the deep problem is the stigmatization of Zaun—the long-term opposition between the two cities has led to the identity split between Zaunites and Piltovians, and Zaun has been further stigmatized as 'lawless land' and 'city of crime'."
Faen said: "This stigmatization has led to Zaun's youth generating a lot of unnecessary burdens, pressure, and temptations during their growth process. But Zaun's image can be reshaped through the spread and diffusion of art and culture. Hmm, can start with carriers like street culture, graffiti culture, community music. I think Piltover's young people will like it very much."
"And more importantly." Faen knocked on the table, saying calmly: "Disclose the historical truth of the Twin Cities' split, emphasize common interests, avoid intergenerational transmission of hatred. At least, let Piltover's young people know."
Although Faen finished speaking, people didn't end the discussion there. Instead, they fell into a longer silence with complex gazes, discussing and communicating softly with each other from time to time. A moment later, even Silco couldn't help sighing softly... Regarding Zaun's transformation direction, Faen, as an Ionian, seemed to understand better than their group of old Zaunites?
But thinking this, Silco still looked at Faen, then asked: "Then... what about Piltover?"
Silco asked: "Piltover won't sit and watch Zaun change... they need a bleeding brother."
Hearing this, Faen nodded, then said calmly:
"Yes, the most crucial thing after martial law is balancing the interference from Piltover and Zaun's autonomy. Slight carelessness will repeat the mistakes of Zaun's past tradition of fighting violence with violence."
"So, the solution is also very simple." A smile appeared at the corner of Faen's mouth: "I will visit them publicly, and they will soon understand that the communication between the Twin Cities should be more civilized."
Hearing Faen say this, everyone present also nodded, starting to discuss the next reform plan without being constrained about Piltover's interference—this required multi-faceted cooperation between the Wind of Change and the cadre group under Silco.
Hmm, the cadre group under Silco were mostly clean people selected before, not accomplices with Chem-Barons and chemical thugs. And now, after screening, they were gradually being incorporated into the Wind of Change.
Seeing they were already discussing matters related to this, Faen didn't continue to interrupt.
Having already sat in this position, what Faen had to do now was just control the general direction. Doing everything personally wasn't Faen's style, nor what Faen was good at.
After determining the overall thought, that night, related news quickly spread through broadcasting to every corner of Zaun from top to bottom. In this process, some people felt hope, but more people were actually just watching. Among them, naysayers were not few either.
No choice; Piltover was pressing right above their heads. Looking up every day, it was impossible to say they didn't feel the pressure. Under these circumstances, no one was sure when Piltover would suddenly dispatch a squad of Enforcers to launch an attack.
And when that time really came, could Zaun's change still continue?
People were pessimistic.