The statement within HotRod Java client guide is that "the server transmits an updated topology to the client".

This can lead to confusion.

A better description would be that for the next (successful) client request the topologyID is compared and the server sends an update for the topology.
If the client will hit a server which is not longer available it will do a retry (based on the clinet configuration, default is >1). This is transpararent for the client application code but cause a llonger duration.