[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-became-the-patron-of-villains":3,"chapter-became-the-patron-of-villains-became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-164":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Became the Patron of Villains",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},759454,1006,"Chapter 164","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-164",164,"\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon couldn’t help but feel endlessly bewildered as he watched the woman suddenly shed tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had simply been staring at him before abruptly starting to cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did I… do something?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flood of thoughts raced through his mind, but naturally, he hadn’t done anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, he hadn’t even had the time to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment of confusion lasted only briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, something suddenly got into my eye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon could only reply hesitantly to the woman’s slow explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem like something got into her eye; it looked more like she was crying out of sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since she insisted that was the case, pressing the matter felt inappropriate, so he decided not to dwell on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Shall we introduce ourselves first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I am Lina, the head of the Greenwood Trading company.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Alon tried to recall anything about the Greenwood Trading company, but he quickly gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It doesn’t seem to be a particularly famous Trading company.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he knew was the information he’d just heard from the attendant earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you wanted to discuss something with me regarding gold crafts. Is that correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s hear it in detail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded as she wiped her eyes again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>30 minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did the discussion go well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It ended well enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon asked at Evan’s surprised reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you looking at me like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just… Normally, discussions with Trading company heads don’t end this quickly. And we’re talking about gold crafts, aren’t we? I assumed there would be a lot to negotiate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, you’re not wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Indeed, the value of gold crafts is high.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gold itself was expensive, and the value of crafted gold items could vary greatly depending on the artisan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Alon had a general understanding of these common sense matters, even if not in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Honestly, I was a little surprised too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That it ended so quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Alon had been bewildered the whole time at how smoothly things had gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The terms were too good.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good terms, from Alon’s perspective, were naturally not a bad thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the better the terms for Alon, the worse they should have been for the other party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its core, negotiations were about balancing mutual benefits and losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one part of the deal was advantageous, there had to be other parts that required compromise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This principle had held true in all the transactions Alon had made with numerous Trading Companies so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in this negotiation, even before they began, there were many terms disproportionately in Alon’s favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Something feels off.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was precisely the point Alon found peculiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the negotiation ended successfully, no matter how he thought about it, Alon couldn’t figure out what the Trading company was gaining from the deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, if I had to nitpick, it’s not exactly a losing deal for them either… But still, there were definitely parts where they could’ve been more ambitious. Why did they give up on so much?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon pondered further, he eventually shrugged his shoulders as he often did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome was good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the contract didn’t put him at any disadvantage, there was no need to overthink it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Though I still don’t understand why she was crying at first.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that she’d burst into tears the moment she saw him left him puzzled as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say the vice tower master has discovered a new formula.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no time to dwell on his thoughts, Alon rose from his seat to head toward where Penia was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Lina, the head of the Greenwood Trading company—or rather, the Elf Queen Magrina, who had just been speaking with Alon—was lost in a deep sea of thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The human disguise dropped, and Perion, who had accompanied her as her escort, gazed at her with a somewhat peculiar expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason lay in the queen’s demeanor earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What was that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion couldn’t understand her overall behavior today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The queen had left Greynifra, a place she absolutely should never abandon, to visit Marquis Palatio for a single reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To confirm whether Marquis Palatio was the Primordial Elf or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But inwardly, Perion believed this journey would yield little result for the queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Philde—the highest-ranking wizard among the elves—was correct in her assumption…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Marquis Palatio were the Primordial Elf and recognized his sister, Queen Magrina, he wouldn’t acknowledge her openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, under such limitations, the queen had no way of discerning whether Marquis Palatio was the Primordial Elf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, despite the queen’s resolute conviction that she would confirm it by seeing him in person, Perion had maintained a skeptical stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Why did she shed tears?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the queen now appeared deep in thought with a serious expression, Perion had undoubtedly witnessed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just earlier, the moment she saw Marquis Palatio’s face, a single tear had streaked down her cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion could confidently say it was the first time he had seen such a reaction from the queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never revealed personal emotions in front of others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While she was certainly a compassionate ruler, she bore the weight of her royal duties more heavily than anyone and fulfilled them without fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could she have truly sensed something from Marquis Palatio? In a way unknown to him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But if that’s the case…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion looked at her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, Magrina had returned to wearing the composed face of a ruler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not as a “sister” revealing fragments of emotion tied to the Primordial Elf, but as a clear and resolute “queen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Perion considered risking impropriety to satisfy his curiosity…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The queen, who had been silent since they left Marquis Palatio’s estate, suddenly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion held his breath for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fleeting mix of emotions crossed the queen’s face—regret, sorrow, and a faint smile—all gone in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, Magrina gave her command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Place the Shadow Leaves beside him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…! Shadow Leaves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadow Leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those who guarded the roots of ‘Paggade’, the Shadow Leaves were a select group of elves who protected the queen from the shadows, each of them a sword master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were essentially the queen’s personal escort unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you mean—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How did you realize it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion’s expression reflected his bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina recalled the gloves worn by Marquis Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gloves that only elves could use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely, gloves that could only be used by the Primordial Elf—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she saw them, tears had involuntarily flowed, but her certainty that Marquis Palatio was the Primordial Elf did not solely stem from that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have my own way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… …”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The queen answered with a smile and retrieved something from her robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an old ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ring so weathered that it had lost its luster in many places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, there was only supposed to be one of its kind in the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My own way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The that Alon had first obtained in the labyrinth now rested in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ring gifted by the Primordial Elf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Alon was…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm~ So the Trading company leader just poured out everything, then cried and laughed? Is that about right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reviewing the earlier events with Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… The order might’ve been reversed, but that’s the gist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it have been some sort of forced agreement… or something along those lines?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia’s face briefly showed sympathy before Alon interjected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly do you think of me…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hurriedly waved her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, no, no, not that! Haha… Maybe the Trading company leader just has… mood swings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm, perhaps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a pity, at such a young age.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that, their oddly comforting (?) conversation concluded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was dusk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Hidan, the regular meetings of the Blue Moon were generally a bit chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise, they started quietly but grew more unruly as time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the meetings had always progressed this way, Hidan had never found them particularly bothersome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever discussions became excessively noisy or heated, Red Moon would step in to mediate and restore order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, at this moment, Hidan felt deeply uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You’ve all heard, right?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[A birthday gift, huh—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none other than the matter of the Great Moon’s birthday gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, to be more precise, it was because of the discussions regarding the gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Deus, just so you know, don’t go overboard with an outrageous gift.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I know.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Are you ‘really’ sure you know?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, I plan to prepare something ‘appropriate.’]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm, same here. I’m planning something perfectly appropriate.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I feel the same. We mustn’t make the gift burdensome for Brother.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moons had started a subtle yet unmistakable competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm, everyone’s got the right idea. It seems we all understand that giving an overly extravagant gift could overwhelm him.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, I completely understand!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidan glanced over the other moons, including Yutia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moons wore relaxed, knowing smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, it seemed as though their words could be taken at face value, but Hidan, who frequently roamed around gathering reports, knew better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…The five moons were ‘absolutely not’ preparing “appropriate” gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, we must give something at the ‘appropriate’ level.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Right, I agree. At the ‘appropriate’ level.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Understood completely. ‘Appropriate,’ indeed…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…Same here.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Me too!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this repeated conversation, everyone, except for the cheerful Golden Moon, was carefully hiding their true intentions while gauging each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…All because they wanted to give the Great Moon a gift that would surpass the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Do we really… need to go this far?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidan felt his energy drain, stifling a quiet sigh deep within.\u003C\u002Fp>",1648,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","a410bd003fbb57601d88fce5cec2b009c0a28e7d1d59206ad47a17b9c95c7e49","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-165","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-163",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]