[{"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-349":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},759789,1006,"Chapter 349 : Voting (4)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-349",349,"\u003Cp>An awkward silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that silence, Alon, deep in thought, cleared his throat and opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, I sincerely thank you all for gathering here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princes and princesses remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon looked around at them once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Al… right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem, I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, the princes and princesses responded awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered what exactly they understood, but for now, Alon felt relieved inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’m very glad to meet you. I’ll make sure you’re well cared for during your stay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll keep that in mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because he emphasized it, the tension seemed to ease a little. Faces softened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But this isn’t enough to let my guard down.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Alon knew very well that those gathered here wouldn’t be able to feel at ease so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine Land had already grown too big for that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he make these people fully trust Divine Land?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, Alon suddenly parted his lips, as if an idea had come to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone outside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he called, a knight stepped into the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seamus.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recognizing him, Alon gave a firm order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guide these guests around Divine Land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you command.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And also share your insights on Divine Land’s shortcomings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll obey that as well. Now, please follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Alon’s command, Seamus bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then led the gathered guests outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they left, Evan returned from outside and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did the conversation go well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, more or less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then where are they all going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re going to tour Divine Land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...A tour?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was that their choice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I ordered it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Did you really have to go that far?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there might be complaints since he hadn’t asked their opinions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this choice was unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they had already arrived in Divine Land, he wanted to strip away every invisible suspicion hanging over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if it makes them suffer a little, there’s no helping it. We have to prove ourselves, don’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true, but—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I also told him to point out Divine Land’s flaws, so by the time they finish the tour, their doubts should be eased, if not completely gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flaws?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. If I really intended to start a war, wouldn’t I try to hide them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, instead, you’re reassuring them by openly showing weaknesses?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Evan finally nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he thought about it, it wasn’t a wrong choice at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan recalled the faces of the guests who had just left the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all looked much less tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, it seemed Alon’s plan was working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, at least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...But there was no real change in their expressions.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that brief moment, Evan noticed that the guests’ expressions hadn’t shifted at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, their faces were fabricated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Will this really work...?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought quietly as he looked at Alon, who was nodding in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure in a black sacred robe stood in the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same place where the Sin of Sloth had been born not long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time it turned its head, the chain at its waist jingled noisily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing movement behind, it turned its gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it smiled and greeted warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The childish smile on its face deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In its eyes stood a man with blue eyes, or rather—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliban.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, he wore a calm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that alone made the robed figure smile with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it fully turned, Eliban pulled something from his robes and tossed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catching it effortlessly, the figure confirmed what had landed in its hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Demonic Gate Stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It glowed in many colors, as if trying to tempt humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Eliban, the figure spoke with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a fragment, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. They call it a Demonic Gate Stone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh— Demonic Gate Stone... Not the most creative name. If you put it more fittingly—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a soft chuckle, it looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t ‘Shard of the Stars’ be a better name? Don’t you think so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To that question, Eliban maintained his calm smile and simply turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he had nothing more to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-robed figure stared intently at Eliban’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much time is left now, Eliban?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved his hand as he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without stopping his steps, Eliban replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About a month and a half.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A plain answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, as if he had never been there in the first place, Eliban vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man in the black sacred robe kept his eyes on the spot where Eliban had disappeared, his gaze curling with a sly smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he lowered his eyes, rolling the Demonic Gate Stone in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether he’ll reach it or not~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned in the opposite direction of Eliban’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This should be interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the figure in the black robe left, the forest was empty, with nothing but three Demonic Gate Stones scattered on the ground, glowing brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if tempting humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s a financial matter. Originally, I intended to start small, but unforeseen events piled up, and more and more people gathered. It’s been quite a troublesome situation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve been running it without external support as best I can.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Tolenis heard the words of Marquis Palatio, he already understood his intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the kind of statement anyone but a fool would recognize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis was delivering a very polite threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the conversation that followed was smooth enough, but that was mere courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While being guided through Divine Land by the knight in front of them, everyone present clearly grasped the Marquis’s intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn’t have been otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place is a barracks, but when conditions allow, a castle will be built here. The cost is high, but not unachievable~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This too is a barracks for now, but with enough funds it will serve as a hall. It’s been a financial strain, but manageable~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one as well, currently a barracks, but with the money we’ll turn it into a grand plaza. The estimated cost is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Marquis’s words weren’t meant as a threat, then the knight couldn’t have spoken so casually before their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, this wasn’t Alon’s intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never given Seamus a single order about this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, since Seamus’s interview, Alon hadn’t exchanged any real conversation with him at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Seamus interpreted Alon’s command that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t entirely his fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Surely this must be the King’s will...!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real blame lay with Deus, who had trained the knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus had told every knight the same thing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Alon Palatio would become the great Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that the knights here would be the guards protecting that Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon himself had never even dreamed of such a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the knights, already steeped in Deus’s teaching, believed it without doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Alon was preparing to ascend as Heaven itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seamus was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, what is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So in Divine Land, there’s nothing but barracks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. Nothing but barracks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, just barracks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing else to do, but barracks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s nothing else, really.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seamus obeyed the order from “Heaven” with absolute loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The command to “share insights on Divine Land’s shortcomings” could only be interpreted that way by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Alon, in the middle of training his magic, had overheard, he would have been dumbfounded—“What? Me? When?”—but unfortunately he was unaware of this entire situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, after Seamus zealously delivered his grand Divine Land “tour video,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you received a good introduction?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon tilted his head, noticing the guests looked less pleased than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Seamus with a questioning look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nod!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seamus, nodding firmly with eyes full of conviction, only made Alon more bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve seen enough of Divine Land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tolenis, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. There are many shortcomings, but how was it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon smiled lightly as he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Tolenis frowned faintly, almost as if in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was brief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Alon caught the change and felt uneasy inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Tolenis spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I would like to sponsor Divine Land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A sponsorship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, in this amount—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tolenis offered a sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was once again stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was the offer sudden, but the amount was enormous from his perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far too large a sum to be casually called a “sponsorship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for the sentiment, but it’s not necessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what Tolenis intended with the offer, but the sheer size made it feel like taking on a heavy debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghh~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Alon refused, the atmosphere in the chamber plummeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone wore the same look of “this is bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was dumbfounded when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One point five...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll give one point five times more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tolenis said firmly, as if making a grave decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression hardened, as if he could go no further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But of course, clueless Alon politely declined again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I said, you don’t need to sponsor us. It would only be a burden.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urghh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, why all of a sudden—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two times. I’ll give twice as much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tolenis raised the number with an even firmer face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, calm down and listen to me—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two and a half—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...? No, really, it’s unnecessary—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three! Three times! No more than that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“???”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so began the struggle between the one desperate to sponsor, and the one refusing at all costs.\u003C\u002Fp>",1604,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","4f89f57be3c446fce6475d3417ab0e5aac3f667291db528c6f3c95b225614d6c","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-350","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-348",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]