Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 340 : This Wasn't in the Plan (3)

"Sorry about that! I needed to leave for a second."

"Forgive me, Marquis."

"No problem."

While Ryanga conversed with Historia, Sili and Deus effortlessly blended into the talk.

Alon lightly flicked his hand, showing it was alright.

"Hey, before we keep chatting, how about we head somewhere else?"

"Eh? Any specific cause?"

"Yeah, I've got something to reveal to you!"

Sili proposed.

Alon appeared confused yet eventually agreed with a nod.

He concluded his exchange with Ryanga and Historia, then trailed after the pair of siblings.

Shortly into their stroll—

"Here we are."

"This place is—"

"Your home, Marquis! You might not stay often, but you visit a couple times!"

A huge tent loomed in the heart of Divine Land, right before Alon's eyes.

"Doesn't this feel more like a palace? Like, what do you label this as...?"

"A palace in tent form...?" Evan mumbled in a daze.

As he noted, the building ahead resembled a fabric-constructed palace far more than an ordinary tent, astonishing the pair completely.

"Please, enter!"

Led by the unusually enthusiastic Sili, they stepped inside without realizing.

Quickly, the office came into view.

And at last, they could engage in a real discussion.

Sili gazed up at Alon with gleaming eyes.

Alon pondered briefly.

Numerous questions swirled in his mind.

Yet facing her directly now, he hesitated on starting points.

After a short quiet spell, Alon gradually spoke.

"Ryanga and Historia mentioned you formed these Four Knights earlier."

"Oh, that's merely the name for your private protectors, Marquis!"

"Private protectors?"

"Exactly! Gods always have guardians, don't they? We set up that role just for you! We're picking only those capable of genuinely safeguarding you!"

She mentioned too that two positions remained open.

"Also, we revamped the troops into fresh ranks!"

"The troops as well?"

"Yep! Divided into five primary categories—"

She proceeded to detail the military structure alterations, item by item.

For roughly half an hour.

During that period, Alon discovered two key facts.

The previous simple knight-and-soldier ranking had expanded into an impressive fifteen tiers.

And the humble 'Divine Land' under his former watch belonged to bygone days now.

"Naturally, my brother contributed hugely!"

Sili noted, while Deus puffed up his chest proudly despite his neutral face.

Alon mused on that, yet pressed on with the dialogue.

"Still, what's the main motive for such detailed rank splits?"

"Ah, sure! Chiefly due to the massive population surge!"

"I sensed the soldier count had increased."

Alon remembered his observations.

Troops had assembled in such numbers that it hardly matched the old Divine Land, prompting him to cock his head.

"Oh, plenty of those prior mercenaries decided to stay!"

"...Eh?"

Catching his bewilderment, Sili clarified, leaving Alon even more baffled.

"Weren't they meant to depart?"

"Well—some did go, but most grew to trust you, Marquis!"

With a smug shrug boasting her success, Sili grinned widely.

Observing the girl's clear pride, Alon grew more baffled.

After all, those mercenaries arrived at Divine Land chasing false tales.

Thus, upon learning the reality, they ought to have departed naturally.

So what kept them?

"Any special cause for their staying?"

"I spread the faith!"

"...What?"

"Spread the faith?"

Despite her confident reply, Alon's skepticism lingered.

For starters, Psychedelia's mercenaries prized gain over devotion.

"They believed in me so readily?"

Doubting still, Alon probed further, and Sili beamed.

"Not initially."

"What changed?"

"I convinced them to believe in you. That's my duty as a saint."

Sili cleared her throat proudly and shone brightly.

"Mind sharing... your exact method of spreading faith?"

"Absolutely!"

As Alon's interest intensified, Sili nodded as though obvious—

"To start, I empowered a frail knight."

She detailed her tale gradually.

Some thirty minutes passed—

"And thus, I instilled faith in both frail and mighty mercenaries!"

"Scriptures are scarce at the moment, you see? People are eagerly awaiting additional ones!"

With her closing upbeat remark, Sili wrapped up.

Alon remained stunned, jaw dropped, and gradually looked aside.

Evan mirrored him with an open mouth.

It was understandable.

Should Sili's words hold truth—

No chance that sweet-faced, smiling girl devised and carried out all this solo.

Frankly, it bordered on devious.

"...But won't that persuasion tactic bring repercussions?"

"Eh? How so?"

"If granted via your power, won't that strength wane over time?"

Evan inquired.

Yet Sili, beaming as ever, responded promptly.

"No need to fret. They just require hope."

"...Hope?"

"The empowered ones hold hope—that steadfast devotion lets them reclaim that power. The rest aspire that firm faith yields even vaster might."

"...Isn't that essentially deception?"

Evan gently noted.

Sili chuckled merrily in response.

"Deception? Hardly! Ultimately, they can harness the power, so truth prevails."

"Well—perhaps I stretched it a smidge~"

She tacked on, and Evan, a bit sheepish, muttered, "Oh, got it," while furtively eyeing Alon and Deus.

Fortunately, the trio sans Sili aligned in sentiment, easing Evan's brief relief.

"...Eh? Why the exchanged looks?"

Sili queried, urging Alon to cough lightly and shift topics.

"By the way, where'd you head off to before?"

"Oh, I went to propagate faith!"

"...You did?"

"Yep! The guardian deity commanded more believers!"

"...Did I?"

Alon inwardly questioned his own words now.

His face stayed composed regardless.

"Yes, the guardian deity did."

Guided by Sili's faint point, Alon shifted his view that way.

There appeared—

Flinch!

Kalannon, feline-shaped, furtively peeking about.

Alon reflected shortly.

Then Kalannon, eyeing Alon warily, abruptly leaped to his thigh with a purr—

[Meow~ meow~]

Nuzzling as if pleading, "Spare me, I had no option~. "

Just what lacked option?

Alon's query hung unresolved, but instinctively, he stroked Kalannon's plush coat—

Pop—!

Blackie, formerly nestled in Alon's pocket, emerged suddenly.

Tap tap tap—

Spotting Kalannon atop Alon, Blackie dashed down nimbly.

Next—

Smack! Smack!

[Meow!?]

He whacked Kalannon's crown.

A firm feline swipe echoing sharply.

With Kalannon fleeing startled, Blackie—

[Meowww—]

Stared daggers, then haughtily seized the vacated lap spot.

An abrupt, perplexing sequence.

Alon's palm dangled uncertainly in the air.

***

Shortly afterward.

Sili exited temporarily, claiming errands post-explanation.

"Master!"

"Divine One!"

"Chief!"

As though timed perfectly, Seolrang, Historia, and Ryanga entered.

Their gazes fixed on Alon, yet strangely, they clashed among themselves (head-on?).

What on earth transpired between them?

"Step aside."

"You step aside."

"You dense fools~"

Smiles graced their lips, but their stares radiated mana-fueled tension.

Observing the group, Alon sighed softly.

...Indeed, recalling, Seolrang and Historia rarely meshed.

He tolerated that from history, but Ryanga's inclusion surprised him.

As Alon silently mulled, he eyed Deus.

Deus, utterly impassive, viewed them like poultry.

He showed zero concern for their squabble.

His vibe screamed "none of my affair," drawing Alon's subconscious nod.

"Ah, Marquis."

"Yes?"

"I overlooked this before. Alexion messaged this morning."

"Alexion? Regarding what?"

"You recall, your 'partner.'"

At Evan's cue, Alon uttered an "ah" of recall.

"But why's Alexion handling it?"

"Since I instructed him."

"Once more?"

"Relax, no pesky mishaps like previously this round."

—Relieving to know.

"Yes, the candidates ought to arrive shortly."

"Candidates?"

"Alexion dispatched invites solely to noblewomen potentially keen on you, Marquis. Bearing the invite, they'll face interviews and selections."

"...Really essential?"

"For one of your stature, Marquis, this should've commenced ages ago. Though finalizing the partner might drag. Certain invites remain undelivered."

Alon appeared doubtful yet assented as Evan offered a seldom stern reply.

"? "

Abruptly, unease stirred.

The prior snarling trio fell utterly mute.

Turning to look—

Historia, Seolrang, and Ryanga stood with bulging eyes.

"Chief? What's this 'partner' business?"

Ryanga inquired.

Alon casually recounted the ball affair.

Upon his account, the three declared—

"Uh... Chief! Suddenly recalled an urgent task!"

"Master! Must dash out briefly!"

"Me as well, only a sec—"

Like waves pulling back, they scampered away rapidly.

And not solely them.

"Marquis, I'll exit momentarily too."

Including Deus.

"...?"

"...?"

Alon eyed Evan perplexed.

They shared a puzzled stare and merely shrugged.

Precisely two days on—

"Er, Lord Alexion."

"Yes?"

"Those dispatched letters...?"

"What of them?"

"Reports indicate some got pilfered."

"...What?"

Alexion gaped at the update.

Why pilfer non-political partner summons?

"Who took them?"

"Unclear. Some recall fainting, letter vanished. Others discovered emptied pockets mysteriously."

"Hmm~"

Perhaps mere misplacements?

Head tilted in consideration, Alexion shivered abruptly.

He recalled the visitor from precisely two days prior.

‘Oh my, points system?’

‘Ah, this is...’

‘Hmm—so exceeding a threshold qualifies as candidate?’

‘Correct.’

‘Clever indeed. Filters unfit for my Lord.’

‘Appreciated.’

‘Fingers crossed my score suffices.’

‘...Pardon?’

‘Truly wish for high marks.’

‘...Oh, certainly.’

Lips curved in smile, eyes cold—Cardinal Yutia Bloodia of Rosario.

Recalling her, Alexion fleetingly thought she might've snatched them.

Yet he dismissed it promptly.

She resided at the Marquis’s domain currently.

Snatching nationwide deliveries instantly proved unfeasible.

And to erase rivals—

She'd need to obliterate each invite.

But no such reports.

Thus—

The culprit wasn't Yutia.

As Alexion pondered deductions, his aide timidly raised another matter.

"And another item."

"What?"

"The Marquis's partner search rumor appears to circulate."

Alexion exhaled.

No fury.

Discreet sends inevitably leaked.

Though quicker than foreseen, it wasn't shocking.

Hence—

"That's alright."

"Our course?"

"Simple: resend. Tch—Crystal orb talks would simplify, but nobles cling to formal letters. Such hassle."

Alexion waved it away casually.

Yet the rumor escalated beyond imagination.

"...So Brother seeks a partner?"

"Indeed."

"His Grace’s?"

"Yes—the Primordial Elf’s companion."

The buzz even hit elven territories.

As Magrina and Rine savored tea, secretary Mew relayed it—and recoiled.

Justifiably.

"Sis, emergency arose. Okay if I leave first?"

"Go ahead. Truth be told, something popped for me too."

Their gazes held unusual intensity.

And witnessing that—

Mew sensed instinctively.

Trouble loomed large.