Leo Palateo is a minor antagonist in the The Patron of Villains web novel and webtoon series. He is the eldest son of the House of Palateo and the older brother of Tonio Palateo and Allon Palateo. Following Tonio's death, Leo takes control of his younger brother's criminal operations and is positioned to succeed their father as the head of the family. In the original storyline of Psychedelia, Leo becomes a major criminal figure. However, after Allon's actions begin changing the original course of events, Leo is killed much earlier than Allon remembers.
Appearance
Leo is a young man with dark hair and a tall build. He generally carries himself with a calm and intimidating demeanor befitting the eldest son of the Palateo family. He is commonly seen wearing formal clothing associated with his status as a nobleman.
Personality
Leo is cold, intimidating, and quick to threaten others when they irritate him. Unlike Tonio Palateo, who openly bullies Allon, Leo generally appears more controlled, although he is no less dangerous. He has little patience for unnecessary disturbances. When Tonio causes trouble in the family library, Leo intervenes primarily because the noise annoys him and threatens Tonio when he refuses to leave. Leo is also suspicious and ruthless. Despite Allon's reputation as the family's powerless and useless third son, Leo becomes increasingly bothered by him. Rather than dismissing Allon as harmless, he eventually orders Alman to follow him and have him killed. As the eldest son, Leo is closely involved with the Palateo family's criminal activities. Following Tonio's death, he readily takes control of the operations previously managed by his brother.
History
House of Palateo
Leo is the eldest son of the Palateo family and the older brother of Tonio Palateo and Allon Palateo. As the first son, he is originally positioned ahead of his brothers in the family's succession. In the original storyline of Psychedelia, Leo survives much longer and eventually becomes an influential criminal figure.
Confrontation in the library
While Allon is speaking with Evan in the family library, Tonio discovers them and begins tormenting his younger brother. Leo eventually enters after becoming irritated by the disturbance. He tells Tonio to stop making noise and leave the library. When Tonio refuses to immediately comply, Leo threatens him, causing the confrontation between the brothers to escalate.
Tonio's death
Tonio later dies unexpectedly after supposedly falling to his death. The event surprises Allon because Tonio was not supposed to die at that point in the original storyline of Psychedelia. Following his death, Leo takes over the drug-related criminal operations previously controlled by his younger brother. Tonio's early death also strengthens Leo's position within the Palateo family.
Attempt on Allon's life
Leo becomes increasingly irritated by Allon despite acknowledging that his younger brother does not appear to pose an obvious threat. When Allon leaves the territory and travels toward Rodmill, Leo orders his subordinate Alman to follow his carriage. His instructions effectively amount to having Allon killed while he is away from the estate. Alman never reaches Allon. He is intercepted by Radan, a member of the Blue Moon, who believes Alman has chosen to oppose the Great Moon. Radan defeats him and removes him before Allon ever learns that his brother attempted to assassinate him.
Succession
After the death of their father, Leo is expected to inherit Palateo County and become the new head of the family. At the same time, however, the Blue Moon is systematically attacking criminal organizations associated with the Palateos. The organization Avalon, which possesses connections to the family's criminal activities, becomes one of its primary targets.
Death
While Allon is staying in Rodmil, Leo is suddenly killed. Allon is called back to the Palateo estate for his brother's funeral and is shocked by the news, as Leo was not supposed to die so early according to the original game. He learns that Leo was killed after being stabbed through the heart. Around the same time, Avalon is completely destroyed by the Blue Moon, with hundreds of its members disappearing or being killed. The timing of Leo's death creates suspicion around Allon. Allon had conveniently left the territory shortly before the incident, his enemies repeatedly disappeared, and Leo's death places Allon in a position to inherit the county.
Abilities
Combat ability
Leo is portrayed as a dangerous individual whose strength makes his sudden assassination surprising to Allon. His exact abilities and full combat capabilities have not yet been extensively shown.
Criminal influence
Leo is deeply connected to the criminal activities surrounding the Palateo family. His influence expands after Tonio's death when he takes control of the operations previously managed by his brother.
Relationships
Allon Palateo
Allon Palateo is Leo's youngest brother. Leo initially has little reason to consider Allon a threat due to his reputation as a powerless and incompetent nobleman. Nevertheless, Allon's behavior increasingly bothers him. His suspicions eventually become severe enough that he sends Alman after Allon with orders that would result in his death.
Tonio Palateo
Tonio Palateo is Leo's younger brother. The two do not appear particularly close. Leo openly threatens Tonio when his behavior becomes irritating during their confrontation in the library. Following Tonio's death, Leo takes control of the criminal operations that had previously belonged to him.
Alman
Alman is one of Leo's subordinates. Leo orders Alman to pursue Allon after his younger brother leaves for Rodmil. Alman attempts to carry out the assignment but is intercepted and defeated by Hidan before reaching his target.
Trivia
- Leo is the eldest of the three known Palateo brothers.
- He was originally expected to succeed the head of the Palateo family.
- He takes control of Tonio's criminal operations after his brother's death.
- Leo becomes suspicious of Allon despite Allon's reputation as the weakest member of the family.
- He attempts to have Allon killed by sending Alman after him.
- His death occurs significantly earlier than it does in the original storyline remembered by Allon.