Tonio Palateo is a minor antagonist in the The Patron of Villains web novel and webtoon series. He is the second son of the House of Palateo and the older brother of Allon Palateo.
Appearance
Tonio is a large and muscular young man with dark hair. He has a physically imposing build and towers over Allon during their confrontation in the Palateo family library.
Personality
Tonio is arrogant, aggressive, and openly abusive toward people he considers beneath him. He particularly enjoys tormenting Allon, whom he views as the useless and powerless member of the Palateo family. Rather than treating Allon as an equal brother, Tonio mocks his intelligence and weakness. When he discovers Allon holding a book, he immediately ridicules him for supposedly being illiterate and assumes that he is merely pretending to read. Tonio is quick to resort to violence and shows little concern for Allon's well-being. Even when Allon attempts to avoid provoking him, Tonio physically restrains and humiliates him for his own amusement. He is also confrontational toward his older brother, Leo Palateo. Although Leo has enough authority and power to intimidate him, Tonio initially refuses to back down when ordered to leave the library.
History
Original storyline
In the original storyline of Psychedelia, Tonio is the second son of the Palateo family and eventually becomes an infamous criminal known as the King of Drugs. His activities form part of the widespread corruption surrounding the Palateo family. According to Allon's memories of the game, Tonio was supposed to remain alive considerably longer than he ultimately does in the altered timeline.
Confrontation with Allon
Tonio encounters Allon Palateo in the family library while Allon is discussing the rescue of a child with Evan. Seeing Allon holding a book, Tonio mocks him for attempting to read despite his reputation for being illiterate. He approaches his younger brother and begins physically tormenting him, demanding that Allon answer him. Allon understands how dangerous Tonio is and deliberately maintains the behavior expected of the original Allon. Rather than revealing that his personality has changed or attempting to fight back, he acts frightened and submissive. Tonio continues harassing him until their eldest brother, Leo Palateo, intervenes.
Conflict with Leo
Leo enters the library after becoming irritated by the noise and orders Tonio to leave. Tonio initially resists and appears willing to confront his older brother. The situation quickly becomes hostile, allowing Allon and Evan to remove themselves from the confrontation. The encounter reinforces Allon's understanding that both of his brothers are dangerous individuals whom he should avoid whenever possible.
Death
Tonio later dies unexpectedly. Allon is surprised when he learns of his brother's death because it occurs much earlier than it did in the original storyline of Psychedelia. The incident becomes one of the first major indications that the future Allon remembers can no longer be relied upon completely. Tonio's death removes him from the succession struggle within the Palateo family and allows Leo Palateo to take control of the criminal operations previously managed by him.
Abilities
Physical strength
Tonio possesses a large and muscular physique and is physically capable of overpowering Allon with little difficulty.
Criminal influence
Tonio is involved in the criminal underworld and controls drug-related operations connected to the Palateo family. In the original future of Psychedelia, these activities eventually earn him the title King of Drugs. Following his death, his operations are taken over by Leo.
Relationships
Allon Palateo
Allon Palateo is Tonio's younger brother. Tonio looks down on Allon because of his reputation as a powerless, unintelligent, and useless nobleman. He openly mocks and physically abuses him, apparently seeing him as little more than an easy target. After possessing Allon's body, the current Allon knows Tonio's future identity as the King of Drugs and understands that confronting him unnecessarily would be dangerous. He therefore continues pretending to be frightened of Tonio rather than revealing how dramatically he has changed. Tonio dies before Allon ever needs to directly confront his future criminal activities.
Leo Palateo
Leo Palateo is Tonio's older brother. Their relationship appears hostile rather than affectionate. When Leo orders Tonio to stop causing trouble in the library, Tonio initially refuses to obey him, resulting in a confrontation between the brothers. Following Tonio's death, Leo takes control of his criminal operations.
Count Palateo
Count Palateo is Tonio's father and the head of the Palateo family during Tonio's lifetime. As the second son, Tonio stands behind Leo in the family's normal line of succession.
Titles and aliases
- Second Son of Count Palateo
- King of Drugs
Trivia
- Tonio is the second son of the Palateo family.
- He is older than Allon and younger than Leo.
- In the original storyline of Psychedelia, Tonio becomes known as the King of Drugs.
- He mocks Allon for holding a book because the original Allon was believed to be illiterate.
- Tonio is one of the first major characters whose fate changes from the storyline Allon remembers.
- His death occurs substantially earlier than Allon expects.
- After Tonio dies, Leo absorbs his drug-related criminal operations.