Yeah, for me subverting expectations is what makes it fun.
While he did seem like a dick who maybe had some hold over Zahir, he doesn't come across as too moustache twirly bad guy despite it. So many adventurer manga arcs feature bullies and cocky types with barely any dimensions appear, with their sole reason for existing being to spotlight how the hero can resort to violence to put them in their place. Often with ease and in as humiliating a way as possible.