Board Thread:Clean up Concerns/@comment-14660436-20171029213337/@comment-29644557-20171030161538

Considering he's the reason Cloud is there (who's a major character), he does have some influence in the main story (about as much as most of the Disney Villains), but is only truly encountered during the side quest. I guess the best way to put it is that he's a very influential background antagonist.