"Well, I've already mentioned you to a handful of them." It slips out with an oddly melancholic undertone, though he keeps his expression fairly neutral. No sense in losing his composure. "Some allies, acquaintances... I suppose some I might consider friends, but I wouldn't consider them competition."

It's a roundabout way of saying it, of course. Akechi can't just say that Ren is still head and shoulders above the rest.

He has to keep some semblance of his dignity, you see.