He waved a dismissive hand. "A few. All quite successful, I might add." At least until he deliberately brought them down. All part of the greater plan.

"I'm not concerned about friendship. I have no friends and need none." Just a lie he likes to tell himself. If anything, he would rather pull strings from the background and let others take the glory - or the fall - for themselves. "Why the concern? Were you friends with the one I remind you of?"