[Espy]

Hire assassins? Why not just be the assassin yourself? /shot

I'd probably be the anonymous villain that people could swear they've seen somewhere or another, while I laugh and strategically plan out how to conquer small villages and later larger cities...

But none of that close-confidant or personal guard business for me. I'm not that trusting, and I wouldn't want to risk a coup by really strong "supporters". The usual idiotic lackeys would annoy the crap out of me, but I'd have to have some sort of minions, right?