“
Did he not understand she would recognize the framing? They were taught as recruits never to threaten openly. Instead, they were taught to pose as the target’s protector and ally. Even if the target understands the subterfuge, the training went, he’ll still feel respected that you offered a fig leaf rather than a naked display of your power over him. And then she realized: Of course he understands.
”
”
Barry Eisler (The Chaos Kind (John Rain, #11, Livia Lone, #5))