I was really starting to like the MC and then he utters the moronic "Respect comes from fear" line...
No, fear comes from fear, the "respect" you get from that is rarely respect, it's avoidance, hatred, faking and secret plotting in the background to take you down and most of the people who "respect" (fear) you will not lift a finger to do anything to help you if they think they can get away with it.
Fear is what bullies use in lieu of respect.