I don't want to be handed over to any "governing bodies" if I can help it.

[Again, his experience with that is Not Great. Snatched up by the US Government at such a young age, he certainly does not think very highly of any authoritative beauracracy.]

You must have some influence to have kept me away from them, though. Or am I assuming incorrectly?

[She had said she was powerful, after all. He wonders if that means "influential" instead. And he'll answer her implied question in a bit, he wants to hear her answer first.]