Lex had a wonderful impression of Emperor Jotun - at least as far as his competence and strength went. The man worked closely with the Henali, and was the sovereign for a very large intergalactic empire. That was not the kind of thing a weakling could achieve, and even among strong men, it required a certain level of influence and power across the realm.
It required a kind of foresight many did not have, and a kind of brain that could encompass countless variables. Most importantly, it required unquestionable personal might, so that others would not covet what was his.
But even though the arrival of the emperor freed Lex from the restraints of the cobra's aura, Lex could tell that the emperor, as strong as he was, would have an uphill battle in front of him.