"Stop fooling around, Jay, please! This is ridiculous!"
His face full of panic, Cobblepot struggled to stuff the fishy-smelling props into a bag one by one, then snatched the last few strips of cloth from Li Jie's hands. "I really don't want a fox calling my name all over the place in the middle of the night."
"I just thought you needed a little... mystical backing." Li Jie offered no resistance, simply letting go so he could take the things away. "Didn't we agree to make the Federal Government regret this and give them a shock?"
"I didn't mean independence! I never did!"
Cobblepot stared into Li Jie's eyes and enunciated every word. "I! Never! Did! From the moment the earthquake struck until now, I have never, on any occasion, at any time, to anyone, said, 'Gotham should secede from America.'"
He tilted his head to glance at the Titans sitting silently nearby. Dick was still struggling to keep his eyes open, while Jason and Garfield had already fallen asleep, sprawled across their cots.
"They're here as..."
"Representatives of the financial backers." Li Jie shrugged. "You know, some things..."
"I understand! I understand!"
Breathing heavily, Cobblepot tossed the bag outside the tent and took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands. "All right, let's get back to the issue. Unless we're preparing to wage war on America, the consequences would be far too serious. My speech was only..."
He raised a hand and gestured twice in the air. "Pressure, you know? We need to put pressure on the Federal Government and bring them back to the negotiating table so Gotham can get a better deal."
"All right." Li Jie spread his hands. "So you're repeatedly testing the red line without crossing it?"
"Something like that."
Cobblepot nodded. "I'm giving them