Talia stood on the tournament platform, holding a championship trophy topped with a golden penguin.
The host held the microphone to her lips, his voice still brimming with excitement:
"Congratulations on winning the 'Gotham's Number One Bodyguard' championship! Would you mind telling us why you want to be Mayor Oswald Cobblepot's bodyguard? Is it because of the generous pay?"
Talia tilted her head, an excited flush coloring her cheeks as well:
"I think Mayor Cobblepot is outstanding. His municipal road repair project fixed the streetlights on three streets;
he introduced 'Operation Midnight,' which taught criminals about the dangers of staying up late and reduced crime in the early hours;
he also launched a stray animal shelter program. There's always water and a bag of cat food outside City Hall..."
She paused, then added, "I think he's working very hard to improve life for the people of Gotham."
The audience fell silent for a beat, then broke into scattered applause.
Biting her milkshake straw, Ririko said to Bruce, "She even sees these ridiculous achievements as virtues. She's beyond saving."
Bruce held his black coffee and offered a calm, measured assessment:
"Perhaps Ra's al Ghul's methods were too heavy-handed. If he disliked a city, he simply had the League of Shadows destroy it. Growing up in that environment, she'd consider anyone who put some care into governing a point in their favor."
A faint, uneasy premonition stirred in Ririko. That stupid penguin had attracted a fanatical admirer. Who knew what trouble that would cause down the line?
But that was Oswald's business. He had organized this event, so even if Talia smashed up his office one day, he would have it coming.
She tossed her empty milkshake cup into a nearby trash can and turned to Bruce and Clark. "All right, show's