With the budget fiasco behind him, Roy K was back to what he did best: stumbling into diplomatic chaos. This time, the spotlight was on an upcoming event the International Mango Summit. Held annually, the summit brought together world leaders from mango-producing nations to discuss trade, innovation, and, most importantly, bragging rights.
As one of the world's top mango exporters, Cahaya was set to host the event for the first time, thanks to Roy's "unparalleled commitment" to mangoes. Naturally, Roy viewed this as an opportunity to shine on the global stage.
"I'm going to make Cahaya the mango capital of the world!" Roy announced to his cabinet.
Aziz, who had been hoping for at least a month of calm, sighed. "Sir, this isn't just about mangoes. It's about trade agreements, diplomacy, and—"
"And mangoes!" Roy interrupted. "Don't worry, Aziz. I've got this covered."
Aziz whispered to Farah, "We're doomed."
Preparations Begin
Roy took personal charge of the summit preparations, which immediately raised several red flags.
Step one of his grand plan was to create a unique welcome experience for the visiting dignitaries.
"I want mango-themed everything," Roy told the event planners. "Mango decorations, mango music, mango-inspired dance performances. Oh, and get a giant mango costume for me!"
The event planner hesitated. "You mean… like a mascot costume?"
"Exactly!" Roy said. "I'll greet every leader as The Great Mango of Cahaya!"
Aziz buried his face in his hands. "This is going to be worse than the Spudspire."
The Mango Mascot Incident
The day before the summit, Roy donned his mango costume for a trial run. The costume was bright yellow, absurdly oversized, and came with a tiny crown perched on top.
"How do I look?" Roy asked, striking a pose.
"Like a fruit," Aziz deadpanned.
"That's the point!" Roy said. "Now, let's test my entrance."
The plan was for Roy to roll down a small ramp into the summit hall while waving at the audience. Unfortunately, the costume designers hadn't accounted for how unwieldy the suit was.
As Roy stepped onto the ramp, he immediately lost his balance and started rolling—much faster than anticipated.
"HELP!" Roy shouted as he barreled down the ramp like a rogue bowling ball.
He crashed into a table covered in mango-themed decorations, sending mangoes flying in every direction.
Aziz rushed over, dodging a flying mango. "Sir, are you okay?"
Roy popped his head out of the wreckage, still wearing the mango crown. "That… was a test run. Obviously, we'll need a sturdier ramp."
Aziz muttered, "Or a sturdier Prime Minister."
The Arrival of Dignitaries
The next day, dignitaries from all over the world arrived in Cahaya, greeted by mango-shaped balloons, mango smoothies, and a mango-themed orchestra that played a bizarre remix of Cahaya's national anthem.
To everyone's surprise, the guests seemed to love it.
"This is… quite unique," said President Alvarez of Mangostan.
"Indeed," added Queen Farina of Tropicana. "No one takes mangoes as seriously as Cahaya!"
Roy, now dressed in a formal suit (the mango costume had been vetoed by Aziz), beamed with pride. "Welcome, friends, to the land of mango dreams!"
Aziz whispered to Farah, "He's actually pulling this off."
"For now," Farah replied ominously.
The Mango Dispute
Things took a turn during the summit's main event: the Mango Trade Negotiations. Roy was supposed to oversee the signing of a historic agreement that would solidify Cahaya's dominance in the global mango market.
However, the discussions hit a snag when President Alvarez accused Cahaya of "mango dumping"—selling mangoes at ridiculously low prices to undercut competitors.
"This is an insult to the dignity of Mangostan's mango farmers!" President Alvarez declared.
Roy, who hadn't been paying attention, panicked. "Uh… mango dumping? That's… definitely not something we do!"
Aziz leaned over. "Sir, it's a real issue. You need to de-escalate this."
Roy stood up. "President Alvarez, I assure you, Cahaya respects mangoes and mango farmers more than anyone else. In fact, I propose a mango friendship ceremony to resolve this misunderstanding."
"A what?" Alvarez asked, suspicious.
"A mango friendship ceremony!" Roy improvised. "We'll plant a mango tree together as a symbol of our unity. And then… we'll eat mangoes from the same plate. It's a Cahayan tradition!"
Aziz whispered, "That's not a thing."
"It is now," Roy whispered back.
The Ceremony of Chaos
The hastily organized mango friendship ceremony began in the palace garden, where a hole was dug for the symbolic mango tree. Roy handed Alvarez a tiny mango sapling and a golden shovel.
"Together, we plant the seeds of peace!" Roy declared.
Alvarez, still skeptical, reluctantly played along. But as they planted the tree, someone had the bright idea to release a flock of pigeons as a dramatic gesture.
Unfortunately, these were the same pigeons from Roy's failed mail delivery program. Instead of soaring gracefully into the sky, they swarmed the mango sapling, causing chaos.
One particularly aggressive pigeon landed on Alvarez's head, prompting him to shout, "Is this some kind of joke?"
Roy, thinking quickly, grabbed a nearby mango and offered it to Alvarez. "Here! A peace mango!"
Aziz muttered, "Sir, this is a disaster."
"No, it's diplomacy," Roy insisted.
Roy's Accidental Triumph
Despite the chaos, the dignitaries were oddly charmed by Cahaya's eccentric approach to diplomacy. The mango friendship ceremony went viral, with headlines like:
• "Cahaya's Mango Diplomacy: A Sweet Success or Sticky Situation?"
• "Prime Minister Roy K: The Mango Whisperer."
President Alvarez, impressed by Roy's bizarre sincerity, agreed to resume negotiations. The summit ended with the signing of a landmark mango trade agreement that benefited all nations involved.
A Toast to Mangoes
At the closing banquet, Roy raised his glass. "To mangoes! They're not just fruit—they're the bridge between nations!"
The room erupted in applause.
Aziz leaned over and whispered, "You somehow turned a complete mess into a success. Again."
Roy grinned. "Aziz, that's called strategy."
Farah rolled her eyes. "It's called dumb luck."
Meowster, perched on Roy's shoulder, meowed in agreement or perhaps disagreement. No one could tell.
As the dignitaries danced to the mango orchestra's offbeat tunes, Roy K basked in his glory, once again proving that even the most ridiculous ideas could lead to victory at least in the land of Cahaya.
End of Chapter 21