Chapter 5: Crisis at the Border

The morning sun rose on a nation teetering on the brink of chaos or, as Roy saw it, just another Tuesday. For most citizens of Cahaya, life continued as usual, with little concern for political theatrics. But inside the Prime Minister's office, Aziz was a volcano waiting to erupt.

Roy, oblivious as ever, was sitting cross-legged on his desk, building a tower out of leftover satay sticks.

"Sir!" Aziz burst in, holding a newspaper so tightly it looked like it might combust. "We have a crisis at the border!"

Roy looked up, one satay stick hanging from his mouth. "Crisis? Like… a real crisis or one of those fake ones you keep panicking about?"

Aziz slammed the paper onto the desk. The headline read: "Ultima's Army Conducts Exercises Near Cahaya's Border – Tensions Escalate!"

Roy blinked. "Wait, so they're doing Zumba or something?"

"Military exercises!" Aziz hissed. "They're flexing their power right next to our territory. It's a direct provocation!"

"Oh." Roy scratched his head. "Well… maybe they're bored?"

Aziz groaned. "This isn't a joke! If we don't respond appropriately, they might see us as weak and push further. We need to act now!"

Roy sighed, tossing the satay stick onto the desk. "Fine, let's act. What's the plan?"

The Emergency Cabinet Meeting

A hastily arranged emergency meeting brought together Roy's cabinet a collection of individuals who, by all appearances, looked like they'd won a contest to be there.

Pak Din, the Minister of Defense, was the first to speak. "Mr. Prime Minister, we should station our forces at the border immediately. Also, I recommend distributing whistles to every soldier. Nothing says 'serious business' like a good whistle."

Jamal, the Minister of Finance, scratched his head. "How much do whistles cost? Because our budget is kinda tight. Maybe we can use kazoos instead. Cheaper and way more intimidating."

Cikgu Suraya, the Minister of Education, raised her hand. "Perhaps we could resolve this diplomatically? Maybe we send them a poem? Poetry can be very disarming."

Mak Siti, the Minister of Agriculture, nodded in agreement. "Or cucumbers. They're very calming. I'll send them a shipment of fresh cucumbers as a gesture of goodwill."

Aziz slammed his palm on the table. "Enough! This isn't a picnic! We're talking about a potential invasion!"

Everyone fell silent. All eyes turned to Roy, who was doodling on a piece of paper.

"Sir," Aziz said, exasperated. "Do you have any thoughts at all?"

Roy looked up, holding his drawing. It was a stick figure with a giant head labeled "Roy: The Hero."

"I have a plan," he said confidently.

Aziz sighed. "Why do I feel like this is going to be terrible?"

Roy's Brilliant Plan

The next day, Roy announced his plan to the media: a face-to-face meeting with Ultima's President Ramal. The idea sent shockwaves through the country.

"Roy K has agreed to meet President Ramal for direct negotiations," one reporter said during a live broadcast. "While many see this as a bold move, others worry it could lead to embarrassment or worse."

Aziz spent the entire ride to the neutral meeting location muttering under his breath. "This is a mistake. This is a terrible mistake."

Roy, meanwhile, was unfazed. "Relax, Aziz. I've got this. I'm a people person."

"No, sir," Aziz said, gripping his folder of prepared talking points. "You're a problem person. Please, stick to the script."

The Meeting

The meeting took place in a grand tent near the border, surrounded by reporters and soldiers from both nations. Roy walked in with his usual swagger, looking more like someone arriving for a barbecue than high-stakes diplomacy.

President Ramal, a tall, imposing figure with a permanent scowl, greeted Roy with a curt nod.

"Prime Minister Roy," he said, his voice low and cold. "I hope you understand the seriousness of this situation."

Roy nodded, his mind racing. "Of course. Very serious. So serious that I… uh… brought you something."

Ramal raised an eyebrow. "Brought me something?"

Roy motioned to an aide, who brought forward a basket filled with fruit mostly bananas, apples, and a single durian, which had been wrapped in gold foil for "class."

"A peace offering!" Roy announced. "Because, you know, fruit is nature's apology."

The room fell silent. Aziz, watching from the corner, looked like he might faint.

President Ramal stared at the basket for a long moment before breaking into a slow chuckle. "A peace offering," he repeated. "How… unconventional."

Roy grinned. "That's me. Unconventional. So, what do you say? Let's squash this beef."

Ramal leaned back in his chair, his scowl softening slightly. "Prime Minister, you're either a fool or a genius. I can't tell which."

Roy shrugged. "Why not both?"

The Outcome

To everyone's shock, the meeting ended on a positive note. While no formal agreements were made, President Ramal left the tent with a faint smile and the basket of fruit in hand.

The media erupted with speculation. Headlines ranged from "Roy K's Fruit Diplomacy: Stroke of Genius or Dumb Luck?" to "Durian Saves the Day!"

Roy, as usual, was delighted.

"See, Aziz?" he said on the ride back. "No need for all that doom and gloom. A little charm and some fruit, and we're golden."

Aziz slumped in his seat, utterly drained. "This isn't sustainable, sir. You can't keep winging it like this."

"Sure I can," Roy said, grinning. "It's working so far."

But as the convoy drove back to Cahaya, Aziz couldn't shake the feeling that Roy's luck wouldn't last forever.

End of Chapter 5