Chapter 27: The Coffee Chaos

Cahaya had barely recovered from the Great Milk War when another crisis brewed—literally.

It started with a coffee drought.

One morning, the citizens of Cahaya woke up to an unthinkable nightmare. There was no coffee. Not a single drop. Cafés had shut down, office workers collapsed in despair, students lost the ability to do basic arithmetic, and even Aziz, usually the most level-headed man in the government, was found mumbling nonsense under his desk.

And then there was Roy K, the accidental Prime Minister of Cahaya, who sat at his desk, completely unbothered, sipping on a mango smoothie.

Aziz, trembling from caffeine withdrawal, grabbed Roy by the collar. "Sir, do something!"

Roy blinked. "Why? I don't even drink coffee."

Aziz twitched. "Then you don't understand the suffering."

Farah burst into the office, slamming a file onto Roy's desk. "Sir, this wasn't an accident. Someone stole every last coffee bean in Cahaya."

Roy gasped. "Like… every single bean?"

"Yes!" Farah snapped. "Every café, every store, even the emergency coffee reserves!"

Roy's eyes lit up. "Wait, we had emergency coffee reserves? That's amazing."

Aziz groaned, clutching his head. "Sir… focus."

Farah took a deep breath. "Sir, we have a lead. The culprit is a man known only as…"

She hesitated before revealing the name. "General Ketchup."

Dramatic music played—Roy had installed an emergency drama button in his office specifically for moments like this. He leapt to his feet. "It's him! My old nemesis!"

Aziz sighed. "Sir, you don't actually have a nemesis."

"I do now!" Roy declared.

The Rise of the Coffee Underground

General Ketchup had once been a simple barista at Cahaya's most famous café. But after the Great Mango Summit declared mango juice the national drink, something inside him snapped.

He vanished into the shadows, forming a secret society of caffeine extremists: The Coffee Underground.

They hoarded coffee beans in an underground lair. They trained in latte art combat. They perfected the most dangerous coffee-based weapon known to mankind the Espresso Cannon 3000.

And now, they were ready to strike.

The Espresso Uprising

The very next morning, chaos erupted. The Coffee Underground stormed the capital, armed with:

Espresso Cannons that fired scalding-hot caffeine blasts. Latte Bombs that exploded into clouds of frothed milk. Propaganda flyers reading: "COFFEE OR CHAOS," "DOWN WITH MANGO TYRANNY," and "ROY K MUST PAY."

From his office balcony, Roy watched the riot unfold and grinned. "I love this city."

Aziz groaned. "Sir, this is anarchy."

Farah handed Roy another file. "Sir, General Ketchup has issued demands."

Roy flipped it open.

KETCHUP'S DEMANDS Coffee shall be declared Cahaya's official beverage. Roy K must publicly apologize for the Mango Summit. The Holy Cow Statue must be replaced with a Coffee Mug Monument. Free coffee for all citizens.

Roy slammed the file shut. "Over my dead body!"

Aziz sighed. "Sir, that is literally what they want."

Roy's Plan™

Roy slammed his fists on the table. "There's only one way to settle this, Aziz."

Aziz already looked exhausted. "Sir, please don't say—"

"We challenge General Ketchup to a barista battle."

Aziz looked like he wanted to jump out the window. "Sir, do you even know how to make coffee?"

Roy smirked. "Of course not."

The Barista Showdown

Under the cover of darkness, Roy and his team infiltrated General Ketchup's underground coffee lair. The air smelled of freshly ground beans and revolution.

General Ketchup stood dramatically in front of a massive golden espresso machine, his cape billowing despite the lack of wind. "Ah, Roy K. At last, we meet."

Roy smirked. "Ketchup, you've brewed your last rebellion."

Aziz buried his face in his hands. "Sir, please stop making coffee puns."

Ketchup raised a steaming cup. "If you want the coffee back, you must defeat me in a barista battle."

Roy grinned. "You're on."

ROUND 1: LATTE ART DUEL

General Ketchup went first, crafting a flawless cappuccino with an intricate portrait of himself.

The Coffee Underground cheered.

Roy… drew a smiley face in milk foam.

Aziz muttered, "Sir, that looks like a deformed potato."

The judges gave General Ketchup 10/10.

Roy got a negative score.

ROUND 2: SPEED BREWING

General Ketchup brewed 100 perfect espressos in under five minutes.

Roy accidentally set his espresso machine on fire.

Aziz cried in the corner.

FINAL ROUND: THE ESPRESSO SHOWDOWN

With a villainous laugh, General Ketchup unveiled his ultimate weapon the Espresso Cannon 3000.

A monstrous coffee-powered death machine aimed directly at the capital.

Roy gasped. "Oh my mango."

Aziz screamed, "HE BUILT A COFFEE WMD?!"

General Ketchup smirked. "One shot, and the city drowns in caffeine!"

Roy, undeterred, turned to Aziz. "Release the pigeons."

UNLEASH THE PIGEONS

A horde of trained pigeons—yes, the same ones from the Mango Summit—swooped into the lair, knocking over coffee bags, spilling espresso shots, and stealing General Ketchup's hat.

In the chaos, Aziz and Farah disabled the Espresso Cannon.

Roy grabbed a mug, raising it triumphantly. "This city belongs to mango juice!"

Defeated and covered in coffee grounds, General Ketchup fell to his knees. "…Curse you, Roy K."

AFTERMATH: PEACE RESTORED The coffee was returned to Cahaya. General Ketchup was sentenced to 100 hours of decaf duty. The Holy Cow Statue remained untouched. Aziz resigned for the 13th time.

Roy raised a glass of mango juice. "Another crisis solved!"

Aziz groaned. "Sir, I swear on my life, if there is one more beverage war—"

Just then, a messenger ran in. "Sir! The Tea Cult is rising!"

Roy's eyes sparkled. "Oh, this just keeps getting better."

TO BE CONTINUED…