We had a problem.
Namely: who was going to negotiate with the dragons?
Even our leader, as noble as he was, couldn’t bring himself to foist that task on anyone else. It was admirable that he never issued impossible orders, but at this rate, the entire parade was in jeopardy.
By the Demon King’s decree, we could not refuse the dragons’ participation. Therefore, we had to accept them. And because we were accepting them, we desperately needed information.
How many were participating? How long was their stride? How much road width did they require?
The width was the biggest hurdle. Without that data, we couldn't finalize the route. Without a route, we couldn't draft a security plan or manage the crowds. We were trapped in the worst possible situation—raced by a ticking clock yet unable to make a single move.
If we could just talk to them, we could propose alternatives like a specialized course, but...
The entire committee felt the weight of a heavy, suffocating silence.
But hope remained. Or rather, hope walked through the front door.
A colleague of mine had spotted them walking past the building the committee was renting, and after tearfully begging... excuse me. After "politely deceiving" them... no, that wasn't right either.
I’ll be honest: we politely apprehended them and dragged them inside.
Our beacons of hope: the beastmen Sir Gol, Sir Sil, and Sir Bron!
They looked quite young, but there were several reasons why they were our salvation.
First, they were capable of actual conversation!
Now, you might think anyone can hold a conversation, but you shouldn’t underestimate it. It was a common tragedy in our world for people to speak the same language yet fail to understand a single word the other said. It happened all the time.
But these three could communicate properly. Furthermore, they were fluent in the formal speech of the nobility! And they could read the room! It was magnificent!
Additionally, while all three were married, the wives of Sir Gol and Sir Sil were daughters of greater nobles. Sir Bron’s wife was a commoner, but his bond with the other two was unbreakable. This meant the trio had direct connections to the high nobility.
In a world where simply securing an appointment could take days of waiting, having a connection meant you could leapfrog the line and get an audience immediately. It was incredible! I felt for the people we were cutting in front of, but we had a job to do! This was a top priority from the Demon King himself!
And yet, those arrogant, status-obsessed fools who refused to see us right away... oops, I shouldn't go there. Stay calm. Yes, keep it professional. Using such language would only cast doubt on my own dignity. I had to remain refined.
Even when dealing with those "forgetful" aristocrats who prioritized their own vanity over the survival of the state, being able to leverage these boys' connections to start negotiations immediately was a godsend.
...No, I couldn't hold it back.
I told you a dozen times this was the highest priority! Don't you dare put our request on the back burner just because your daughter-in-law's brother's kid's friend stopped by for tea! Rot in hell, the lot of you!
Ahem.
Finally, these three actually understood the work of a civil official. They truly got it. They didn't think every problem could be solved by hitting someone. They understood the necessity of logistics, scheduling, and back-room deals. They understood politics and factions. Most importantly, they didn't look down on us. They were perfect!
Incidentally, rumors suggested that General Gratz of the Military, Minister Hou of Finance, Internal Affairs Minister Randan, and Foreign Minister Count Chrome were all engaged in a shadow war to recruit them, though the truth remained murky. For the time being, they were treated as direct subordinates of the Demon King. I, for one, was firmly against the monopoly of such talent!
Now, we had to "drag" our three hopes into our circle... I mean, we had to request their cooperation. This was a negotiation we could not afford to lose.
As expected of our leader, he handled the negotiation personally. He began by apologizing for the way they were brought in and then moved to explain the dire state of the committee. Then came the plea for help.
During the explanation phase, the three of them simply clutched their heads in their hands and agreed to assist us.
Why? Well, I was grateful, of course! But I wanted to tell them not to be so hasty. They should have negotiated for a better reward! Working for free is never a good idea. They should have fought for what they were worth!
With their help, the Parade Executive Committee's operations surged to life. They took charge of the negotiations with the dragons, which was an immense relief.
Of course, we didn't just dump the whole thing on them. we provided full administrative support. There were bound to be things they couldn't decide on their own authority, after all.
However, it was nothing short of miraculous that they returned in a mere half-day with the number of participating dragons, their strides, and their required widths.
When they visited, the dragons were already practicing? Practicing their march?
Ah... I see. Well, let's just say it was heartening to see them so motivated. Inside, I was simply bracing myself for the fact that any hope of them canceling on a whim had officially vanished.
But this width... what a nightmare. Not a single existing road was wide enough for the largest dragon. They would have ended up trampling houses into kindling if they followed the standard route. It seemed we had to stick to the original plan of a dedicated course for the dragons.
Furthermore, not even the smallest dragon could fit through a teleportation gate. When I asked the three to confirm how to handle that...
They had already discussed it? Really?
If they were given time to march with the main procession, the dragons would accept the specialized route. In essence, they would follow their own path alongside the main body and then peel away when necessary.
Oh, thank the gods!
As for the gates, the dragons wouldn't use them at all; they would simply fly between the points.
That made sense. No matter how much we rushed, moving thousands of people through a gate took time. In that interval, the dragons could easily fly from one gate to the next.
Combined with the dedicated route, it was an excellent compromise. Truly, it was a brilliant solution.
I felt a profound sense of relief, as if a massive boulder blocking my path had finally been cleared. We were incredibly lucky to have these three on our side.
"Hmm? You have a question?"
I was in such a good mood that I didn't mind even the most trivial inquiry. I told the junior official to ask away.
"Regarding the name of the 'Parade Executive Committee'?"
The official wondered if "Executive" and "Committee" were redundant when "Hosting" was already in the title.
I laughed. I told him he had a good eye. There was a reason for that specific phrasing. It carried the hidden meaning of achieving the impossible.
In truth, it stood for the "Committee to Execute the Impossible Hosting."
But that was a secret.