I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 219: Chapter 2: Koko’s Internal Factions

"Trouble?"

"Getting caught by the West German Intelligence Agency, or getting investigated by our own people." Otto sighed. "It’s a tightrope act. Falling off is only a matter of time. But—" he looked at Werner, "the fact that you’ve managed to get by this long between the Black Market and the Stasi proves you have what it takes. I have confidence in you."

He pulled open a drawer, took out a set of keys, and pointed to an empty desk in the corner.

"That’s your desk. You’ll be assigned a telephone, a typewriter, and a safe. You can set the password yourself, but it must be filed with me. All important documents must be locked inside, and you have to check it before you leave for the day. If anything goes missing, you’ll be held fully responsible."

Werner walked over to the desk. Its surface was old, covered in scratches and cigarette burns. The drawer was empty except for a few broken-tipped pencils and a box of rusty paperclips.

But this was his desk. A desk at Koko.

"Starting tomorrow, I’ll assign you specific tasks." Otto stood up. "For today, just get familiar with the place and meet your colleagues. By the way, the Director, Gunter, gets back from Moscow next week. He’ll meet with you then. Until then, stay out of trouble."

"Understood."

"Alright then." Otto clapped Werner on the shoulder. "Welcome to Koko. This is the most profitable and most dangerous place in East Germany. Do a good job, and you’ll go far. Screw up, and you might end up in prison, or maybe..." He made a throat-slitting gesture. "Understand?"

"I understand."

"Then go on, get your bearings."

***************

At six in the evening, Werner left the Koko Building. The sky was already completely dark. The dim yellow streetlights cast halos of light on the ground. He turned up his overcoat collar and strode toward the subway station.

The day’s events were still replaying in his mind—that unremarkable gray building, those crowded and noisy offices, those people with exhausted faces but sharp, penetrating eyes.

Koko was like a giant, gray vortex, devouring countless resources and personnel, churning and transforming them before finally spitting out what East Germany needed most: West German Marks.

Werner knew he had stepped in, and there was no going back.

But this was exactly what he wanted.

Here, he could access a higher level of power and resources.

Here, he could leverage his advantage as a Transmigrator to the fullest.

Here, he could prepare for that day in 1989.

At the entrance to the subway station, a paperboy was hawking copies of the *New German Newspaper*.

Werner bought a copy and flipped through it casually. The front page featured a speech by Ublis, something about "great achievements in socialist construction." Werner tossed it into a trash can.

He glanced at his watch. It was seven o’clock. Anna would be waiting for him.

The cafe was on a corner of Under the Bodhi Tree Street. It was called the Prague Cafe, an old establishment that had been there since before the war.

It had been rebuilt after the bombings in 1945, but it still retained its original wooden bar and crystal chandeliers. The East German Government had designated it a "model food service establishment," used specifically to host foreign guests and high-ranking officials.

One of the distributors under Werner supplied this place weekly through a "special channel"—coffee beans from West Germany and espresso machines from Italy. The owner was a man of particular tastes, willing to earn less to guarantee the quality of his coffee, which made him something of an oddity in East Berlin. For this very reason, it had become one of the few places where one could still get a decent cup of coffee.

Werner and Anna had moved their meeting spot here from a smoky, dingy little tavern.

The reason was simple: their relationship had changed. Constantly meeting in a rundown tavern packed with workers no longer felt right.

At least here, they could sit by the window, drink reasonably decent coffee, and be like a normal... what? Lovers? Partners? Werner himself couldn’t say.

He pushed the door open and a wave of warm air washed over him. The cafe wasn’t crowded. A few well-dressed, middle-aged men were conversing in low tones, and a couple sat in the corner. A piece by Bach played softly on the radio.

Anna was sitting in a booth by the window, her back to the door. She was wearing a business suit, her hair coiled into a low bun, and she exuded an air of professional competence. Hearing his footsteps, she turned, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"You’re ten minutes late." She glanced at her watch.

"Sorry." Werner took off his overcoat and sat down opposite her. "It was my first day. Things were hectic."

"How was it?"

"It was fine." Werner waved over a waiter and ordered two beers and a plate of sausage with sauerkraut. "I met my direct supervisor and got my desk. I start for real tomorrow."

"Otto Rehman?"

"You know him?"

"I’ve heard of him." Anna took a slim cigarette from her handbag, and Werner leaned over to light it for her. "He’s an old-timer, been with Koko for almost ten years. His technical abilities are average, but he’s well-connected and has good people skills. As long as you’re under him, you shouldn’t run into any major trouble for now."

"You seem to know a lot about Koko."

"It’s my job to know these things." Anna exhaled a cloud of smoke, her eyes watching him with a playful glint. "Although Koko is technically under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it’s actually jointly managed by the Stasi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Planning Commission. The internal factions are complex, and the politics run deep. You’ll need to be careful."

The waiter brought their beers. Werner took a long drink, the cold liquid sliding down his throat and washing away the day’s fatigue.

"So, tell me," he said, setting down his glass. "What do I need to know?"

Anna tapped the ash from her cigarette.

"First, the big boss at Koko is Alexander Shalke-Goldkovsky, also known as Gunter. He’s in his fifties. Grew up in the Soviet Union during World War II and returned to East Germany in the late forties. The man is extremely capable and politically deft, with connections to the Stasi, the KGB, and West German political and business circles. He’s your real boss."

"He’s not here at the moment?"

"He’s in Moscow, negotiating a major deal with the Soviet Union. He’ll be back next week." Anna paused. "When you meet him, remember one thing: Gunter only cares about results, not the process. If you can make him money, he’ll protect you. If you can’t, he’ll turn on you in the blink of an eye."

"Understood."

"Second," Anna held up two fingers, "Koko is divided into several factions. The largest is the Stasi Faction, headed by Deputy Director Klaus Bell. They treat Koko as the Stasi’s personal cash machine. Then there’s the Foreign Ministry Faction, which wants to use Koko’s resources in diplomatic negotiations. And finally, there’s the Technocratic Faction, which is people like Otto who just want to do their jobs in peace."

"Which faction is the strongest?"

"The Stasi Faction," Anna answered without hesitation. "Klaus Bell... Colonel von Brown is his nephew. Your good relationship with Colonel von Brown means you’ve already picked the right side, in a way. But remember, don’t chain yourself to any one side. The factional infighting inside Koko is a hundred times more vicious than on the outside. Today’s ally can be tomorrow’s enemy."

Werner nodded, committing every piece of information to memory.

"Third," Anna’s expression grew serious. "Koko is one of East Germany’s most vital secrets. Everything you see, hear, and handle there is a state secret."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"Werner, I can help you a great deal, but you have to play by the rules. There are some things you can tell me, and there are other things you must take to the grave. Understand?"

"I understand."

They held each other’s gaze for a few seconds. Then Anna suddenly smiled and leaned back against her seat.

"Alright, don’t be so serious." She stubbed out her cigarette and raised her glass. "A toast to you—Koko’s newest recruit."

"To us." Werner clinked his glass against hers.

The crisp clink of the glasses was almost inaudible in the noisy cafe, but for them, it felt like a kind of ritual.

The waiter brought the sausage and sauerkraut. Werner cut off a piece and put it in his mouth. The savory flavor exploded on his tongue, mingled with the tang of the sauerkraut. It was the familiar taste of East Germany.

Anna hadn’t touched her knife and fork. She just watched him.

"What is it?" Werner looked up.

"Nothing." Anna propped her chin on her hand, a playful look in her eyes. "It’s just... you’ve changed."

"How have I changed?"

"Before, when you were clawing your way through the Black Market, you were clever, but still a bit reckless, a bit... untamed," Anna said slowly. "You’re different now. You’re more composed, and your gaze is more measured. Like a real fixer."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"Both." Anna smiled and reached out to straighten Werner’s slightly crooked tie.

Her fingers brushed against his chin, an intentionally ambiguous gesture. Werner felt the warmth of her fingertips, and his heartbeat quickened. He grabbed her by the wrist.

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