I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 246: Chapter 29: A Beautiful Misunderstanding

"What’s going on?" Werner’s voice immediately tensed up.

"A personnel change at the highest level."

Werner’s breathing grew heavy. "You mean—"

"I can’t be too specific," Werner interrupted him. "But if you pay close attention to news releases from TASS within the next 48 hours, you’ll understand what I’m saying."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.

Werner could hear Werner’s ragged breathing.

"Werner, are you sure?" Werner asked, his voice low. "Intelligence at this level... if it’s false—"

"When have I ever given you false intelligence?" Werner’s tone was calm. "Werner, I know you’ve always thought the information I provide has little value. But this time is different. This is the most important piece of intelligence your department will get this year. Bar none."

"Consider this a gift. But remember, Werner, I’ve done you a huge favor this time. If the intelligence is confirmed, I expect you to re-evaluate my worth."

"Understood. Werner, if this is real—you know what this means, don’t you?"

"Of course I do." Werner hung up the phone.

He leaned against the glass wall of the phone booth and lit a cigarette. The rush of nicotine calmed him slightly.

The first step was complete.

’After Khrushchev steps down, the BND will receive official confirmation within 48 hours.’

’At that point, they’d realize just how precise Werner’s intelligence was—this was a core secret of the Soviet Politburo. Even many leaders in Eastern Europe only found out after the fact.’

’Werner getting the news in advance could only mean one thing: he had an extremely deep network in Moscow.’

Of course, this was a convenient misunderstanding.

But Werner had no intention of explaining.

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

「West Berlin, BND Headquarters, October 14, 4:00 PM」

Werner burst into the office of Helmut, Director of the Intelligence Analysis Department, forgetting to even knock.

"Helmut, it’s an emergency!"

Helmut von Weber looked up, frowning at his subordinate—a man in his early thirties who always looked flustered. "Werner, you’d better have a good reason for barging in here."

"Werner just called," Werner said, panting. "He said there’s a major personnel change in Moscow. At the very highest level."

Helmut’s hand froze in mid-air, his fountain pen nearly dropping onto the desk.

"What?"

"He said TASS will release major news in the next 48 hours." Werner quickly recounted the phone call. "His tone was very certain. It wasn’t like he was guessing."

Helmut stood up and walked to the window.

From here, he could overlook all of West Berlin. In the distance was the Berlin Wall.

"’Werner...’ Helmut mumbled the name. ’Is that the procurement agent from Koko? The one who gave us economic data before?’"

"Yes." Werner nodded. "But his previous intel was all trivial stuff—industrial output, Black Market prices, which official was having an affair. Honestly, we always thought he was just a small-timer trying to earn some extra cash."

"’It doesn’t look that way now.’ Helmut turned around, his gaze sharpening. ’If what he says is true—if there really is a major personnel change in Moscow—then it means his sources are far deeper than we ever imagined.’"

"What should we do?"

"’Immediately notify our station in Moscow. Have them focus all their attention on any movement from the Kremlin.’ Helmut gave the orders quickly. ’At the same time, pull Werner’s file. I need to re-evaluate him.’"

"Yes, sir." Werner turned to leave, but was called back.

"’Werner.’ Helmut’s voice was grave. ’If what Werner says is true, he’s no longer an ordinary informant. He has advance knowledge of the Soviet Politburo’s decisions—there are few sources in the entire Western world with that kind of access.’"

Werner swallowed and nodded.

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

「The morning of October 15, West Berlin.」

The phone in Helmut’s office rang.

"Sir, TASS just released the news." The intelligence agent’s voice trembled over the phone. "Khrushchev has resigned for health reasons. Brezhnev has taken over as First Secretary."

Helmut put down the phone and leaned back in his chair.

’Damn it.’

’Werner was right.’

’Not only was he right, he was a full 24 hours early.’

’What did that mean?’

’It meant Werner’s source was faster and more accurate than their own station in Moscow.’

Helmut immediately picked up the phone, a direct line to the office of the BND Director.

"Director, I need to report something to you immediately."

Ten minutes later, BND Director Gerhard Weisser had finished reading Werner’s file and listening to Helmut’s report.

"’So, this Werner... we’ve thought he was just a bit player all this time?’ Gerhard’s voice held a trace of sarcasm."

"’Yes, Director.’ Beads of sweat formed on Helmut’s forehead. ’The intelligence he provided before was all... less important stuff. We thought he was just trying to earn some extra cash.’"

"’But now it seems he’s been hiding his true capabilities.’ Gerhard stood and walked over to a world map. ’He knew about Khrushchev’s removal in advance—not even the CIA got intel of that caliber ahead of time.’"

"’I suspect he has a very high-level network in Moscow,’ Helmut said. ’Perhaps in the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Trade, or even higher.’"

"’Re-evaluate Werner’s classification immediately.’ Gerhard turned around. ’As of today, he is no longer a "gray informant." Promote him directly to "core intelligence source." His codename... will be "Eye of Moscow."’"

Helmut was taken aback for a moment. "Director, isn’t that codename a bit—"

"’It’s not an exaggeration.’ Gerhard cut him off. ’A man who can predict the decisions of the Soviet Politburo deserves this codename. Also, set up a dedicated clearing channel for him. Officially, it’ll be to assist with Koko’s foreign exchange business. In reality, it’s to ensure he can transfer his assets safely.’"

"Yes, sir."

"’One more thing.’ Gerhard sat back down in his chair. ’Tell Werner that from now on, every piece of intel from Werner, no matter how trivial it seems, must be taken seriously. This time, we almost missed one of the most important pieces of intelligence since World War II. We cannot make that mistake again.’"

Helmut nodded and turned to leave.

**********

「East Berlin, the afternoon of October 15.」

Werner sat in his office at Koko, listening to the news on the radio.

"’...the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union has announced that Comrade Khrushchev, for health reasons, has resigned from his posts as First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Comrade Brezhnev has been elected as the new First Secretary...’"

His secretary came in just as Werner was leaning back in his chair, gazing at the gray sky outside the window.

"’Comrade Werner, Director Gunter wants to see you in his office.’"

"’Understood.’ Werner stood up and straightened his tie."

The hallway was quiet. A few colleagues who saw him looked at him with mixed expressions.

Werner knew that the news from Moscow had already spread throughout Koko.

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