I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 272: Chapter 55: Prague’s Afterglow

"Hm?"

"If I die..." Erich said with difficulty, "help me tell Von Brown... I completed the mission..."

"Shut up." Werner opened his eyes and looked at him. "You’re not going to die. The bullet went through your shoulder. It didn’t hit anything vital. As long as you hold on until we get back to East Germany, you’ll live."

"How do you know..."

"Because I’ve seen worse injuries than this," Werner said calmly. "People get hurt all the time on the Black Market. Some get shot, some get stabbed. As long as the heart and lungs are fine, most of them pull through."

Erich looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"You... Aren’t you scared?" he asked.

"Scared of what?"

"Death." Erich’s voice was very soft. "That bullet a moment ago... it almost hit you in the head..."

Werner was silent for a few seconds.

"I am," he said frankly. "Of course, I’m scared. But being scared doesn’t help. What’s meant to happen will happen."

’And I just realized something. I can actually die.’

’A Transmigrator isn’t invincible.’

’Knowing history doesn’t mean you can change everything.’

’I’m just a normal person.’

’A normal person who can bleed, get hurt, and die.’

"I’m scared, too." Erich gave a bitter smile. "After Budapest, I have nightmares every night. I dream I’m tied to a post at an execution ground, listening to an officer count down ’three, two, one,’ and then a bullet goes through my head."

Werner looked at him without saying a word.

"You know?" Erich continued, his voice growing weaker. "When they exchanged me back to East Germany, I thought I was finally free. But I found out that fear doesn’t just disappear. It stays with you, like a shadow."

"Then why did you still come to Prague?" Werner asked.

"Because..." Erich closed his eyes. "Because Von Brown said this was my chance for redemption. If I didn’t come, I’d forever be nothing but a useless wreck, a coward defeated by fear."

Werner took a deep breath.

"You’re not a coward," he said. "You just pushed me aside and took a bullet. A coward couldn’t do that."

Erich opened his eyes and looked at him.

"Maybe." The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "At least... at least I didn’t run this time."

Werner was about to say something, but a violent explosion suddenly roared from outside.

The whole basement shook, and dust rained down from the ceiling.

The two looked at each other, neither saying a word.

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

An unknown amount of time passed before the gunfire outside finally began to thin.

Werner stood up, walked to the basement’s small window, and peered outside.

It was getting dark. The Soviet Army was still patrolling the streets, but the crowds had dispersed.

"We have to go," Werner said, turning and walking back to Erich’s side. "We’ll use the cover of darkness to leave Prague."

"Can I even walk?" Erich said with a bitter smile.

"Yes." Werner held out his hand. "Even if I have to drag you, I’ll get you out of the Czech Republic."

Erich grasped his hand and struggled to his feet.

His face was still pale, but his eyes held a new resolve.

The two left the basement and moved cautiously through the streets of Prague.

Signs of battle were everywhere—the burned-out husks of cars, shattered glass, bullet holes in the walls, and bloodstains on the ground. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

Werner supported Erich, making their way step by step toward the suburbs.

They skirted every Soviet Army checkpoint, taking alleyways, cutting through backyards, and climbing over walls.

With every step, Erich’s face grew another shade paler. But he gritted his teeth and refused to collapse.

Finally, as complete darkness fell, they reached the suburbs.

Werner found an abandoned motorcycle, hot-wired it, and with Erich on the back, sped toward the border.

At three in the morning, they finally crossed the border back into East Germany.

The East German soldiers at the border saw them covered in blood and immediately rushed over.

"Quick! Call an ambulance!" Werner shouted.

Erich collapsed, having already lost consciousness.

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

「East Berlin, Stasi Headquarters, three days later.」

"Well done." Von Brown put down the list in his hands and looked at Werner standing before him. "This list is priceless. The conservatives in Moscow and Prague will have great need of it."

Werner didn’t speak. He just stood there, his face expressionless.

Von Brown took a thick envelope from a drawer and pushed it across the desk.

"This is your bonus. Fifty thousand West German Marks." He paused. "Also, your performance in Prague has made the higher-ups very pleased. Comrade Ublis himself praised you."

Werner looked at the envelope but still didn’t reach for it.

Von Brown frowned. "What, not enough?"

"No." Werner finally spoke, his voice calm. "I was just wondering how Erich is doing."

"Erich?" Von Brown leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. "He survived. The bullet went through his shoulder. The doctor said he was very lucky; it didn’t hit bone or any major blood vessels."

"So, can he still work?"

"No." Von Brown exhaled a cloud of smoke. "His shoulder sustained permanent damage. He won’t be able to do heavy work anymore. But the Stasi will arrange a comfortable desk job for him, let him live out the rest of his days in peace."

Werner nodded and turned toward the door.

"Wait," Von Brown called out to him. "Your bonus."

"Keep it," Werner said without turning back. "Use it for Erich’s medical bills."

He pushed open the door and walked out.

Von Brown watched his retreating back, slowly exhaling a plume of smoke.

"Interesting," he murmured to himself. "The kid’s changed."

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

「East Berlin, Charit Hospital, evening.」

Werner pushed open the door to the hospital room and saw Erich lying in bed, his right shoulder wrapped in thick bandages.

"You came." Erich smiled weakly. "I thought you’d have gone straight back to count your money."

"What’s there to count?" Werner sat down by the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I’ve been run over by a truck," Erich said with a bitter smile. "The doctor says I’m lucky, but this sure as hell doesn’t feel lucky."

Werner was silent for a few seconds.

"Thank you," he said. "That shot in Prague... you took it for me."

"Don’t mention it." Erich shook his head. "I don’t even know what I was thinking. I just charged forward on instinct. Maybe I wanted to prove I wasn’t a coward."

"You’re not," Werner said seriously. "You’re a hero."

Erich froze, then burst out laughing—a laugh that pulled at his wound, making him grimace in pain.

"A hero? Me?" he said, gasping for breath. "Werner, you’re the first person to say that. Von Brown would just say I completed the mission. Everyone else would just say I was lucky."

"Then they’re all blind." Werner stood up. "Focus on getting better. When you’re out of the hospital, I’ll buy you a drink."

"It’s a deal," Erich said, holding out his left hand.

Werner took his hand and squeezed it firmly.

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

「East Berlin, a secret villa in the suburbs, late at night.」

Anna pushed open the door and saw Werner sitting by the window, a glass of liquor in his hand, gazing motionlessly out at the night.

"You’re back." She walked over and sat down beside him. "Von Brown said you completed the mission."

"Mm," Werner grunted, taking a sip of his drink.

Anna studied him carefully.

Werner was still Werner—same face, same build, same clothes.

But his eyes were different.

There was a new weight in them.

"What did you see... in Prague?" she asked softly.

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