I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 276: Chapter 59: Anna’s New Mission (Part 2)

Anna took a deep drag from her cigarette, then gave a bitter smile. "That’s the problem."

She looked at Werner, a rare flicker of anxiety in her eyes. "Werner, you know I’m a double agent for West Germany, planted in East Germany. But the Stasi don’t know that. Von Brown thinks I’m someone he can completely trust, which is why he’s sending me on this mission."

"But if you go to West Germany," Werner continued for her, "you’ll have to juggle both sides. You’ll have to pretend to follow the Stasi’s orders, posing as an East German defector turned by West Germany. Meanwhile, you’ll also have to report to your actual superiors in West Germany and maintain your identity as a double agent."

"Exactly." Anna flicked her ash. "And the most dangerous part is that West Germany will vet me. They’ll investigate my background and test my loyalty. If I act too much like a Stasi agent, they’ll be suspicious. But if I’m too cooperative, the Stasi will suspect I’ve truly defected."

Werner was silent for a few seconds, then lit a cigarette.

"What are your chances?"

"Fifty-fifty," Anna said honestly. "Maybe less. Balancing these two identities is hard enough as it is. Now I have to do it in a hostile environment..."

She paused, her voice lowering. "Werner, I’ve been so careful all these years. But with this mission, one wrong move and it’s a one-way ticket to death."

Werner looked at her. It was the first time he had seen such obvious anxiety on Anna’s face.

"Can you refuse?" he asked.

"No." Anna shook her head. "This is a direct order from Von Brown. If I refuse, he’ll question my loyalty. Besides..."

She looked at Werner with a bitter smile. "My superiors in West Germany also want me to accept this mission. They think it’s a golden opportunity to infiltrate the Stasi’s intelligence network."

"So you’re trapped, with no way out on either side," Werner said, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"Right," Anna said. "I have to go."

Werner stood up and began pacing back and forth in the room.

His mind raced, analyzing every possibility.

"When do you leave?"

"Next week," Anna said. "The exact date isn’t set, but it’ll be within ten days."

"How long is the mission?"

"On the surface, it’s a long-term mission. But in reality..." Anna paused. "Von Brown said the first phase will be about three to six months. I need to establish initial trust in West Germany, gather some intelligence, and then I might return to East Germany to report. After that, depending on the situation, they’ll decide if I stay in West Germany or come back."

Werner stopped pacing. "So, you could be back in as little as three months?"

"Theoretically," Anna said. "But that depends on many factors—how fast West Germany vets me, what kind of intelligence I can get, and the Stasi’s arrangements."

Werner sat back down on the sofa and looked at Anna.

"What’s the most dangerous part?"

"The vetting in West Germany," Anna said without hesitation. "They’ll use a polygraph, interrogate me repeatedly about my background, and set traps to test my true allegiance. If my answers seem unnatural, or if I slip up..."

She didn’t finish, but Werner understood.

If West Germany discovered she was sent by the Stasi, she would be executed as a spy.

If the Stasi suspected she had really been turned by West Germany, returning to East Germany would also be a death sentence.

"What can I do?" Werner asked.

Anna looked at him, her expression complex. "Werner, this is my mission. I shouldn’t drag you into it."

"Cut the crap," Werner interrupted. "Tell me what I can do."

Anna was silent for a few seconds, then said, "If... if something really happens to me, I might need an emergency extraction. I’d need money, identification, and a safe place to hide."

"I can provide all of that," Werner said. "I have a network in West Germany. If you need emergency support, you can contact me through them."

"But that would expose our relationship," Anna frowned.

"Then we won’t let it be exposed," Werner said calmly. "I’ll use a coded system. Werner will only know that someone needs emergency support, but he won’t know that person is you."

He paused, then continued, "Besides, I’ll use Koko’s business as a cover to increase contact with my connections in West Germany while you’re there. That way, even if someone investigates, they’ll just assume it’s normal business."

Anna looked at him, something flickering in her eyes.

"Werner, have you ever thought... what if I really don’t make it back?"

"You will," Werner said, his tone certain. "You’re the smartest, most cautious person I’ve ever met. You’ve managed to navigate between East and West Germany for so many years without being exposed. This time will be no different."

"But this time is different. Before, I only had to hide one identity—the fact that I was working for West Germany while in East Germany. But this time, I have to play three roles at once: the undercover agent sent by the Stasi, the defector pretending to be turned by West Germany, and the actual double agent working for West Germany."

She took a deep breath. "It’s too complicated. One misstep, one mistake in any part of the act, and I’m finished."

Werner looked at her, seeing that clear anxiety on her face for the first time.

He reached out and took her hand.

"Anna, listen to me." His voice was calm, but held an undeniable firmness. "You can do this. I know you can."

"How do you know?"

"Because you’ve been doing this for years," Werner said. "The stage has changed, but the essence of the job hasn’t. You just need to remember one thing—no matter where you are, no matter what role you’re playing, your ultimate goal is to survive."

He paused, then continued, "Don’t overthink it. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Say what you need to say, play the part you need to play. Your instincts will tell you what to do."

Anna looked at him, and the tension in her expression eased slightly.

"You’re that confident in me?"

"Of course," Werner said. "And even if something does happen, I’ll get you out."

"How?"

"With money," Werner said calmly. "If you’re caught by West Germany, I’ll work through Werner to buy your way out. If the Stasi start to suspect you, I’ll use the political prisoner exchange channels to get you to West Germany."

"That would take a lot of money."

"I have it," Werner said. "I’ve saved a lot of money in West Germany over the years. Enough to handle any emergency."

Anna looked at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Werner, why are you doing so much for me?"

"Because you’re worth it," Werner said. "And..."

He hesitated for a moment, then continued, "We made a deal, remember? We were going to leave this place together and start a new life in West Germany. If something happens to you, the whole plan goes up in smoke."

Anna smiled as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"You bastard. You make it sound like it’s just for the plan."

"Isn’t it?" Werner smiled, reaching out to wipe the tears from her face. "Anna, don’t cry. You’re not pretty when you cry."

"Get lost," Anna cursed with a smile, but she leaned against his shoulder anyway.

They sat like that in silence for a while.

"Werner, I’m a little scared," Anna said softly.

"I know." Werner held her tighter. "But you’ll be fine. You’ve always been careful, and this time will be no exception."

"If something really happens to me..."

"It won’t," Werner cut her off. "But if it does, remember to send the signal."

Anna nodded, then kissed him.

That night, neither of them said much.

They held each other tightly, expressing their feelings with their bodies instead of words.

Werner felt Anna’s warmth, her breath, the pressure of her fingertips.

He knew that in the coming months, she would face a life-or-death test.

But he didn’t show any excessive worry or anxiety.

Because he knew that would only make Anna more nervous.

All he could do now was give her confidence and support.

***

「East Berlin, a secret villa, one week later.」

Werner sat on the sofa, watching Anna pack her luggage.

No, you couldn’t call it luggage—just a small canvas bag containing a few changes of clothes, some cash, and forged identification papers.

"That’s it?" Werner asked.

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