I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 283: Chapter 66: Ublis’s Crisis

"Werner, I need your help." Anger put down his wine glass. "Over the next few months, I’ll need more support. Some people in the Party are still on the fence. They aren’t sure if there’s a future in following me. I need to show them that there are benefits to being on my side."

Werner understood. "You need more gifts."

"More than just gifts." Anger stood up and walked to the window. "I need you to get me a list of everyone who profits from the East and West Germany trade. Officials, business owners, even people in the Stasi. I want them to know that these benefits come from me, not Ublis. If Ublis stays in power, all this trade will stop, and they will lose all these perks."

Werner nodded. This was about buying loyalty, but it was also a threat—stick with me and you’ll eat well; stick with Ublis and you’ll get nothing.

"I can do that," Werner said.

"Good." Anger turned around. "Werner, you’re a smart man. You know what it means to invest in the future. When I come to power, I won’t forget you."

"It would be my honor."

Anger walked back to the sofa, took a box from under the coffee table, and handed it to Werner.

"This is for you."

Werner opened the box. Inside was an exquisite gold pocket watch, engraved with the East German coat of arms.

"My father left it to me," Anger said. "Now I’m giving it to you, as a token of our pact."

Werner held the pocket watch, feeling its weight in his hand.

"Thank you, Comrade Anger."

"Don’t call me comrade anymore. Call me Erich," Anger said with a smile. "We’ll be working together for a long time."

**********

By the time he left the villa, the sky was already growing light.

Werner sat in his car, looking at the pocket watch in his hand. Its gold case glittered in the morning light.

He knew what this meeting meant. He was now firmly on Anger’s side.

Werner started the car and drove back to East Berlin.

Pedestrians were already on the streets, and the aroma of baking bread began to drift from the bakeries.

Everything seemed so peaceful, but Werner knew a storm was coming.

Back at his apartment, Werner put the pocket watch in his safe. Then he sat down at his desk and began to write the list.

Every person who profited from the East and West Germany trade, every secret deal, every smuggling operation. Werner wrote down all the details, including the amounts, times, and locations involved.

This list was a weapon. It was Anger’s ammunition against Ublis.

By the time he finished writing, it was broad daylight.

Werner looked at the sunlight outside his window and was suddenly reminded of a line he had read in his past life: "The wheels of history roll forward relentlessly, and whoever stands in their way will be crushed."

Ublis was standing in the way.

And Werner was on the side pushing the wheels.

***********

In July, the atmosphere within the East German Party grew increasingly tense.

During a Politburo meeting, Ublis openly criticized several officials who supported a policy of détente.

But unexpectedly, these officials didn’t bow their heads and admit fault. Instead, they argued their case with reason and evidence.

Werner heard from Gunter that a deputy secretary had presented economic data on the spot, pointing out that Ublis’s new economic system had increased East Germany’s foreign debt by three billion Marks, while trade with West Germany brought in over a billion in foreign currency revenue annually.

"Ublis’s face turned green on the spot," Gunter said. "But he couldn’t refute it, because the data was right there."

Werner knew that Anger’s preparations were working.

The officials who profited from the trade between East and West Germany were now all on Anger’s side.

"Ublis’s foundation is shaking," Gunter said. "He’s now relying solely on the Stasi to maintain control."

"Is Von Brown still loyal to him?" Werner asked.

"Von Brown is hesitating now, too." Gunter lowered his voice. "I heard he’s met privately with people from Anger’s side a few times recently. He’s considering which side to choose."

Werner nodded.

This was the reality—in a power struggle, there is no eternal loyalty, only eternal interests.

A few weeks later, Werner sent out another shipment of goods.

This time, it was for Anger’s inner circle—the people who held real power. The gifts each person received were more valuable and rarer.

Among them was a box of Cuban cigars that Werner had specially set aside. They were the best of the entire shipment, each one hand-rolled and aged for over ten years.

Late at night, Werner personally delivered the box of cigars to the home of one of Anger’s trusted confidants—the Party’s deputy secretary in charge of security.

The deputy secretary’s name was Hans Feirst. He was in his fifties and controlled some of the personnel appointments within the Stasi.

Feirst’s home was in the Pankow District, in an ordinary apartment building.

Werner knocked, and Feirst answered the door himself.

"Mr. Betelich, coming so late." Feirst stepped aside. "Please, come in."

Werner went inside and placed the cigar box on the table.

"Comrade Feirst, this is for you."

Feirst opened the box, and his eyes lit up. "Cuban?"

"Yes, the best kind," Werner said. "Aged for ten years. You can’t buy them on the open market."

Feirst picked up a cigar, held it under his nose to smell it, and then smiled with satisfaction.

"Werner, you are truly thoughtful," he said, gesturing for Werner to sit. "Something to drink?"

"Whiskey would be fine."

The two sat down, and Feirst poured two whiskeys.

"Werner, I’ve heard Erich talk about you," Feirst said. "He says you’re a discerning man who knows how to read the situation."

"You’re too kind," Werner said. "I’m just doing what needs to be done."

"What needs to be done?" Feirst chuckled. "Werner, don’t be so modest. You’ve done far more than that. That list—I’ve seen it. Very detailed, very useful."

"Did the list work?"

"Of course." Feirst took a sip of his drink. "The people who profit from the trade are now all Erich’s supporters. Ublis wants to make a move against them, but he can’t. If he does, the entire economic system will be thrown into chaos. Besides, word has come from Moscow not to disrupt the East and West Germany trade, as it serves the Soviet Union’s overall diplomatic strategy."

"So, what’s next—"

"Now, we wait," Feirst cut him off. "Wait for the right moment. Erich isn’t in a hurry. He’ll slowly dismantle Ublis’s foundation and then, when the time is right, take him down in one fell swoop."

Werner nodded.

"Werner, you chose the right side," Feirst said, looking at him. "When Erich comes to power, you will get what you want."

The two chatted for a while longer before Werner left.

As he walked out of the apartment building, the streets of East Berlin were deserted, lit only by the faint glow of the streetlights.

Werner lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

This power struggle was almost over. Ublis’s end was near.

***********

At two in the morning, Werner was jolted awake by a frantic ringing.

It wasn’t a normal telephone. It was the black phone hidden in a secret compartment of his nightstand, the one whose number only Anna knew.

He practically shot out of bed and snatched the receiver.

"I’m here."

"Werner." Anna’s voice was hushed, filled with a rare tension. "We have a problem. A big one."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!