I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 297: Chapter 80: Financial Investigation (Part 2)

"About Beck?" Werner sat down across from him.

"That’s right."

"You’ve already taken measures?"

"Of course." Von Brown picked up a document from the desk. "I’ve already submitted a report to Director Schmidt. I told him that Beck is interfering with Koko’s greater mission of earning foreign currency for the state. Koko earns the country hundreds of millions of West German Marks every year. This is hard currency that can be used to buy Western equipment and technology. With Beck wanting to audit the books now, is he trying to shut Koko down?"

Werner raised an eyebrow. "What did the Director say?"

"No reply yet." Von Brown sighed and tossed the document back on the desk. "Beck has deep roots in the Stasi, and he has people backing him. Director Schmidt is in a tough spot—on one hand, you have a veteran like Beck, and on the other, you have Koko, the cash cow that earns foreign currency for the country."

"What if we add Comrade Anger to the equation?" Werner said suddenly.

Von Brown froze for a moment, then stared at Werner, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"You want to go directly to Anger?"

"Why not?" Werner leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. "I helped him a lot when he came to power last year."

Von Brown was silent for a moment. He stood up, walked to the window, and watched the rain outside.

"Werner, you certainly have the leverage." He turned his head. "But Anger is an extremely busy man; he might not have time to see you. Besides..." He paused. "This matter is too sensitive. If you go to him directly and handle it poorly, you might just end up antagonizing him."

"That depends on how it’s phrased." Werner exhaled a puff of smoke. "I won’t just bring up the audit directly. That would be stupid. But I can approach it from another angle—like Koko’s recent business developments, or new trends in West Germany... Then I can mention the audit in passing and let him weigh the options himself."

Von Brown stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly nodded.

"You are indeed a smart man." He walked back to his desk. "But being smart isn’t enough. You need a way in. Anger’s secretariat isn’t so easy to get through."

"I know." Werner stood up. "I have a way."

Von Brown was silent for a while before finally speaking.

"When you see Anger, be very careful what you say. He doesn’t like people playing clever tricks in front of him."

"I understand."

* * *

That night, Werner returned to his secret apartment.

Werner took off his soaked coat and hung it behind the door. He then walked over to a cabinet and opened it.

He took out the thickest ledger, sat down at the desk, and opened it.

This was a detailed record of all his transactions over the years—every bit of income, every expenditure, the flow of funds for every account, all recorded with perfect clarity. Public funds were public funds, private funds were private funds; they were never mixed.

He lit a cigarette and began to check it, page by page.

Time ticked by. The rain outside gradually subsided. A car would occasionally drive past on the street, its headlights sweeping across the wall and leaving a fleeting shadow.

Werner brewed a pot of coffee and drank it cup after cup. The cigarette butts in the ashtray piled higher and higher.

At one in the morning, he finished checking the first ledger and picked up the second.

At three in the morning, he finally put down his pen.

The accounts were fine. At least on the surface, no loopholes could be found.

Every foreign currency transaction had a corresponding trade record, and every expenditure had an official approval document.

The flow of funds in the Switzerland accounts looked complicated, but in reality, it was all to bypass Western financial surveillance—this was an open secret within Koko, and an implicitly approved operational method.

But Werner knew that Beck wasn’t interested in the surface; he wanted to investigate what was hidden beneath.

For example, the transit trade in Poland.

Ostensibly, it was to procure Western equipment for Koko. In reality, a portion of the goods was resold on the Black Market. This portion of the profit never entered Koko’s books but was instead kept in the accounts in Switzerland.

If Beck latched onto this and didn’t let go, it would be very difficult for Werner to explain.

Werner rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a wave of exhaustion. He walked to the window and pushed it open. A cool breeze blew in, carrying the dampness of the recent rain.

The street was deserted, with only the lonely glow of the streetlights.

Werner lit his last cigarette and took a deep drag.

He thought back to that night in Prague.

Gunshots, explosions, the blood on Erich’s shoulder. That was when he first realized he wasn’t a Transmigrator just playing a game, but a participant in history. Every decision had a cost, and any move could be a mistake.

’It’s the same now.’

’I can’t rely on clean books alone to protect myself. I need to go on the offensive and seize the initiative in this game.’

Werner extinguished his cigarette and closed the window.

He returned to his desk, took out a blank sheet of paper, and began to write a report.

* * *

The next morning, Werner didn’t go to Koko. Instead, he stayed in his apartment to continue refining the report.

The report was written in great detail, explaining the ins and outs of every questionable transaction.

He chose his words carefully, neither hiding the facts nor offering excessive justifications. The main emphasis was that all these operations were for the good of the country.

He wrote until evening before finally finishing it.

The report was made in triplicate: one copy for Gunter, one for Von Brown, and one for himself.

Werner placed the report in his briefcase, then lay down on his bed. He was exhausted but couldn’t sleep. His mind was racing, thinking about how he should talk to Anger tomorrow.

’If I’m too direct, Anger will think I’m trying to force his hand. If I’m too vague, he might not understand what I mean.’

Werner tossed and turned in bed, not drifting into a hazy sleep until the early hours of the morning.

* * *

The next afternoon, Werner drove to the Central Committee Building of the United Socialist Party.

The building, located in the center of East Berlin, was the heart of East German power. The gray structure was tall and imposing, with two armed guards standing at the entrance.

Werner parked his car in the visitor’s area, grabbed his briefcase, and got out.

A guard walked over, looking at him with a blank expression.

"Comrade, your identification, please."

Werner handed over his Koko work ID.

The guard took the ID, looked it over, then walked back to the guard post to make a phone call. A few minutes later, he returned, his attitude a bit more polite.

"Please come in, Comrade. Someone will take you to the secretariat."

Werner entered the building.

The building’s interior was simple, yet it exuded an air of authority. The hallways were lined with red carpet, and portraits of Marx, Engels, and Lenin hung on the walls. The corridors were silent, save for the echo of footsteps.

A young staff member led Werner upstairs.

They passed one office after another, the doors adorned with plaques for various departments: Organization Department, Propaganda Department, International Department...

At the end of the third-floor hallway was the secretariat.

The young man knocked on the door and then pushed it open.

"Comrade Gerhard, Comrade Betelich has arrived."

Werner walked in.

The secretariat office wasn’t large, but it was tidily arranged. An East German flag hung on the wall, and a few potted plants sat on the desk. A man in his fifties was sitting behind the desk, processing documents.

This was Gerhard Schmidt, Anger’s chief secretary. Werner had met him a few times; every time he came to report to Anger, he had to go through him.

Gerhard looked up, and a smile appeared on his face when he saw Werner.

"Comrade Betelich, long time no see." He stood up and extended his hand.

Werner shook his hand. "Comrade Gerhard, sorry to disturb you."

"No disturbance at all." Gerhard gestured for him to sit. "Comrade Anger has a meeting this afternoon, but he specifically set aside fifteen minutes for you."

"I’m very grateful," Werner said.

Gerhard sat back down, picked up the coffee pot on his desk, and poured Werner a cup.

"How has Koko’s business been lately?" he asked in a casual tone.

"Not bad." Werner took the cup. "We just closed a big deal last month, procuring a batch of West German equipment for the chemical plant in Leipzig. The factory is very satisfied."

"So I’ve heard." Gerhard nodded. "Comrade Anger also knows about this, and he’s very pleased. Leipzig is his old stomping grounds; he’s always been very concerned with matters there."

Something clicked in Werner’s mind.

’He’s implying that Anger approves of my work.’

"It is my honor to be able to contribute to the country," Werner said.

Gerhard smiled and took a sip from his coffee cup.

"Comrade Betelich, you’ve come this time because you have something important to report to Comrade Anger?"

Werner nodded. "It’s about some of Koko’s business developments, and... some issues that require Comrade Anger’s guidance."

"What issues?" Gerhard put down his cup and looked at him.

Werner chose his words carefully.

"Recently, the Stasi has raised questions about some of Koko’s operations, claiming there might be irregularities in our financial dealings. I want to explain the situation clearly to Comrade Anger to prevent any misunderstandings from affecting Koko’s normal work."

Gerhard’s expression didn’t change, but Werner noticed a flicker in his eyes.

"General Baker’s audit?"

"Yes."

Gerhard was silent for a moment, then stood up.

"Come with me. Comrade Anger is waiting for you."

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