Chapter 373 - 18: Upon the Ruins

Chapter 373: Chapter 18: Upon the Ruins

"Then you came back?"

"Yes. I looked at those people, at the way the West Germans looked at us, and I suddenly felt miserable." Moritz crumpled the West German Marks into a ball and tossed it on the table. "We thought we were running to freedom, but it turned out we were just a bunch of refugees. The West Germans fobbed us off with a hundred Marks, like they were tossing coins to beggars. And we were expected to be grateful for it."

Werner picked up the crumpled West German Marks, slowly smoothed them out, and placed them on the desk.

"So you came back."

"Yes. I’ve thought it through." Moritz leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. "Rather than be a refugee in West Berlin, I’d rather stay here and see what opportunities might come up. East Germany is finished anyway, so it doesn’t matter if you leave sooner or later."

"It’s not the same," Werner said. "The ones who leave early are traitors. The ones who leave late are victims."

Moritz was taken aback for a moment, then he laughed. "You’re as sharp as ever."

Werner stood up and walked to the window. "Moritz, look at those empty streets down there. Do you know what this means?"

"It means everyone has gone to West Berlin."

"No." Werner turned around. "It means this government has already lost its people. When the people would rather stand in line for two hours to collect a hundred West German Marks than come to work, it means this country is already dead."

Moritz fell silent. After a long moment, he said, "Then what do we do?"

"We keep coming to work," Werner said. "Arrive on time, leave on time, and do whatever we’re supposed to do."

"But Koko doesn’t have any business left—"

"I know," Werner cut him off. "But we still have to come. We need to present a certain image: that we’re responsible officials who haven’t fled, and we’re awaiting instructions from the new government."

Moritz stared at Werner, a flash of understanding in his eyes. "You’re whitewashing yourself."

"It’s self-preservation," Werner corrected him. "Moritz, if you’re smart, you’ll do the same. Starting today, come to the office every day, organize documents, write reports, and receive any visiting officials. Let everyone see that you’re diligently carrying out your duties."

"But... but what if they investigate us—"

"Without evidence, they can’t do anything to you." Werner walked back to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out a thick folder. "I’ve already prepared a business summary report. It emphasizes Koko’s achievements in earning foreign currency for the country and downplays all the shady dealings. If the new government comes to investigate, I’ll hand this report to them."

"Will they believe it?"

"They will," Werner said. "Because right now, everyone is busy either running away or destroying evidence. No one is willing to step forward and cooperate with the new government. If I take the initiative to cooperate, they’ll be delighted."

Moritz looked at the folder and, after a long moment, said, "Werner, you’re a real genius."

"Thank you for the compliment." Werner closed the folder. "Now, if there’s nothing else, you should head back to your office. Remember, starting today, we are model civil servants."

Moritz stood up, walked to the door, and paused. "Werner, do you really think we still have a chance?"

"We do," Werner said. "As long as the Wall hasn’t completely fallen, as long as East Germany hasn’t officially collapsed, we have a chance."

Moritz nodded and left the office.

Werner walked back to the window, looking down at the empty streets below.

In the distance, a car horn blared. Another fully loaded Trabant was heading toward West Berlin.

「November 13th, Monday, 2:00 PM.」

In the corridors of Koko Headquarters, the echo of Werner’s footsteps sounded particularly hollow.

He passed the finance department and saw through the glass door that it was empty. Papers were scattered across the desks, chairs were askew, and the trash cans were overflowing with shredded documents.

The procurement department was the same. An empty office, open file cabinets, folders dropped on the floor.

The entire building—seven floors, over two hundred offices—now had no more than twenty people still "at work."

Werner pushed open his office door and saw a document on his desk. He picked it up. It was Director Gunter’s resignation letter.

"In light of the current situation, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of Koko, effective immediately. I trust the new government will find a worthy successor. Gunter."

It was just a few lines, without even a date.

Werner placed the resignation letter back on the desk, sat down, and lit a cigarette.

Gunter had run. Last night, he took his wife and child, drove to West Berlin, and never came back.

Werner wasn’t surprised.

Gunter was one of Koko’s founders and had more dirt on his hands than anyone. If he didn’t run, the only thing waiting for him was prison. ℯℯ𝘭.

The phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Werner, it’s Moritz." Moritz’s hushed voice came through the receiver. "Someone’s here."

"Who?"

"I don’t know. Two men in suits, driving a Volga. They just pulled up downstairs. They’re coming up."

Werner walked to the window and saw a black Volga sedan parked downstairs.

"Understood." He hung up the phone.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and two men walked in. One was in his forties, tall and thin, wearing gold-rimmed glasses; the other was in his early thirties, burly, with a brutish face.

"Comrade Werner Betelich?" the tall, thin man asked.

"I am."

"I’m Gligel, from the provisional government’s investigation team." He showed his credentials. "This is my colleague, Mueller. We’re here to get an understanding of Koko’s operations."

"Please, sit." Werner gestured to the sofa.

Gligel sat down. Mueller remained standing by the door, arms crossed, watching Werner warily.

"Comrade Betelich, we’d like to understand Koko’s current situation." Gligel took a notebook out of his briefcase. "As far as we know, Director Gunter has... left his position?"

"To be precise, he fled to West Germany," Werner said calmly. "He left last night, leaving behind a letter of resignation."

"Then who is in charge of Koko’s work now?"

"No one," Werner said. "Most of the employees have already fled to West Germany, and the few who are left are also preparing to leave. In all of Koko, there are fewer than twenty people still showing up for work."

"And you?" Gligel asked. "Why are you still here?"

"Because I am Koko’s deputy director, and I have a responsibility to stay." Werner looked Gligel in the eye. "The new government needs someone to hand over the work, someone to explain Koko’s business, and someone to cooperate with the investigation. I believe that is my duty."

Gligel and Mueller exchanged a glance.

"Comrade Betelich, you know that many of Koko’s business activities... are problematic," Gligel said. "According to our preliminary findings, Koko is suspected of smuggling, money laundering, and even arms dealing."

"I know." Werner nodded. "But I want to clarify one thing: these problems were primarily caused by Director Gunter and a few core members. Most of the ordinary employees, myself included, were just following orders."

"Can you prove that?"