Free Web NovelChapter 72: Chapter 72: Quasi-legal Guise
"What do you mean?"
"He’s been in the Ministry of Foreign Trade for twelve years. God knows how many ’consultants’ like you he has under his thumb." Schiller shook his head. "Every one of them thinks they’re his most important partner, but in reality... you know how it is."
Werner nodded.
’Of course, he understood. In this game, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests.’
But so what? Werner was confident he could find his footing in this web of power. ’I have knowledge from a past life, the help of the system, and a keen sense for business.’
Most importantly, he knew the course of history.
’The Berlin Wall will be built soon, and when that happens, the entire landscape will change. Before then, I have to accumulate enough wealth and connections.’
At that thought, Werner quickened his pace. Time was short, and every minute was precious.
************************
One o’clock in the afternoon.
Werner stood before the entrance of the Special Materials Company, a black briefcase in his hand.
The company was housed in a gray building near Alexanderplatz. A brass plaque by the door read, "People’s Special Materials Import and Export Company," with a smaller line of text below: "Serving the People, Serving Socialist Construction."
"Comrade Werner Betelich?" A middle-aged man with glasses walked out of the building. "I’m Frank, the office director. Section Chief Klein has already been in touch."
"Comrade Frank, hello." Werner shook his hand.
Frank sized Werner up, his eyes holding the characteristic caution and curiosity of an East German bureaucrat.
"Come with me. We’ll get your onboarding paperwork done first."
The two entered the building. The ground-floor lobby was covered in various slogans: "Strive to Fulfill the Five-Year Plan!" and "Show Western Capitalism the Power of Socialism!" A red suggestion box stood in a corner.
"Our company is primarily responsible for the import and export of special goods," Frank explained as they walked. "Our technical consultants are all experts. Someone like you..." He paused, clearly choosing his words carefully. "A talented individual with... special channels, is just what the company needs."
In an office on the second floor, Frank retrieved a stack of forms from a file cabinet. free𝑤ebnovel.com
"Fill these out. Name, age, education, work experience..." Frank handed him a fountain pen. "The position is Technical Consultant. The monthly salary is 300 Marks, with a commission on each deal."
Werner took the forms and gave them a quick look.
They were standard state-owned enterprise employment forms. Nothing out of the ordinary.
When filling them out, he deliberately kept the "Work Experience" section vague, using ambiguous terms like "trade consulting" and "technical services."
"By the way," Frank lowered his voice, "Section Chief Klein said you have a project starting right away?"
"Yes. The welfare project for the shipyard."
Frank’s eyes lit up. "That’s a major client! The workers at the shipyard have shed blood and sweat for national construction. They certainly deserve some consideration."
’Empty words,’ Werner thought, but he played along with a nod. "Yes, the comrades have worked hard."
"What specific goods are needed?"
"Mainly things like coffee, chocolate, and candy."
"Understood." Frank nodded. "Right, do you have a specific list of requirements from the shipyard?"
Werner took a document from his briefcase. "This is the preliminary list. 200 kilograms of coffee, 100 kilograms of chocolate, and 50 kilograms of candy."
"That’s a considerable amount," Frank said. "Following normal procedures, it would require multiple levels of approval and take at least a month."
"Section Chief Klein said we can use a special channel."
"Then there’s no problem." Frank nodded. "Things are easy with a word from Section Chief Klein. However..." He paused. "Are you sure you can procure these goods?"
Werner smiled. "Comrade Frank, do you really think I would joke about something like this?"
"Of course not, of course not." Frank waved his hands dismissively. "I’m just confirming the process. How about this? I’ll call the shipyard now and schedule an on-site inspection."
"An on-site inspection?"
"Yes. According to regulations, welfare projects require an assessment of the workers’ actual needs to ensure the purchased items are genuinely useful," Frank explained. "Of course, it’s mostly a formality."
Werner understood.
’This was the most critical part of the entire operation—how to cloak a blatant for-profit scheme in a veneer of legitimacy.’
*******************
Two o’clock in the afternoon, at the People’s Shipyard.
Werner followed Frank into the shipyard complex.
Inside a massive dry dock, workers were welding a ship’s hull, sending sparks flying. The air was thick with the smell of metal and engine oil. A few engineers in hard hats were discussing something over a set of blueprints.
"You’ve all worked hard, comrades!" Frank waved at the workers.
The workers glanced up, gave a polite nod, and then went back to their work.
In the factory director’s office, a bald man in his fifties greeted them enthusiastically.
"Comrade Frank, welcome, welcome!" The director shook Frank’s hand. "I hear the higher-ups want to provide for our workers?"
"Yes, Factory Director Grimmer," Frank said, making the introduction. "This is Comrade Werner Betelich, a technical consultant from the Special Materials Company. He’s in charge of procurement."
Factory Director Grimmer looked at Werner, a hint of doubt in his eyes. Werner was too young; he didn’t look like an experienced procurement specialist.
The three of them sat down in the director’s office.
Grimmer’s secretary served coffee—an East German substitute coffee, weak and tasteless.
"Comrade Grimmer," Frank said, producing a document. "This is the detailed plan for the welfare project. Please take a look."
Grimmer took the document and examined it carefully. It was written very formally, with the title "Implementation Plan for Providing for the Model Workers of the People’s Shipyard," and it detailed the procurement list and distribution method.
"Coffee, chocolate, candy..." Grimmer read aloud, his eyes growing more and more excited. "The workers will definitely love these!"
"Of course," Werner added, "these are for the model workers who have demonstrated outstanding performance."
"Understood, understood." Grimmer nodded. "We can’t have egalitarianism. We must reward the advanced and motivate those who lag behind."
Frank smiled with satisfaction. ’This Factory Director Grimmer knows what’s up. He knows how to play his part.’
"What’s the budget?" Grimmer asked the crucial question.
Frank and Werner exchanged a glance.
"According to the state-set price," Frank said, "the total budget for the project is 5,000 East German Marks."
Grimmer frowned. "5,000 Marks... That’s a lot. Is our factory’s award fund sufficient?"
"No need to worry, Comrade Grimmer," Frank said confidently. "These funds will be drawn from the ’Special Fund for Worker Welfare’ and won’t use up your factory’s budget."
The Special Fund for Worker Welfare—this was Section Chief Klein’s masterstroke.
He used the special authority of the Ministry of Foreign Trade to allocate money from a national special fund, ostensibly to improve the lives of workers, but in reality, to provide a source of capital for their for-profit schemes.
"That’s wonderful!" Grimmer breathed a sigh of relief.
Werner thought to himself, ’The entire operation really is perfectly designed:’
’The source of funds is legal, coming from the Special Fund for Worker Welfare.’
’The procurement process is compliant, handled through a state-owned foreign trade company.’
’The distribution is justified, going to model workers and outstanding employees.’
’The political messaging is correct, reflecting the Social Unity Party’s concern for the workers.’
’And beneath this magnificent facade, both Klein and I stand to make a huge profit.’
"So, when will the procurement be completed?" Grimmer asked.
"Within a week," Werner answered confidently.
In reality, he had already made all the arrangements through various channels.
The goods would be sourced from Reinhard Mueller and transported through the Church’s charity channels. The entire procurement network was already in place.
"So fast!" Grimmer was delighted. "The workers will be overjoyed when they find out."
"We’re here to serve the people, after all," Werner said with a modest smile.
The three chatted a while longer about the specific details of delivery and distribution. Grimmer was extremely cooperative, clearly very pleased with this "welfare project."
On the way out of the shipyard, Frank clapped Werner on the shoulder. "Not bad, kid. Grimmer is very satisfied."
"That’s good." Werner nodded. "My biggest worry is an unsatisfied client."
"Relax. Who wouldn’t be satisfied with a deal like this?" Frank said with a laugh. "By the way, when will the payment come through?"
"Section Chief Klein will arrange the fund transfer tomorrow."
Frank nodded in satisfaction. As the office director, he would of course get his own "cut."
Werner gazed at the factory smokestacks in the distance, a complex mix of emotions rising within him.
On the surface, this was indeed a good thing.
The workers would receive goods they could only dream of, Factory Director Grimmer would have a political achievement to his name, and Section Chief Klein and he himself would make money. It seemed like a win-win situation for everyone.
But Werner knew that beneath this "win-win" situation lay deeper problems.
State funds were being misappropriated in the name of "welfare," the massive price difference was being divided up privately by a network of power, and the workers who actually created the value were only getting table scraps.
However, those were not problems he needed to concern himself with.
In this system, he just needed to play his role well—that of an efficient "white glove."
