Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Harvest at the Red Bull Tavern

Eva and Werner exchanged a look, and both saw the alarm in the other’s eyes.

In East Germany, a late-night visit from "men from the city government" was never a good sign, especially not when they brought along men who looked like police.

"You go out the back," Eva whispered to Werner, quickly starting to clear the various samples from the table. "Take the notebook. I’ll deal with this stuff."

Werner didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the notebook and tucked it inside his coat.

Before leaving, he squeezed Eva’s hand. He could feel its warmth and the slight tremor running through it.

"Be careful."

"You too." She squeezed back, a complex mix of emotions flashing in her eyes.

Werner slipped silently out the back window.

Just as he landed, he heard heavy footsteps coming from downstairs, heading up.

He hugged the wall, moving away quickly before disappearing into the deep darkness of the East Berlin night.

Walking down the empty street, Werner’s heart hadn’t completely settled.

Tonight’s encounter had only reinforced his belief in one thing: in this country filled with surveillance and suspicion, every step was fraught with unknown dangers. But at the same time, it was this very danger and scarcity that created immense business opportunities.

The next time he went to West Berlin, he needed to have a proper talk with Reynard about that coffee machine idea.

**********************

East Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg District, the Red Bull Tavern.

Inside the smoke-filled tavern, dim yellow light illuminated one weary face after another.

Werner pushed open the heavy wooden door, and a wall of smells—a mixture of cigarettes, beer, and sweat—hit him.

The Red Bull Tavern was a gathering place for the East Berlin working class and a hub for all sorts of gossip.

Faded SED (Social Unity Party) propaganda posters were pasted on the walls, but no one paid any attention to the slogans. People came here to drink, complain, and fish for information.

Werner chose a seat in the corner of the bar. It offered a wide view, allowing him to observe the entire tavern.

The recent experience of being questioned by that pimply soldier at the subway station still left him shaken.

He had gotten through it without any real trouble, but Werner knew this couldn’t go on forever.

Constantly changing his smuggling routes could only mitigate the risk temporarily; it didn’t solve the fundamental problem.

He needed a more reliable solution—like finding an inside man in the Border Guard.

Bribing a soldier wouldn’t just make his current smuggling business safer. More importantly, in a few months, the Berlin Wall would be built.

Once East and West Germany were separated by the wall, traveling frequently between East and West Berlin wouldn’t be nearly as easy as it was now.

At that point, having a friend in the Border Guard wouldn’t be a nice-to-have; it would be a lifeline.

That’s why he had come to the Red Bull tonight—to see if he could find any leads.

"What can I get for you?" the stout bartender, Frank, asked while wiping a glass.

"A beer and a sausage," Werner said, pulling out his wallet and deliberately letting the bartender see the bills inside.

Frank’s eyes lit up, and his movements immediately became more brisk. "Right away!" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

With beer in hand, Werner started observing his surroundings.

At a table to his left, a few factory workers were complaining about the inadequate rations. To his right sat three middle-aged men, dressed relatively well, who were probably small-time merchants or low-level government clerks.

Werner lifted his beer and took a slow sip.

The beer in East Germany was good quality—one of the few products in this socialist country that was on par with the West.

Just then, the tavern door was pushed open again.

A thin, serious-faced, middle-aged man walked in.

Werner noticed his ramrod-straight posture and the way he habitually scanned his surroundings—classic military traits.

The man sat down not far from the bar and ordered a shot of hard liquor.

"How’s business today, Andrew?" the bartender, Frank, greeted him familiarly.

"Don’t ask," Andrew grumbled. "Those collectors are getting pickier and pickier. They don’t want to pay up for the good stuff."

Werner’s heart skipped a beat. ’A veteran!’

In this era, veterans often had valuable items in their possession—military equipment that ordinary people could never get their hands on.

From uniform insignias to communication devices, and even some things that couldn’t see the light of day.

After all, they had once been in contact with the very core of the state apparatus. When they were discharged, they could always "take" a few souvenirs with them.

These items were very popular with collectors in West Germany.

More importantly, these old soldiers also had connections that ordinary people lacked. Perhaps he could help with the issue of that Border Guard at the subway.

He turned, feigning nonchalance. "Friend, sounds like you’ve got some good stuff?"

The veteran eyed him warily. "What do you do?"

"A little bit of business," Werner said, flashing a pack of Western cigarettes. "I’ve come into some money recently, looking for something interesting."

The veteran’s expression softened at the sight of the cigarettes.

In resource-scarce East Germany, Western cigarettes were a symbol of status and wealth.

"Just call me Andrew." The veteran extended his hand. "What kind of things are you looking for?"

"Interesting, practical, and preferably something others don’t have." Werner shook his hand, feeling the thick calluses on his palm. "Price isn’t an issue."

Andrew nodded and lowered his voice. "I have some military equipment, all authentic stuff. Compasses, binoculars, utility knives... The quality is much better than the civilian versions."

"Can I see the goods?"

"Not here." Andrew glanced around. "Too many people. Meet me tomorrow at three in the afternoon, under the old oak tree in Prenzlauer Park."

Werner was about to agree when Andrew suddenly gave a meaningful smile. "Of course, the equipment is just a side business."

He paused, his voice dropping even lower. "I have something much more interesting to sell—and it’s worth a lot more than those little military trinkets."

"What is it?" Werner’s interest was immediately piqued.

Andrew looked around, and after confirming no one was paying attention, he leaned close to Werner’s ear. "The changing of the guard schedule for the Border Guard."

Werner almost gasped.

For a smuggler, that kind of information was practically priceless!

"How much?"

"This kind of intel doesn’t come cheap." Andrew held up five fingers. "Fifty Marks, and that only gets you one week’s schedule."

Fifty Marks certainly wasn’t cheap, but if the information was accurate, he would make the investment back quickly.

"I need to verify its reliability," Werner said cautiously.

Andrew nodded, as if he had expected this. "How about this: I’ll give you the schedule for the first two days. You verify it. If it’s accurate, you bring me the money, and I’ll give you the rest."

"Deal." Werner breathed a sigh of relief. This arrangement was much more reassuring.

"Remember, under the old oak tree, three in the afternoon." Andrew downed his drink in one gulp, stood up, and left the tavern.

Werner sat at the bar, calculating his gains for the evening. He was in a good mood.

"Another one," he said to the bartender.

"In a good mood tonight?" Frank asked with a smile.

"Not bad." Werner pulled out a 10-Mark bill. "This is for you. By the way, does Andrew come here often?"

"He’s a regular. Used to serve in the Border Guard, now he sells military surplus to get by. He’s a cautious man, but his stuff is the real deal."

Werner nodded. He asked a few more questions and got a basic grasp of Andrew’s background.

It was almost eleven when he left the tavern. Walking down the empty street, Werner replayed the evening’s events in his mind.

The Red Bull Tavern really was a treasure trove of information. As long as you were willing to spend the money, you could find out anything.

A notification flashed in his mind: [Intelligence-Gathering Ability Increased. EXP +50]