Chapter 062: Another Chance Encounter with Ramsey

In the second week, the Chinese tourist Ye Fei and his wife Lin Ke were purchasing tickets at the Frankfurt train station, preparing to take the train to their next destination, the German capital, Berlin.

No sooner had they entered the waiting room than Chen Jiehua once again spotted that striking man! Damn! Even though he’d changed his entire outfit, sported two small mustaches on his face, and swapped his hat, those deep eyes still gave him away!

For heaven’s sake, is this guy haunting us? Are you following us?

“Excuse me, sir, may I sit here?”

Leading Fujiwara Mio and dragging his suitcase, Chen Jiehua took the initiative to approach the disguised Ramzi.

Clearly, this fellow had taken Chen Jiehua’s advice and scrubbed up well; the scent of soap clung to his clothes.

Once seated, Chen Jiehua struck up a conversation. “How should I address you, sir? Where are you employed?”

“You may call me Johnson, Alexander Johnson. I’m currently a special correspondent for the Frankfurt Daily.”

“You really are something! Found a new job already.” Chen Jiehua glanced around to make sure there were no eavesdroppers, then lowered his voice. “You’re quite the actor.”

“And you? How should I address this gentleman and lady?”

“Honorable Mr. Johnson, you may call me Fei Ye, and this is my wife Ke Lin. We’ve come from the Republic of China to travel in Frankfurt.”

“Frankfurt is a beautiful city, Mr. Ye. Have you concluded your visit? Where’s your next stop?”

“Wherever this train goes—are you still keeping up the act? I have reason to suspect you’re following us, Mr. Johnson–Ramzi!”

“Is that really necessary? Two young visitors from the Republic—hardly worth an interview.”

In truth, Ramzi was just as surprised to encounter them again in Frankfurt! He had assumed the two had already left Germany, but it seemed they weren’t giving up, perhaps hoping for a stroke of luck in Berlin?

Fujiwara Mio kept watch while listening to their banter, stifling laughter behind her hand.

Meanwhile, Chen Jiehua, sparring with Ramzi, was thinking rapidly.

From that first glance at the Port of Hamburg, he and this man—let’s keep calling him Ramzi—had become entangled. First at Hamburg station, then on the same train to Leverkusen.

Next, on the same day, they had entered the Bayer laboratory one after the other; due to his own carelessness, he’d been exposed, effectively losing his Japanese cover in Germany, and had even saved Ramzi’s life.

Later, both had escaped Leverkusen unscathed, parting ways: he took his own bright road, I mine along the Rhine!

Originally, I had planned to go to France via Koblenz, but a sudden dream warning forced me to change plans and come to Frankfurt!

And this damn fellow ended up in Frankfurt as well, even becoming a special correspondent for the Frankfurt Daily!

I spent a whole week sightseeing with Fujiwara Mio and organizing the formula, and still ran into him at the Frankfurt train station!

This cursed connection! It must be fate!

Chen Jiehua had studied medicine and never believed in fate. But ever since his soul had inexplicably been swept into this era, with a new body, a system, and even a mysterious void space, he couldn’t help but wonder if this man was someone arranged by the system—someone destined to receive the two pharmaceutical formulas.

The formulas weren’t finished yet, so he couldn’t hand them over. But it was a good chance to test him. Wasn’t he headed to Berlin? I was planning to go there too. Well, if he boards the train to Berlin, I’ll wait for him to get on, then I won’t board.

I’ll refund my ticket and head to Munich instead!

Once I’ve finished the two formulas, I’ll go to Berlin. If I run into him again, I’ll hand them over, and whatever happens afterward—whether chaos or disaster—will be left to fate. I’ll wash my hands of it!

Overcome by this thought, Chen Jiehua was too excited to speak. He held his tongue.

The three of them fell silent, conversation having fizzled out. Chen Jiehua simply closed his eyes to rest.

The train to Berlin arrived. Station staff called for boarding, but Chen Jiehua stayed put, watching Ramzi for any movement. Since Ramzi didn’t move, neither did he. Fujiwara Mio, though puzzled, said nothing and stayed put as well.

Not until the staff shouted that there was only one minute left until the doors closed did Ramzi finally stir.

“Mr. Alexander Johnson, aren’t you going to Berlin? Why aren’t you boarding? There’s only a minute left! You’ll miss it!”

“Who said I was going to Berlin? I never told you that. I’m headed to Munich to interview BMW workers.”

“Damn! Hell!” Chen Jiehua blurted out a couple of expletives in Chinese, then grabbed his suitcase and Fujiwara Mio and dashed for the train.

Fortunately, trains at that time weren’t as strict as modern high-speed rail, so waiting a minute or two was normal. Once on board, having found their seats and stowed their luggage, Chen Jiehua finally calmed down.

Damn, that was presumptuous of me! I never actually asked, and he never said where he was headed!

How infuriating!

Fujiwara Mio tried to comfort him but couldn’t help giggling—clearly, you’ve tripped yourself up again!

“I thought he was going to Berlin. I planned to wait for him to board, then I’d change my plans to Munich. But he—he was actually going to Munich all along!”

Fujiwara Mio couldn’t hold it in any longer and collapsed onto Chen Jiehua’s shoulder with laughter. You’re too funny! You never even asked!

That evening, the train arrived in Berlin, capital of the Weimar Republic. It was even more bustling than Frankfurt, with the streets aglow late into the night. As usual, they found a Chinese restaurant for dinner, then a small inn for the night. Once in their room, they checked for listening devices before speaking.

Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Mio continued their daytime sightseeing and nighttime data copying. After a week, the data was finally organized, all key information transferred onto two sets of film reels.

Now it was time to find Sorge or perhaps run into Ramzi by chance! Chen Jiehua still clung to his earlier idea: if he met Ramzi before finding Sorge, he would hand the formulas to Ramzi.

On the night of May 2, 1929, after ten o’clock, Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Mio were strolling through the night-lit streets of Berlin. With the data finally ready and plans to leave for Moscow by train the next day, this was their first evening walk in two weeks.

The two walked sweetly down Wilhelmstraße, the most prosperous street in Berlin, lined with government offices and embassies.

As they passed the Japanese embassy, a military officer in uniform stepped out of the building.

“Aoki-kun? Are you Aoki-kun?” The officer, recognizing Chen Jiehua as he walked by, called out in Japanese as soon as he saw his face!

Startled by the shout, Chen Jiehua quickly recovered and responded in Chinese, “Are you speaking to me?”

As he spoke, he scrutinized the officer, his mind racing to recall and identify him. He knows me! But who is he?