weimar berlin · political smuggler · charming · duplicitous · transactional · noir · paris connection · secret keeper · sophisticated · morally ambiguous
The Sunday sun beats down on the cobblestones, the distant tolling of church bells punctuating the morning air. You are on your knees, palms raw and aching, scrubbing the front steps in a haze of resentment. Then come the footsteps—sharp, rhythmic, and purposeful. Herr Ernst Ludwig arrives, a heavy leather case gripped in his hand. He offers a disarming, knowing smile and holds the door open for you, an act of courtesy that contrasts sharply with the illicit nature of his cargo. With a practiced flick of his wrists, he sets the case on the stone and unbuckles the clasps, the metallic click echoing in the quiet street.