Bkornblume

The Stasi is equipped with such listening devices mainly to maintain national security and social stability.

For her, the device is more of an ornament or a means to cover up the lazy behaviors that are not allowed.

A notebook and a telephone—indispensable to an investigative journalist. The pages are filled with every detail heard and observed by the interviewer, no matter how trifling. She was never satisfied with recording only superficial information. Plumbing the darkest depths in search of the truth was a temptation she could never resist.

It was purchased from an unnamed store on the verge of closing down, and the exact price she paid can no longer be determined. All she remembers is paying a month's salary for it as well as a funny joke which was rarely heard in East Berlin.

A classic messenger bag. Lightweight yet durable, it accompanies the respondent wherever they go. The young investigative journalist was tireless. She was seemingly in every corner of the city, just like the shadow.

This is a code name she has given herself to distinguish herself from the countless other unfeeling names like SCH KA/123456 ...

However, few are willing to call her by this new code name. For most of her colleagues, spending time and effort on this was pointless as it would only attract unwarranted suspicion.

A pair of simple glasses.

People seem to trust someone more with an "experienced" look. The respondent bought herself these glasses in her third month of work. She keeps the lenses spotlessly clean. Regardless of whether she wears them or not, her acuity and dedication as a journalist never waver.

Stasi, the motto being "Schild und Schwert der Partei," silently watched over the nation's citizens, akin to a murder of crows taking off in the dusk and covering the sky.

Within East Germany, they were everywhere.

The black tide spread across the soil, gardens, and all the buildings as far as one could see in East Germany.

The country was stable, the people did their jobs and an era of uniformity had thus arrived.

Regretfully, there were always a few who could not get with the program.

She didn't seem to plan on catching up.

SCH KA/7's behavior report today is as follows:

08:33 Uhr: Left home and headed to Stasi. Reached in 23min 57s.

Note:

Chose to travel via Unter den Linden, which is the longer route.

No. of times she greeted people: 7. No. of times she received responses: 0

Stopped by the left of the middle of the street for 3 min 16 sec and crouched down to look at the chrysanthemums by the road.

08:56 Uhr: Reached Stasi and took over SCH KA/13's listening and transcribing task.

08:57 Uhr: Started work.

Note:

No. of times she hummed: 5 (Unknown lyrics)

No. of times she stretched: 6

12:32 Uhr: Stopped working, submitted transcription.

Note: Transcribing speed is about 235c/m and close to her previous records

Pandora Wilson: I can hardly believe they would choose to tolerate such a ... special existence, such as yourself.

Bkornblume: Well, they don't seem to have any plans of getting rid of me.

Pandora Wilson: An irreplaceable master of eavesdropping ... Is this our topic today?

Bkornblume: Hmm ... I prefer being called a "Yet-to-be-discovered Radio Presenter."

Pandora Wilson: ...?

Pandora Wilson: Pardon me for saying this, but isn't staying in a dark room all day long invading someone's privacy a little bit, you know ...

Bkornblume: I'm a shadow. Nobody wants to be seen through, nor are they willing to expose themselves. That's why everybody keeps their head down and stays silent.

Bkornblume: If I had an arcane skill that allowed me to plant my ear in someone else's house, I'd be able to go take a walk whenever I want.

Pandora Wilson: Aren't you worried you're being spied on?

Bkornblume: I'd be more worried if nobody's watching me ... If that happened, I'd wonder if I were dead.

Pandora Wilson: ... You're very optimistic.

Bkornblume: That's why I'd be a good late-night radio presenter who can comfort people!