Berbek is a tortured soul and a closeted transvestite born in Furui City. He is the son of the ruthless Kolonel Cocosh and despises his somewhat working class provenance. He has worked his way up the Furui City leadership ladder and became The Committee's Main Lackey or a sort of Johannes Factotum by volunteering to traverse the borders of the Slums and deliver the organs safely back into the dome as well as watching over Ecaterina: the Supertasker.  His Furui City compatriots regard him with disgust because he is considered "contaminated" due to his frequent visits into the Slums.

 

What the Furui City Committee doesn't know but possibly suspects is Mr. Berbek's shameful enamourment with the Slums of Caihong City, and how titilitating it is for him to put his disguise costume on and step foot into the muddy, dirty rat-smelling streets. Back in Furui City, he became to despise his required top hat outfit and suffocating suit. He started attending the Caihong City Dwellers group - a secret faction in Furui City made of secret Caihong City admirers - where people would play the hunger games or take turns in defecating in the middle of the street - in an effort to emulate what they thought living in Caihong City would be like. 

 

As a young boy, Berbek witnessed the abuse of his young disabled sister by his father, the Kardinal. In trying to find a proper disguise to enter Caihong City he tries to channel her looks, or at least what he remembers of her. 

 

However, the news he receives from Madam might forever change his relationship with Ecaterina... for whom he harbours an unrequited love...