North American Detective: I am Proficient in All Kinds of Gun Quick Draws-Chapter 545 - 315 Ending the Endurance Part 2

The next moment.

Spider Woman and her two companions were dumbfounded. Barton, who had just been able to speak, was now bowing his head, his chest heaving violently, almost as if he were asleep.

What was going on?

"SHH!"

Dean raised a finger to his lips, signaling everyone to be quiet. He tugged at Cheston En, who had been tightly gripping the steel pipe in his hand, and whispered, "Cheston En, tell the rest of the people on the ship the plan I just mentioned, and then keep an eye on that cargo ship. Notify me immediately if anything happens. I'll take care of Barton's teammates first."

Cheston En nodded and left the corner with tentative steps.

Because of his position, Cheston En had a clear view. From the moment Dean started his incessant talk, Barton, whose condition was clearly deteriorating, seemed to have been hypnotized. His gaze gradually lost focus, and his head drooped eerily.

Boss Dean is truly terrifying! Cheston En thought, thoroughly impressed. Every time he thought he had figured out the boss, the man would reveal new methods, like a vast, unfathomable sea.

After sending Cheston En away, Dean signaled Spider Woman and the others to move away from Barton and come to the other side. Barton's condition was clearly abnormal.

Spider Woman and her two teammates exchanged glances and slowly moved away from Barton to stand before Dean.

Spider Woman, taking Barton's place, looked warily at Dean and asked, "What have you done to our captain?"

Dean's head tilted slightly, and he clicked his tongue. "Is that the attitude you take when speaking to your savior?"

"What do you mean?" A dangerous light flashed in Spider Woman's eyes.

Dean sneered. "Don't pretend. You heard me say that those who are out of control are doomed to lose control. You deliberately stepped on Kaxiu—that was your way of testing Barton, wasn't it? Don't tell me you haven't noticed that Barton's condition is getting worse!"

As soon as Dean said this, Spider Woman and her two remaining teammates fell silent. The reason the three of them had moved away in such unison moments ago, without even trying to probe Barton, was exactly as Dean had said: they had already noticed that something was amiss with Captain Barton.

It was just that no one wanted to be the first to point it out, lest they become a target of an explosively violent Barton.

Spider Woman looked up at Dean again, her expression wary.

This guy is really too clever!

She took a deep breath and said formally, "Let's introduce ourselves properly. My name is Black Widow, the deputy captain of the squad. From now on, the three of us hope you can help us survive!"

Dean looked surprised. "That direct?"

Black Widow smiled contemptuously. "On the battlefield, the hesitant have long since died."

Seeing this, Dean didn't waste words and nodded. "Agreement made. Next, I need you to accompany my companion Cheston En, organize the other players, cooperate as I instructed earlier, and get the food from the cargo ship!"

"Can you be more specific?" Black Widow glanced at Cheston En, who was now surrounded by a group of anxious people, and added, "Your buddy doesn't seem to be handling those panicky folks very well."

"It's simple!"

Dean snapped his fingers. "Convince the players on the cruise ship by playing on their fear of death. If they want to survive, they must first solve the food and water issue. Even if there are smart ones among them who realize that the food and water on the cargo ship can't sustain all of us for fourteen days, they won't mention it due to wishful thinking.

"As for the second mission, that's something we'll consider later, so don't worry about it.

"Regarding the cargo ship…"

Dean smiled. "According to the hints, not only is their propulsion system out of action, but their communication systems are also broken. They can only contact us through signal flags.

"If any of us understand signal flags, we can tell them that there isn't much food on the cruise ship. If they want to be rescued, they should send the food over with small boats first, or we'll refuse to help.

"If none of us knows signal flags, it doesn't matter. In the minds of those on the cargo ship, they are the ones seeking help, and we are their only hope for survival right now. So, even if we ignore them, or even if this cruise ship looks strange, they'll still cling to us as their last hope. They will send people in small boats to approach us for help.

"When that happens, we just tell them what I've outlined. As long as we capitalize on their desperation for rescue, they will automatically overlook anything that seems amiss! They have no other choice!"

Black Widow and her two companions listened to Dean's plan, nodding occasionally. Their wariness towards Dean, this pretty boy, grew even stronger.

This guy's grasp of human psychology is terrifying! she thought. With just a few words, he had not only thoroughly outmaneuvered the people on the cargo ship—people he hadn't even met—but also perfectly anticipated the thoughts of the other players on the cruise ship.

If they followed his instructions, they could likely reunite the other anxious and mutually distrustful players into a cohesive group. Moreover, they could do so without using any force and easily control the stowaways on the distant cargo ship.

Fortunately, they weren't enemies right now. Otherwise, she would definitely have chosen to kill this pretty boy at the first opportunity!

Watching Black Widow and the others walk away, Dean sat cross-legged. His gaze fixed on Barton, and on Kaxiu, who was whimpering softly beside Barton.

He, Black Widow, and her group had tacitly chosen not to take Kaxiu with them. Dean hoped Kaxiu would awaken the lightly hypnotized Barton. Then, he hoped Kaxiu would guide Barton to sabotage the surveillance equipment on the cruise ship, creating an opportunity for Dean to make his move.