CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 262: FORMULATION OF YANG-TONIC POTION_1

Before seeing any actual results, Keeper Barton couldn’t offer much support, and Dean also needed to gauge this temporary partner’s influence within the prison.

Thus, facing Barton’s inquiry, Dean casually said, "I need a relatively quiet space, and then the raw materials, purification tools..."

"Stop!"

Facing a bunch of incomprehensible words, Barton raised his hand, a headache setting in, and said rudely, "Buddy, you don’t think this prison is run by my family, do you? At most, I can arrange a solitary cell for you first to ensure your safety. Then you give me a list. I need to see a sample before we can cooperate further!"

This guy was a semi-illiterate but, having navigated the chaotic prison for so many years, was quite nimble-minded.

Barton was very clear: if what this frail guy was saying was true, he definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it alone. It would be more suitable to take the sample and find a strong backer, using it as a bargaining chip to improve his own fortunes. This would also prevent him from being tricked by Dean.

Dean shrugged indifferently. "No problem. Please hurry up, and bring me some food while you’re at it. I’m very hungry now and very weak."

"Got it!"

...

Under old fox Barton’s arrangements, Barton led him to a small room, only about four or five square meters in size, barely big enough for one person to lie down, with the toilet right next to the bed.

Barton dropped off paper and a pen. "The conditions aren’t great, but your safety is guaranteed. Also, before I get off work, I’ll bring you some food. I hope to see your list by then."

"No problem!"

Dean scanned his surroundings and lay down calmly on the stinking bedboard, starting to write down what he needed.

After Barton left, the door of the solitary cell closed, leaving only a faint light filtering down from the skylight overhead.

Dean then tossed the pen aside.

In this environment, a normal person would develop psychological issues after just a few days!

However, in his previous life, Dean had stayed in environments far worse than this. So, aside from physical discomfort, he felt no psychological unease whatsoever.

He settled onto the cold, damp bedboard, pondering deeply.

Barton hadn’t introduced himself, but his choices and arrangements had already revealed his own situation to Dean. Firstly, in a laxly run prison like this, there were definitely decent single cells for gang leaders, drug lords, and other wealthy inmates. This would not only prevent their dissatisfaction from causing unnecessary conflicts but also generate income for the prison staff. Yet Barton had put him in this kind of solitary cell, a place even ordinary prisoners wouldn’t want to be. This meant that Barton didn’t have the kind of influence within the prison system that he projected. At most, he was an old hand, worldly-wise, who could slightly influence the Keepers around him. Dean even suspected that to get him into this solitary cell, Barton had to make excuses and bribe the surrounding Keepers, all to prevent them from gossiping or becoming suspicious.

The Narcotics Division undoubtedly wants me dead to solidify the case involving the annihilation of this body’s friend’s family, ensuring no mistakes are made. That’s why they arranged for this body to be put in the special cell where that fat man was before. Barton’s protection, once discovered, probably won’t last long. I need to produce the goods quickly and then have this Barton attract people or forces influential enough to shelter me! There isn’t much time left!

Having clarified these points, Dean took a breath of the damp, foul-smelling air, picked up the pen from the bedboard again, and began to write and sketch on the paper.

It might have been due to his strong Spirit attribute. Although the memories from this body felt as if shrouded by a fine gauze, Dean could now write and translate Mexican script quite freely.

However, just to be safe, he also added English annotations beneath each chemical item and mixed in some materials for making explosives among the other items on the list.

The first batch of things Barton brings in definitely won’t be much. And I’m not sure if this guy can even protect me. So, I need to prepare some means of self-protection.

...

「Evening arrived quickly.」

Barton familiarly greeted some colleagues who were pushing carts.

Seeing him carrying a meal box, someone joked, "Greedy Barton, looks like you’ve found a fat lamb again."

Annoyance flashed in Barton’s eyes, but his face broke into a hearty smile. "Yes, this one has a bit of juice to squeeze. When I’m off duty, I’ll treat the guys to a good drink at the strip club!"

This eased some of the envious glances.

Actually, he was cursing up a storm internally. I must be mad, cooperating with a marked man destined to be killed! For this, I even had to spend my own money, pretending I wanted to bleed him dry, just to avoid my colleagues’ suspicion. But this was an essential charade. If that guy Dean lied to me, I’ll have taken a huge loss this time!

With an uneasy heart, Barton made small talk with the Keeper guarding the solitary confinement wing for a while, then knocked on the door of Dean’s cell.

With a harsh RATTLE and SCRAPE of metal, the lower part of the door slid open, revealing a small square food slot, barely large enough to fit two adult palms.

Barton shoved the food he’d brought through the slot and said loudly, "Here’s your food, buddy. Like I said, if your family is willing to pay more, you wouldn’t need to stay in a place not even animals would want!"