To Jules Robertson, people like Lukas were an eyesore.
Deep within his belief, for someone without any family prestige and upbringing like himself, Lukas's good results were an anomaly.
It was akin to being a sin for Jules Robertson.
Only people who had a prestigious background like himself were worthy to be awakened.
And how dare Lukas snub someone like Patricia.
Her family, even though not as powerful as his, came from a lineage of soldiers defending the Southern Battle Administration Area.
Jules Robertson took a few deep breaths, narrowed his eyes and stared at Lukas.
Thoughts on how to deal with Lukas went through his mind.
However, he wasn't going to do it out in the open.
He enjoyed more than anything else to silently and slowly making life difficult for Lukas.
Just like how he had done with cutting off funds for Lukas's studies.
"Jane, get me a beef burger with some fries. Don't think I'll be having it here." Lukas said to the waitress as he scanned the area where his old acquaintances were.
He didn't want to bother with them, and he would rather not make any contact with them.
Their worlds had been too far apart now.
The waitress, Jane, nodded and closed her mouth, making the cigarette rise, pointing toward the ceiling.
She walked back to the counter and wrote Lukas's order on a piece of paper.
After which, she placed the order through the order window connecting to the kitchen.
"Why isn't he saying hi to us?"
"I don't remember he was like this? He had always been friendly."
"Maybe he is just feeling inferior with what he is doing now."
One of the students said and all of them kept quiet.
Patricia looked at Lukas's tired face and attire.
A sense of guilt came over her and she lowered her head.
"What was I thinking?" She chastised herself for not being able to empathize with what Lukas was going through.
Her last message to him felt so childish now, especially when faced with Lukas's reality of being on his own.
"You don't have to feel bad. He gave up on his own future." Jules Robertson saw Patricia's reaction and he tried to console her.
"He must have his difficulties, being an orphan and having to survive on his own."
Patricia shook her head and refuted Jules Robertson.
"You are giving him too much benefit of the doubt. All these poor folks are poor for a reason. They give up at the slightest difficulty, all they want is life on easy mode."
Jules Robertson couldn't help it and gave Patricia a lecture of his own.
"I don't think you can call his life easy." Patricia couldn't believe what she had heard, and she instinctively shifted a few inches away from Jules Robertson.
"Don't be fooled by them. They always have excuses." Jules Robertson tried to convince Patricia, but he knew it was too late from her body language.
A fire raged within Jules Robertson, and he kept quiet and stared at Lukas.
"If you want to pester Patricia like a ghost, then I shall make you one." He said silently as he held onto a bottle of salt on the table and he crushed the salt bottle into pieces.
Meanwhile, Lukas who was waiting for his meal, pretended to be oblivious to what had transpired.
He was, however, able to listen in to everything Jules Robertson and Patricia had said with his enhanced physique.
Original Lukas wasn't awakened and didn't have the Slaughter System to deal with Jules Robertson.
It would be different now, Lukas thought.
However, this meant that he had to try and increase his Slaughter Points as fast as possible to deal with Jules Robertson, and what Jules Robertson had installed for him.
"Here you go. That'll be $7." Jane passed Lukas a brown paper bag.
"Thanks, Jane." Lukas gave her a $10 bill, turned around and walked away.
"Geez. You shouldn't have to." Jane tried to refuse his tip as she knew that Lukas was on his own, trying to make a living like her.
But Lukas was too fast for her, and all she could do was look at his back, walking out of the burger joint and disappearing into the dark night.
When Lukas got back home, he calmly ate his burger as he thought about what to do next.
He would have to try and earn more Slaughter Points from handling the larger livestock tomorrow.
And it was time to ask Bundy about registering and becoming awakened.
From what Lukas had known, there were processes for him to go about doing that.
After he finished his dinner and washed up,
He placed a knife beneath his pillow before going to bed.
Being cautious meant that you would live longer.
...
Next day.
Lukas woke up and he got to the Abattoir first thing after he had his breakfast.
"There you are. Glad that you could come again."
Bundy was all smiles when he saw Lukas keeping his word and showing up again.
"Why wouldn't I?" Lukas shrugged and he glanced over at the area where the larger livestock were kept.
Bundy frowned and he asked Lukas to confirm, "You sure about dealing with the larger livestock?"
He was still worried about Lukas getting hurt by them.
"Don't worry. I know how to take care of myself, and besides that, I know you will keep me safe." Lukas replied with a shrug.
"OK. Let's start with the safer option first."
Bundy led Lukas to his station where it was surrounded by steel barriers and there was a small opening for them to deal with the livestock.
"Watch me." Bundy said and he demonstrated how he dealt with a pig for slaughter.
The entrance opened and a pig entered, following the only path it had.
When it got near, Bundy then grabbed onto the pig with his hands.
Bang!
The pig struggled and thrashed around the small enclosure.
Bundy reached out to a huge knife with one hand while the other held onto the pig.