Chapter 9

At six o'clock in the morning, Lip was woken up by the urgent need to pee.

As he got out of bed, his entire body felt stiff, with every joint crackling slightly. He didn't pay much attention at first, but as he rushed to the bathroom, he noticed something unusual.

Looking down, he was stunned to see his "good friend" standing at full attention, far more energetic than usual.

"What the hell?!" Lip stared, shocked.

It didn't take him long to realize that it must be the "Like a Dragon and a Tiger" capsule he'd taken. He quickly put two and two together.

"This capsule even affects... this?!" Lip thought with a mix of surprise and amusement.

The changes were too significant to ignore. His body felt more powerful than ever, and there was a noticeable boost in his confidence. "Karen might not be able to resist now!" he thought happily.

He glanced in the mirror, and his jaw almost dropped.

His face looked sharper, more symmetrical, and his features had a golden proportion to them. The freckles and blemishes he'd always had disappeared, and the reflection vaguely resembled a younger Johnny Depp.

"This is insane, it even fixed my face!" Lip marveled, running his hands over his now flawless features, his narcissism growing with each passing second. "So handsome!" he grinned, thoroughly pleased.

With his newfound looks, Lip knew his already decent appeal to women would only improve. But something else struck him as well: he seemed taller.

He estimated he was probably over 1.72 meters now, at least two centimeters taller than before, and possibly even more. In under 24 hours since taking the capsule, he'd grown nearly 8 centimeters.

Lip moved around, testing his body. His speed, strength, and coordination felt significantly improved.

"A powerhouse!" Lip shouted silently, beaming with joy. "I'm like a fortress now!" He wanted to jump around, shout, or run a victory lap, but no one else had gotten up yet.

So, he decided to slip on some clothes and go for a run to release his excitement.

Before he traveled in time, he had always enjoyed jogging through the park, and today, it felt like the perfect way to burn off all his energy.

The early morning air was still chilly. Lip swung his arms and paced out his steps, gradually adjusting to his improved physique. The cold air tingled in his lungs, making him feel more alive than ever.

"If I entered a track meet, I'd crush both the long-distance and sprint events," Lip mused, his confidence soaring.

His shoes were a bit tight, and his clothes felt too short, but that was something he'd fix later.

"I need to buy a new wardrobe soon," he thought as he jogged along, observing the streets and buildings around him.

As he ran, Lip mentally mapped the area around his home. The Gallagher house, at 2119 North Wallace Street in South Chicago, was situated near the Cordez Station. It was only about seven or eight kilometers from Chinatown and less than ten kilometers from Union Station. All things considered, it was in a decent location.

However, the city still hadn't fully recovered from the 2008 financial crisis. Unemployment rates were high, and families like the Gallaghers had to scrape by. The South Side, where they lived, was known for its poverty.

The wealthy areas were far to the north or in suburban villas, while the South Side was a mix of immigrants—Mexicans, Hispanics, and even some illegal immigrants. The neighborhood wasn't exactly a slum, but it wasn't far from it either.

Many people here struggled with low-paying jobs or had no job at all, resorting to petty crime to survive. Alcohol was sold on every corner, and drug addicts lurked in dark alleys, looking for their next fix.

Small gangs controlled the streets, running illegal businesses, which made the area dangerous and lacking in proper security.

Just a couple of blocks away from the Gallagher's house was Karen's neighborhood. It was quieter, with families like hers, but still far from affluent.

"Rumble~"

The first train of the morning sped by, rattling the two-story building with gray and white tiles on its exterior.

Lip paused, watching as the lights inside the house flicked on.

This house was Karen's.

He'd been running, and now, he was thinking ahead.

The plan he had formulated the night before was to fix things between Karen's parents, Eddie and Sheila. If he could win their trust and favor, it would not only protect him from the chaos that Frank caused, but it would also make Karen's home a stable, supportive environment.

A secure home would be the perfect foundation before he could truly build his future with Karen. It would also help in his plan to get her pregnant as soon as possible, which was crucial for his long-term goals.

Lip realized that compared to his own family, which was full of chaos and holes, transforming Karen's family would be a more straightforward task.

With his goal clear in his mind, Lip turned around and ran back home, eager to begin his next steps.