Frostborne Returns: Invincible Snow Lord

Chapter 5: A King Among Commoners

The towering gates of Eryndor loomed before Kael, a testament to the city's might. Constructed from reinforced steel and embedded with glowing blue circuits, the entrance pulsed with an eerie light. Unlike the grand castles of his era, this fortress of metal and machinery stood as a guardian of the future.

As he and the soldiers approached, a thick crowd gathered at the entrance, waiting to be processed. Large machines stood on either side of the gate, humming softly as people passed through. Above them, mechanical sentries hovered, their red lenses scanning the influx of citizens.

Lieutenant Arden stepped forward and gestured for Kael to follow. "We’ll go through the ID scanners," he said.

Kael observed as the others passed through a sleek, glowing archway. A soft beep signaled their approval, allowing them to proceed without delay.

Then, Kael stepped forward.

BEEP. BEEP.

A red light flashed, and the air grew tense.

"IDENTITY NOT FOUND," a monotone voice announced from the scanner.

Several guards stiffened, their hands drifting toward their weapons.

Arden's expression darkened. "Damn it, should’ve expected this," he muttered before raising a hand to the sentries. "Stand down! He’s with us."

The guards hesitated before nodding, and Arden turned to the terminal beside the scanner. He tapped a few commands into the interface, overriding the system. A moment later, the gate’s locks released with a hiss, and the pathway cleared.

"Let’s move," Arden said, motioning Kael inside.

As they stepped beyond the threshold, a familiar sound echoed in Kael’s mind.

Ding! Main Mission Completed: 'Find a Nearby Civilization.'

Would you like to claim your reward now?

Kael's eyes flickered, but he kept his expression neutral. He didn’t fully understand the extent of these "rewards," and claiming something in public could be unwise.

"No." He responded internally, and the system notification faded.

But the moment he stepped into the city's bustling streets, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.

"Who’s that guy?"

"Is he an actor or something?"

"What’s with those clothes? Is he from a historical drama set?"

"He looks like some prince from a fantasy film…"

Kael barely reacted, but Arden exhaled sharply. "Great. Just great," he muttered under his breath.

Ding! New Side Mission: 'Blend Into Modern Society.'

Objective: Purchase modern clothing to blend into society.

Rewards: Full knowledge of modern fashion, $10,000, 100 System Points.

Kael's gaze remained unreadable. It seemed even his own system was conspiring against his dignity.

Arden ran a hand through his hair before turning to Kael. "Look, you’re drawing way too much attention like this. We need to get you some proper clothes."

He turned to one of the soldiers. "Aaron, take him to the shopping district. Get him something that won’t make people think he walked out of a museum."

Aaron Cole—a tall, well-built man with a confident smirk—stepped forward. Unlike the others, he seemed amused rather than concerned. "Babysitting duty, huh? Alright, come on, 'Your Highness.'"

Kael didn’t acknowledge the teasing, simply walking ahead as Aaron led the way.

---

The plaza was unlike anything Kael had ever seen. Towering glass buildings reflected the city lights, and holographic billboards displayed fashion advertisements featuring men and women in sharp, tailored outfits. The streets buzzed with people, their attire sleek and unfamiliar.

Aaron guided him into a luxury boutique. The moment they entered, a woman in a fitted suit greeted them with a professional yet slightly skeptical look.

"Welcome to Avant Garde. How may I assist you?"

Aaron gestured to Kael. "We need a full wardrobe for my friend here. Something high-end."

The woman’s sharp eyes scanned Kael’s attire—his tattered royal garments, lined with frost and timeworn fabric. A polite, practiced smile formed on her lips. "Sir, our pieces are quite… exclusive."

Aaron chuckled. "Don’t worry about that. Just show us the best you’ve got."

Reluctantly, the staff guided Kael through rows of tailored suits, casual wear, and accessories. Aaron picked out outfits, shoving them toward Kael. "Try this. And this. Definitely this."

Kael observed the fabrics, the cuts, the strange zippers and buttons. This era’s attire lacked the regal weight of his royal robes, but there was a refinement in the craftsmanship.

Soon, he stepped out of the fitting room dressed in a tailored black ensemble—sharp, modern, and undeniably regal in its own way. The moment he emerged, the boutique fell silent.

The woman assisting them hesitated for a moment before composing herself. "It suits you perfectly, sir."

Kael adjusted his cuffs, indifferent to the stares. "This will suffice."

At the counter, the cashier glanced at the total before stating, "That will be $18,000."

Aaron turned to Kael. "Alright, time to pay."

Kael’s brows furrowed slightly. Pay?

He had wealth—fortunes beyond counting. But his empire’s treasury was lost to time. What currency did this world use?

Then, his eyes narrowed as realization struck.

The card.

But manifesting it out of thin air would raise questions. He reached into his pocket, fingers brushing against the empty fabric. Then, in a low voice, he murmured, "Manifest."

A cold, metallic texture met his fingers. With a controlled motion, he withdrew the Emperor’s Black Card.

The cashier frowned. "What kind of card is this?"

Aaron blinked. "Wait… I’ve never seen a design like that."

The woman scrutinized it before sighing. "Sir, if this is a custom card, we’ll need authorization—"

She swiped it.

Transaction Approved.

A hush fell over the room.

The woman checked the terminal, her posture stiffening. Her gaze flickered between Kael and the machine before she quickly adjusted her tone. "Apologies for the delay, sir. Your payment has been processed."

The boutique staff exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.

Aaron leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Alright… just who the hell are you?"

Kael merely took the card back, slipping it into his pocket. "Does it matter?"

Aaron let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Fine, keep your secrets, mystery man."

---

After exiting the boutique, Aaron led Kael into a high-end grooming salon. The moment Kael sat down, the attendants went to work—styling his hair, refining his look, ensuring not a single strand was out of place.

When he finally stepped out, the transformation was complete.

Kael von Everfrost, once clad in the remnants of a bygone era, now stood in a tailored masterpiece—his silver-white hair swept back, his features sharpened with an almost regal presence.

As they walked through the plaza, eyes turned toward him. Women whispered among themselves, their gazes lingering.

Aaron smirked. "Man, you’re a walking crime. If looks could kill, the city morgue would be full by now."

Kael adjusted his cuffs once more. "Is that so?"

Aaron laughed. "Trust me, you’re gonna have a fun time in this world."

With that, they left the plaza—one man unknowingly stepping into legend, the other amused by the unfolding chaos.