I am the Entertainment Tycoon

Chapter 663: When the Night Falls: The Switch to Nighttime Attractions (I)



As the sun dipped below the horizon and the evening sky deepened into shades of indigo, the Love Nature Club began the transition from their daytime attraction to their eagerly anticipated nighttime event. The Haunted House, which had been a hit during the day with its spooky rooms and creepy corridors, was slowly being shut down. The last few groups of visitors exited the attraction, some laughing nervously while others tried to shake off the lingering sense of unease. The club members, dressed in their eerie costumes, exchanged knowing glances-they knew that the real test of courage was yet to come.

With the Haunted House officially closed, the club members quickly shifted their focus to their trump card attraction: the "Haunted Forest: Kimodameshi." This was no ordinary haunted house; it was a full-fledged experience that combined the eerie atmosphere of a haunted forest with the traditional elements of Kimodameshi, a beloved test of bravery in the Sakura Abode Country.

Under the leadership of their president, the club members worked with quiet efficiency, their excitement palpable. They had spent weeks preparing the sectioned-off part of the forest within the Yukihime High School campus, carefully transforming it into a chilling, immersive experience. The path through the forest was lined with hidden speakers that emitted unsettling sounds-whispers, rustling leaves, and the occasional distant scream. Fog machines were strategically placed to ensure that the trails would be shrouded in an eerie mist, adding to the overall atmosphere of suspense and fear.

Lanterns hung from the trees, their flickering light casting long, distorted shadows on the ground. The club members had decorated the forest with various creepy props-fake cobwebs, old-fashioned dolls with cracked faces, and weathered signs warning of dangers ahead. But it wasn't just the props that would send chills down the spines of the participants. Several club members had volunteered to hide along the trail, ready to jump out at unsuspecting groups, adding a real element of surprise to the experience.

As the final touches were being made, the club members gathered for a quick briefing. The president reminded everyone of their roles and stressed the importance of timing-too many scares too quickly could ruin the experience, but too few might make it dull. The goal was to find the perfect balance, keeping participants on edge from start to finish.

Once the preparations were complete, the club members did one last round through the trails, walking the path that the public would soon take. They checked that the fog machines were functioning, that the hidden speakers were in place, and that all the scare spots were ready. As they walked, the eerie atmosphere that they had worked so hard to create began to settle over them, even though they knew every twist and turn of the trail. The sounds of rustling leaves, the soft creak of tree branches in the wind, and the dim glow of the lanterns combined to create an environment that was both haunting and captivating.

The president led the way, her flashlight cutting through the mist as she checked each section of the trail. Her clubmates followed closely behind, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. Despite their familiarity with the forest, there was a shared sense of anticipation-they knew that the public's reaction to the Haunted Forest: Kimodameshi would determine how successful their club would be in the festival's competition.

As they reached the end of the trail, the president turned to her team, a smile playing on her lips. "This is it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We've done everything we can. Now it's up to the forest and the night to do the rest."

With one last look around, the club members exited the forest, their nerves a mix of excitement and anxiety. The Haunted Forest: Kimodameshi was ready, and soon, the first brave participants would venture into its depths, their courage tested by the unknown horrors that awaited them. The Love Nature Club could only hope that their hard work would pay off, earning them a spot among the top ten clubs and the recognition they had strived for.

And it wasn't only the Love Nature Club that had the idea of changing their attractions during the night. Everyone wanted to guarantee their position in the top 10 ranking. So, as the sun set on the horizon the school campus was amidst a frenzy of changes as several clubs started to offer different and exciting attractions to do during the night.

For example, the Mysterious Detective Book Club prepared to switch gears from their successful daytime detective scavenger hunt to their highly anticipated Nighttime Scavenger Hunt. The atmosphere on campus shifted with the onset of the evening, as the excitement of the festival was tinged with a sense of mystery and intrigue-the perfect backdrop for the club's next event.

Throughout the day, the club had drawn crowds with their cleverly designed detective scavenger hunt. Participants, armed with clues and maps, had scoured the campus in search of hidden objects, piecing together a mystery that had challenged even the sharpest minds. The daytime hunt had been a hit, with students and visitors alike enjoying the thrill of solving puzzles and unraveling the plot the club had woven. But as night fell, the Mysterious Detective Book Club knew it was time to take things up a notch.

The Nighttime Scavenger Hunt was a completely different beast. Designed to be more challenging and immersive, it would push participants to rely not just on their wits, but also on their ability to navigate the dark and eerie campus. The club members, dressed in their signature detective-themed outfits-long coats, fedoras, and magnifying glasses-worked quickly to transform their setup.

First, they changed their targeted area to places around the campus where there were few booths, consequently, there were few people in these areas even with the school campus receiving crowds of visiting people, they also dimmed the lights around the scavenger hunt area, allowing the natural darkness to settle in. The moonlight, combined with the occasional flicker of paper lanterns, provided just enough illumination to create an atmosphere of suspense. The club had prepared flashlights and glow sticks, which they would hand out to participants as they began their hunt. The glow of these tools would create an eerie ambiance, casting long shadows and making every dark corner seem like it held a secret waiting to be uncovered.

The clues for the Nighttime Scavenger Hunt had been carefully crafted to match the spooky setting. Written in cryptic, old-fashioned handwriting on parchment-like paper, each clue hinted at a deeper mystery, with references to ghostly apparitions, hidden treasures, and unsolved crimes. Some clues were hidden in plain sight, while others were tucked away in the most unexpected places-a hollowed-out book in the library, a secret compartment in an old desk, or a scroll concealed behind a loose brick in the wall.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As part of the theme, the club also added eerie sound effects to certain locations. A distant creak, a whisper of wind, the echo of footsteps-these subtle sounds were designed to unsettle participants, making them second-guess their surroundings and adding an extra layer of tension to the hunt. A few of the club members had even volunteered to play the role of mysterious figures, appearing briefly in the shadows or offering cryptic hints before disappearing into the night.

The centerpiece of the hunt was a puzzle that would lead participants through the school's oldest building, a structure rumored to be haunted. The club had strategically placed clues throughout the building, guiding participants from room to room as they pieced together the story of a long-lost artifact. The final clue would lead them to a hidden location on the campus, where a replica of the artifact awaited discovery. Those who solved the mystery would be rewarded not only with the thrill of success but also with a small prize-an intricately designed badge commemorating their victory.

As the final preparations were made, the club members huddled together, going over the details one last time. The president, a sharp-eyed girl with a knack for unraveling even the most complex mysteries, took charge. She made sure each member knew their role, from manning the registration booth to placing the last-minute props in the designated locations. They all knew that the Nighttime Scavenger Hunt had to be flawless; after all, the competition was fierce, and they were determined to secure a spot among the top ten clubs. With everything in place, the president took a deep breath and looked around at her team. "Alright, detectives," she said, her voice low but filled with excitement, "it's time to open the case. Let's make this a night they'll never forget."

The club members nodded, their faces lit by the glow of their flashlights as they dispersed to their assigned stations. The final details had been checked, the clues were in place, and the atmosphere was perfect. As the first participants approached the booth, eager to begin their nighttime adventure, the Mysterious Detective Book Club was ready. The Nighttime Scavenger Hunt was about to begin, and with it, the thrill of the unknown would take over the festival once again.