I am the Entertainment Tycoon

Chapter 690: The Nighttime Scavenger Hunt



The night had settled over Yukihime High School, casting the campus in shadows and soft moonlight. The air was cool, carrying a slight breeze that whispered through the trees, and the sounds of the daytime festival had quieted, leaving an eerie calm in its wake. The once bustling school grounds now felt different, cloaked in mystery, as the night opened up a new chapter of the festival-one that was not for the faint of heart.

Theo, Ayia, Shizuka, Sam, Sayuri, June, Ryoko, Kumiko, Shoko, Max, Lauren, Gwen, and Kin had regrouped after enjoying the day's events. The sun had set, but the night was still young, and they were eager to experience the next attraction on their list: the Nighttime Scavenger Hunt organized by the Mysterious Detective Book Club.

The group made their way to the starting point of the scavenger hunt after they paid for their participation in the club booth at the campus center, their footsteps echoing softly on the cobblestone paths as they walked through the dimly lit campus. The club members had chosen a secluded area, away from the remaining festival booths, where the darkness was nearly complete. The only light came from the moon, the occasional paper lantern, and the flickering glow of fireflies that danced through the air.

As they arrived, they were greeted by members of the Mysterious Detective Book Club, who were dressed in their signature detective-themed outfits-long coats, fedoras, and magnifying glasses. The club members handed out flashlights and glow sticks to the group, their faces serious as they explained the rules of the hunt.

"Welcome, detectives," one of the club members said, his voice low and dramatic. "Tonight, you will be tasked with solving a mystery that has haunted this school for decades. The clues are hidden throughout the campus, and each one will lead you closer to uncovering the truth. But beware-the night is full of secrets, and not everything is as it seems."

The group exchanged excited, nervous glances as they listened to the instructions. The thrill of the unknown, combined with the eerie atmosphere, made their hearts race with anticipation.

"Are you ready?" Theo asked, his voice steady but his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Absolutely," Ayia replied, squeezing his hand. "Let's do this."

With that, they set off, their flashlights cutting through the darkness as they began the hunt. The first clue had been handed to them on a piece of parchment-like paper, the edges worn and yellowed. The cryptic message, written in old-fashioned handwriting, hinted at a hidden location somewhere in the school's courtyard.

As they approached the courtyard, the night seemed to grow darker, the shadows lengthening and shifting as if alive. The tall, ancient trees loomed overhead, their branches twisting like gnarled fingers reaching out to grasp them. The group moved cautiously, their footsteps muffled by the soft grass, as they searched for the next clue.

"It should be around here somewhere," Sam muttered, shining her flashlight along the base of a large oak tree.

"Maybe it's hidden in the tree?" Shizuka suggested, her voice hushed.

Max, always the first to take action, began examining the tree trunk. He ran his fingers over the rough bark, searching for anything unusual. After a few moments, he let out a triumphant cry.

"Found it!" he exclaimed, pulling out a small, weathered box that had been hidden in a hollow at the base of the tree.

The group gathered around as he opened the box, revealing another parchment with a clue written on it. This one directed them to the old library, where they would need to find a book that didn't belong.

The campus had three functioning libraries, but there was a fourth one which was closed for a few years already. This same library was one of the oldest buildings on the campus.

The old library was one of the oldest buildings on campus, and as they approached, its gothic architecture seemed to loom over them, the stone walls cold and imposing in the night. The windows were dark and dusty, but a faint yellow light flickered inside, casting long shadows across the floor.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old paper and dust. The rows of bookshelves stretched out before them like a labyrinth, and the only sounds were their own breathing and the soft creaking of the floorboards beneath their feet.

"This is really getting creepy," June commented as she saw the creepy shadows reaching them.

"Okay, we're looking for a book that doesn't belong," Sayuri said, her voice a mere whisper as they spread out to search the shelves.

The group moved silently through the library, their flashlights scanning the spines of the old books. Each shelf was packed with volumes, their titles barely visible in the dim light. The eerie silence of the library only added to the tension, making every rustle of paper and creak of wood seem unnaturally loud.

"I found something," Ryoko called softly from the far corner of the room.

They hurried over to where she stood, her flashlight illuminating a book that was noticeably out of place. Unlike the others, this one was a thick, leather-bound tome with no title on the spine. The edges were frayed, and the leather was cracked with age.

"Should we open it?" Kumiko asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Theo nodded, and with a deep breath, he carefully pulled the book from the shelf. As he opened it, a cloud of dust rose into the air, making them all cough. Inside, the pages were blank, except for one, which held the next clue. It was written in the same old-fashioned handwriting, directing them to the school's old science lab, where they were to find a hidden compartment.

The science lab was located in a secluded wing of the school, a place that few ventured into after dark. The hallway leading to it was long and narrow, the walls lined with old photographs of past students and faculty. Their footsteps echoed loudly in the silence, and the flickering light from their glow sticks cast eerie shadows on the walls.

As they reached the lab, they found the door slightly ajar, creaking as it swung open with a push. Inside, the room was filled with the faint smell of chemicals and dust. The old wooden desks and cabinets were arranged in neat rows, but there was something unsettling about the stillness of the room.

The group split up again, searching for the hidden compartment mentioned in the clue. Theo and Ayia headed toward the back of the room, where an old, worn desk sat in the corner. The desk was covered in scratches, and one of the drawers was slightly open.

"Could this be it?" Ayia whispered, her voice barely audible.

Theo nodded, and together they carefully pulled the drawer open. Inside, they found a false bottom, cleverly concealed beneath a layer of old papers. Lifting it, they revealed a hidden compartment containing another parchment.

"Got it," Theo said, holding up the clue for everyone to see.

This clue was more complex, containing a riddle that hinted at the school's oldest building- a structure rumored to be haunted. The riddle spoke of a long-lost artifact hidden within its walls, and the group realized that this was the final stage of the hunt.

The oldest building on campus was a relic from another era, its stone walls weathered and worn by time. The moonlight barely penetrated the thick, ivy-covered windows, casting the interior in a cold, ghostly glow. The doors creaked as they entered, and the air inside was cold, almost as if the building itself was holding its breath.

"This place gives me the creeps," Shoko muttered, sticking close to the group as they moved through the darkened halls.

"Yeah, this is definitely the spookiest part of the hunt," Gwen agreed, her voice tense.

The building was a maze of narrow corridors and winding staircases, each one leading deeper into the heart of the structure. The further they went, the colder and darker it became, until they could see their breath in the air.

Finally, the clue led them to a room at the very top of the building, a small, circular chamber with a single window that overlooked the school grounds. The room was empty, save for a large, ornate chest in the center, its surface covered in dust.

"This has to be it," Lauren said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Theo approached the chest cautiously, his hand resting on the cold metal latch. With a deep breath, he lifted the lid, and inside they found the replica of the long-lost artifact-a beautifully crafted, ancient-looking key.

"We did it," Ayia said, her voice filled with relief and excitement.

The group gathered around the chest, their flashlights casting long shadows on the walls as

they admired the artifact. The key was heavy and intricately designed, its surface etched with strange symbols that none of them recognized.

"This was an amazing scavenger hunt," Max said, his voice full of admiration. "The club

really outdid themselves."

"Agreed," Kin added. "It was challenging and eerie, but also a lot of fun."

With the scavenger hunt complete, they made their way back down the winding stairs and out

of the building. The night air was refreshing after the cold, stale air of the old building, and

they breathed it in deeply as they stepped outside.

This part of the campus was still quiet, but from afar they still could hear the commotion from the huge public crowding the festival as the night grew late. The group walked together, their spirits high after the thrilling experience. They laughed and talked about the different clues, replaying the moments of tension and excitement that had kept them on edge

throughout the hunt.

As they reached the campus center, the paper lanterns cast a warm, gentle glow over the scene, softening the eerie atmosphere that had dominated the night scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt had been a test of their wits and courage, and they had come out the other side with a newfound appreciation for the night's mysteries.