Difficulty -> Hard

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《Deep Sea Aquarium》

Night Shift Code of Conduct

※ This document is provided only to those assigned to the night shift. ※ Read thoroughly once before starting your shift. ※ Do not explain the contents of these rules to other staff or visitors.

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The closing time for the Deep Sea Aquarium is 9:00 PM.

At 9:00 PM, usher out all visitors and lock the main entrance.

If even one visitor remains after 9:00 PM, do not rush them.

There is a possibility they are not yet visitors.

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After closing, all tank lights turn off automatically.

However, do not turn off the lights for Tank 7 yourself.

There are currently no creatures on display in Tank 7.

If someone asks you to turn off the lights for Tank 7,

“I will relay that to the staff in charge.”

Answer as such.

There is no staff member in charge.

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Night patrols must start from the 1st floor and end on the B2 level.

Even if you see stairs leading down to B3, do not use them.

The Deep Sea Aquarium only exists up to the B2 level.

If there is a sign on the stairs that says ‘B3’, never go near it.

Especially do not go down even if you hear the sound of dripping water from below.

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When inspecting the tanks, do not put your face close to the glass surface.

It is normal for your own face to be reflected in the glass of a dark tank.

However,

If a smiling face is reflected before you do, back away immediately.

There is no need to look back.

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Tank 12 displays a giant squid.

Currently, the creature has died and the display is suspended.

Therefore, if you see large tentacles moving in Tank 12 during your night shift, do not be alarmed.

That is not a giant squid.

And it is not inside the tank.

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You may hear tapping sounds from inside the tanks.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Ignore three taps.

If you hear four taps, do not move from that spot.

If you hear five taps, close your eyes and wait for 10 seconds.

If you hear six taps—

You, who are reading these rules, are already too late.

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Staff announcements may play during the night shift.

For example,

“A visitor has gone missing in the 2nd-floor Jellyfish Hall.”

Such an announcement may play.

Do not believe that announcement.

Currently, the aquarium does not have a 2nd floor.

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Sometimes the public address system calls out a staff member's name.

Ex:

“Staff member Kim ○○, please come to Tank 5 immediately.”

Even if your name is called, do not respond.

The aquarium's broadcast system does not have a function to input staff names.

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You may find wet footprints during your patrol.

If the footprints lead from the main entrance inward, ignore them.

If the footprints lead from a tank toward the hallway, stop your patrol immediately and return to the management office.

And if the footprints are the exact same size as your own—

Do not return to the management office.

It is highly likely that someone is already inside the office.

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You may store personal food in the refrigerator in the staff breakroom.

However, do not open the refrigerator door after 1:00 AM.

You may hear the sound of water inside.

It is not because the refrigerator is broken.

And there is no space inside the refrigerator large enough for water to flow like that.

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At 2:00 AM, all the fish in the tanks may face the same direction.

This is not normal behavior.

However, do not worry.

There should be nothing in the direction the fish are looking.

If you see something where they are looking, never check what it is.

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Never check the CCTV at 3:13 AM.

The reason is not disclosed to staff.

If you accidentally check the CCTV screen, check what your reflection on the screen is doing.

If it is different from what you are currently doing, turn off the monitor immediately.

Do not follow the actions on the screen.

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Do not use the elevator after 4:00 AM.

Even if the elevator is stopped on the 1st floor, do not use it.

If the interior is full of water when the doors open, that is a normal situation.

Do not get on.

If the interior is empty when the doors open, it is more dangerous.

Never take your eyes off it until the doors close.

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You may encounter other staff members during your shift.

Do not greet them first.

If the other person greets you first, check their staff ID.

If there is no photo on the staff ID,

“Keep up the good work.”

Say that and pass by.

If your own photo is on the staff ID, do not say anything.

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Night shift workers work alone.

Therefore, if another staff member is walking beside you during patrol, do not talk to that staff member.

If they continue to follow you, do not stop walking and move to the management office.

When you arrive at the management office, if they open the door for you first—

Never go inside.

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If you find a young child crying in front of Tank 7, do not hold the child's hand.

Do not ask the child where their parents are.

Instead, ask only this one question.

“How many fish do you see?”

If the child's answer is “I don't see any,” take the child and leave that place immediately.

If the child's answer is a number, run away alone.

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The smell of the sea may become excessively strong inside the aquarium.

This is not a problem with the ventilation facilities.

If you smell someone's wet hair along with the smell of the sea, do not look back.

Even if hair touches the back of your neck, do not brush it away with your hand.

It might not be hair.

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After closing, you may see a human face inside a tank.

It might look similar to a staff member's face.

However, in this aquarium, there are no tanks that allow entry into the underwater display area.

Therefore, if you find a face, do not check who it is.

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At 5:00 AM, all anomalous phenomena end.

Hand over your duties to the morning shift worker normally.

If the morning shift worker asks,

“Nothing happened last night, right?”

Answer,

“Yes. Nothing happened.”

Even if he asks again, “Really?” repeat the same answer.

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This is the final rule.

There are a total of 36 tanks in the aquarium.

It is written so in the staff training materials.

However, while on night patrol, you will occasionally find a 37th tank.

The water in that tank is always clean,

there are no creatures inside,

and a small sign is placed in front of the tank.

The sign reads:

「The Person Waiting for You」

If you find that tank, never tap on the glass.

Even if someone taps from the inside.

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Appendix

The next morning, the night shift worker must fill out a duty log.

The first item on the duty log is always the same.

「Number of tanks found during the night shift」

The normal answer is 36.

Do not write 37.

It doesn't matter how many you saw last night.

Because from the beginning, there were only 36 tanks in the aquarium.

And if, the moment you are writing the duty log,

from behind your back,

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

You hear three taps—

Do not look back.

It is the sound letting you know that you are still standing in front of the 37th tank.