Chapter 3 (Part 2) - The Denouement

"For the second time as L's successor I have to admit defeat".

All the SPK members had rather pale faces. They were all disappointed that they couldn't stop R-Kira, L first."

"It's over, there's nothing more we can do."

When you don't win a game or finish a puzzle you're nothing but a loser! 

But this time, I don't want to lose!

As L's lego tower fell, he managed to catch a piece.

Detective L, determined to stop R-Kira, was desperate for a new lead. He decided to try one last approach.

L broadcast a solemn message over the airwaves of SakuraTV, addressing R-Kira directly.

L : 

"R-Kira, I'm ready to accept your offer. I will carry out the transaction you request, sharing the money equally between all the winning bettors. We hope the whole thing goes off without a hitch."

The citizens, relieved to see a possible way out of this crisis, looked hopefully to the future, thinking that this threat would finally come to an end. But among the spectators attentively following L's message, a lively discussion broke out.

"Why set up this indemnity if L is going to solve the problem with R-Kira? There's no point!"

"Don't be so sure of yourself. You never know how these things might turn out. Imagine L would have turned down the offer."

"Maybe you're right. Better to be cautious."

But there was something even more important. Word spread quickly throughout Japan, and soon hundreds, if not thousands, of people were rushing to take part in Shōhei's unprecedented wager. A website had been created for the occasion. The news of the detective's acceptance of the offer had created a veritable frenzy among the population. People were convinced that L, with his legendary intelligence, would undoubtedly succeed in gaining Kira's power. Bets were pouring in, and it seemed that every adult between the ages of 26 and 50 wanted a piece of the action. The whole of Japan was abuzz, and everyone hoped to be among the lucky punters who would share in the colossal sum promised by R-Kira.

L, after observing the events unfolding around the bet, sighed lightly. 

"We've fallen into R-Kira's trap, except for the 'real people'," he admitted to his puzzled colleagues. 

"What do you mean by 'real people'?"

"When I talk about 'real people', I'm referring to those who see beyond the apparent easy way out and dare to take risks. R-Kira created this bet to help people who suffer discrimination because they act differently from the norm. The majority will probably bet on me succeeding in getting the Death Note, because that's the easiest way to secure their money. But the 'real people' are those who will bet on me not succeeding. They deliberately choose a less obvious path, hoping it will work. R-Kira rewards their willingness to look for an alternative when the easy way out is at hand." 

L had begun to recognize his opponent's ingenuity and grasp the philosophy behind his actions. However, while what he was doing might be admired by some, it was still a crime in L's eyes, and he could not let such a violation of the law go unpunished.

Shōhei, having heard L's message, decided to keep his word. He turned to Ryuk and explained his new approach.

Shōhei (serious): "Ryuk, first go to SakuraTV to announce that the betting ends in 1 hour. Then you'll go and see L. If he doesn't buy the Death Note, you must first go back to SakuraTV to announce that L has finally refused the offer to buy the Death Note, with a sign, of course. Once everything is in order, come back to see me, so that I can recover my rights to the Death Note."

Ryuk: I'll have to ask you for a raise on my salary.

"And also, I'd like you to write a fake rule for the Death Note," says Shōhei. "A rule that says you can influence your successor 24 hours after the exchange, as long as they haven't written any names in the notebook. The influence may last no longer than 26 days."

Ryuk inclined his head, pondering Shōhei's request. "It's a strange idea, but why not? After all, it might be fun."

Shōhei (smiling): Don't worry, you'll understand later. It's for entertainment...

Ryuk then leaves for the SPK headquarters.

During the meal, while they were alone at the table, Shōhei's mother spotted the announcement about the bet.

「Be ready! There's only an hour left before the betting closes! Be sure to place your bets before the countdown ends. Don't miss your chance to take part and win an incredible sum. Good luck to all the punters out there!」

With great enthusiasm, she questioned her son, curious to know what he thought.

"I don't know, you should bet that L won't have Kira's power," he advised his mother while taking a bite of his meal. "To me, although L is a great detective, we're talking about a supernatural power here. And also, people who always take the easy way out should sometimes be taught a lesson. Those who take risks deserve a fair chance, even if it goes against simplicity."

His mother thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile. "All right, I'll do it. If you say so, it must be a good idea."

In the meeting room, one of L's teammates mentioned R-Kira's strange plan. "It's really strange, isn't it?" he said, looking at the numbers. "There are already 10,000 people betting. I don't understand why he would organize a bet on something he's supposed to have mastered."

L, sitting opposite him, thought for a moment before replying, "R-Kira has put us in a bind. In general, everyone would bet that I'd manage to get the Death Note, that's logic. But if it were that logical, he'd never have created a bet like this. That means he knows I won't succeed in getting the power."

"But then why did we accept his offer?"

L calmly replied: "Because if we had refused, it would have aroused suspicion. R-Kira simply wanted to get money out of us by making it look like we had a chance of winning. He's cunning, but we must remain vigilant."

Ryuk arrived at L, who was waiting for him alone, aware of the gravity of the situation. Being able to see the god of death, he didn't need to touch the Death Note.

Ryuk (in a sinister voice): "So, L, here's the Death Note. Listen carefully, because there's something new."

Ryuk explained the new rule concerning the death of whoever bought and sold the Death Note, which gave L pause.

L: R-Kira really had it all planned then. What if I ask you to give it to one of my colleagues?

Ryuk: That won't be possible, because the one you call R-Kira sold you the Death Note. Therefore, you and only you are the buyer.

L: I can't afford to keep such an object. However, Ryuk, can I ask you a question?

Ryuk (curious): Sure, L, go ahead.

L: Can you confirm if there are any limits to your freedom of movement as a Shinigami?

Ryuk (surprised): Strange... Why do you ask?

L: I want to know if R-Kira has to follow you in order for you to make all your SakuraTV appearances.

Ruyk (smiling): I can move around as I please, but I have to stay at least 14 kilometers away from the owner of the Death Note.

L thought for a moment, then nodded.

L (determined): "Very well, we'll have to adapt our strategy accordingly. I may have an idea."

This crucial scene marks the beginning of a new strategy in the pursuit of R-Kira, based on the crucial information L has obtained about Ryuk's limitations as a Shinigami.

Ryuk: He told me to go to SakuraTV 1 minute after the betting ended.

Ryuk went to SakuraTV, carrying a sign that read in large letters: 

「L has refused Kira's power, therefore the winning bettors will receive the money in their bank accounts. Only the government can now eliminate this power by paying the sum of ¥19,241,000,000,000.」

Viewers around the world saw R-Kira's message, and the news spread quickly. Social networks and the media talked of nothing else, fueling speculation and debate.

The winning bettors received the money in their bank accounts after L refused to accept Kira's power. However, those who had bet on L's success felt betrayed and began calling him a swindler. They claimed the whole thing had been orchestrated so as not to lose a lot of money, since the majority had voted in favor of L's success.

A voice rose among the malcontents:

"If you lost, it's simply because you took the easy way out. Kira has decided to reward those who dared to take different risks."

When Shōhei entered his classroom in the morning, he was immediately greeted by an unusual bustle. His classmates were excitedly discussing the astronomical sums of money that would soon be arriving in their parents' accounts. Some students, armed with calculators, were trying to work out exactly how much each of them would receive.

"If we consider that all participants contributed at least ¥157, that's over ¥2,778,900 in total, isn't it?" suggested one.

"Yes, but let's not forget the ¥220,000,000,000 requested by Kira," added another, tapping furiously on his calculator. "So, all in all, that's ¥220,002,778,900."

Shock showed on their faces as they realized there were only 1,700 winners. They began to divide the sum by this number, and the result left them speechless. At the very least, each winner would receive almost 129 million yen (~$866 622). The students were stunned by the prospect of such sums of money.

Shōhei's mother (on the phone): "Shōhei, have you seen the news? It's unbelievable!"

Shōhei (calmly): "Yes, Mom, I've just been informed."

Shōhei's mother: "I just got a call from the bank. They're going to credit our account with an astronomical sum! We're rich!"

Shōhei: "That's great."

Shōhei watched the animated discussions of his comrades with curiosity. He was surprised to find that very few people had bet on L's defeat. The others had probably taken the easy way out by betting on L's success, hoping to secure their financial gain.

Shōhei didn't seem to share his mother's reaction. He knew that even without the Death Note in his possession, he retained all his memories concerning his actions as R-Kira. It was a delicate situation, but he couldn't help feeling relieved that so few people had bet on L's defeat.

The Japanese government was faced with a difficult decision. Should they pay this astronomical sum to eliminate Kira's power once and for all, or should they risk doing nothing and then it could be in anyone's hands? The tension was at its height, and the world waited impatiently for the decision to be made.

L, with his usual assurance, reassured the government by announcing that he had drawn up a new plan to put an end to the R-Kira threat. His plan involved Tokyo's schools, in particular 2nd and 3rd grade high school students.

He asked Tokyo schools to conduct intelligence tests for students at these levels, as he had a theory. L felt that Ryuk, as a Shinigami, believed that human intelligence was based on test results, and would therefore have entrusted his Death Note to a particularly intelligent student.

The announcement of the tests created a buzz among the students. 

In Tokyo's schools, students anxiously wondered about the upcoming intelligence tests. Two classmates discussed the new measure.

"Are these intelligence tests for real?" asked one of the students.

The other replied, visibly concerned: "Yes, that's what they say."

Shōhei, who was standing not far from them, listened attentively to the conversation. Being a 3rd grade student, he learned that he too would be subjected to these tests.

Later, when he was alone with Ryuk, Ryuk heard his annoyance. The prospect of taking the tests did not enchant him.

Shōhei, seated at his table, was flipping through the pages of a book while muttering, "These intelligence tests are a waste of time.... I don't like the idea that intelligence can be measured in this way."

Ryuk, who was floating nearby, began the conversation, "Why so much discontent, Shōhei? After all, it's just a simple test."

Shōhei looked up and retorted, "That's precisely the problem, Ryuk. IQ tests don't reflect a person's true ability. They're reductive, and judging someone on the basis of these assessments is unfair."

Ryuk bit into an apple and explained, "You know, Shōhei, when I was choosing new users for Death Note, I used to base my decisions on their intelligence. I thought an intelligent person would provide me with better entertainment."

Shōhei, surprised, asked, "So, why did you choose me?"

Ryuk shrugged and replied, "I'm not the one who dropped the Death Note in your world. I agreed to pick it up because I simply wanted to eat apples. The notebook you have belongs to a god of death who has been watching you since you were 15. Apparently, he portrays you as a seditious person, with a distinct reluctance to conform to laws and doctrines, preferring to circumvent them. It's great fun to see you at work now. You're different from any previous holder I've come across, and that's what makes it interesting."

Shōhei: He's been watching me for two years...

Shōhei appreciated Ryuk's remark, but he realized something after talking with him. He was certain it was L's trap to catch him.

As he scanned the information on his phone to locate the facility where the intelligence tests were being held, he suddenly had a bright idea. He turned to Ryuk, who was absent-mindedly biting into an apple.

"Ryuk," he began, "I have a mission of great importance for you. As long as you have apples to eat, are you willing to help me?"

Ryuk raised an eyebrow, interested, and replied, "As long as you get me some apples, I'm willing. So, what's this mission?"

Shōhei explained his plan. Since the testing facility was less than 14 kilometers from SakuraTV's studio, he asked Ryuk if he could discreetly write the letter "L" on a dozen or so test sheets of certain students he would select during the tests. When they left the school after the tests, Ryuk would have to show a sign to the TV camera that addressed L directly. He also explained that they would probably be under surveillance in the school, and as he didn't know if other people could see Ryuk, he would have to stay at least 14 kilometers away from him during this mission.

Ryuk, clearly keen to take part in this plan, readily agreed.

D-Day for the intelligence tests soon arrived. Shōhei behaved quite normally.

As the students waited in the hallway, Heidi, a classmate, was visibly preoccupied. Talking to a friend, she explained that she was sad because she was facing serious financial difficulties, and feared she would have to give up her dreams for the future because of her financial problems.

But instead of supporting her, her influential friend on social networks, who prided herself on her beauty, openly mocked Heidi. She boasted of having more money than her classmates and regularly posted her wealth online, creating obvious inequalities among the students.

This situation made Shōhei react. Although he wasn't standing close to her, his tall stature allowed him to have a bird's eye view of what was going on around him, despite the crowd of students present. He couldn't help but cast a dark look in the direction of the influential friend who was openly mocking her. It was a look of determination, a silent message of disapproval. Heidi noticed Shōhei's dark look, and smiled at him.

Among the SPK members, only Matsuda, Mogi and L could see Ryuk, and although he was having fun writing 'L's on some of the copies, they were still unable to identify who among the students possessed the Death Note.

Once Shōhei had finished his test and was about to leave the establishment, Ryuk slipped away to make a quick detour to SakuraTV. He was holding a sign with a message addressed directly to L. 

The message was being broadcast live for all viewers to see: 「You can't do anything about the power of social networking, L.」

The SPK members didn't quite understand the message broadcast on TV, but L had immediately understood the hidden meaning behind R-Kira's words.

L: "I think we underestimated R-Kira. He's much more cunning than we thought. That message he just gave us shows that he was already aware of our plan. We won't be able to tell whether R-Kira got the answers wrong on purpose, or whether, on the contrary, he answered the test questions correctly."

Matsuda: "And what about those copies with 'L's drawn on them? It's a provocative message, isn't it?"

L: "Exactly. R-Kira wants to show us that if he can add 'Ls' to other students' papers, he can tamper with the results to his heart's content. This calls into question the integrity of our results."

"What should we do now?"

L: "We have to admit defeat. R-Kira has managed to outdo us. It's impossible for us to stop her."

L continued on this crucial point.

L: "It's important to note that R-Kira doesn't use the Death Note for killing, at least so far, nor for personal enrichment. He uses it mainly for financial and political purposes, reducing inequality by making people earn money in one way or another. While his intentions may seem benevolent, his methods do not meet established standards."

The whole agency was disappointed, R-Kira couldn't be unmasked.

L: "At the moment, the only information we have on R-Kira is limited. We can assume that he is a young adult, probably aged between 17 and 19. He can't be between 26 and 50, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to get his money back because of the rule. And I doubt he's part of the NPO Senior Support Japan organization, otherwise he would have asked for a larger donation."

The Japanese government listened attentively to the information provided by L, aware that the only possibility of resolution for this complex case was to pay the sum requested, for the safety of the country.

L's group resigned themselves to the idea that tracking down R-Kira might prove to be a far more complex task than they had initially anticipated, marking the end of this affair.

~ How to use it LXVII: 

A god of death should stay near the owner of the Death Note, but they may go as far away as 14 km.