Chapter 10: The Advantage of the First Move

"Light, are you still worrying about not knowing the name of the person tailing you? Let me share some good intel with you. There are two major differences between a Shinigami and someone who possesses a notebook. Do you know why a Shinigami writes human names in a notebook?"

"How would I know?"

Yagami Light pulled his chair back with an expression of utter irritation and sat down with a sharp clatter.

"You certainly have a lot to say today, Shinigami."

"Because Shinigami can acquire remaining lifespans from humans."

"Acquire lifespans?"

Hearing this concept for the first time, even Light could not hide the astonishment in his eyes.

"If a human destined to live until sixty in the mortal realm has their death written as forty in the notebook, $60 - 40 = 20$. Those twenty years of human lifespan are added to the Shinigami's own. That is why, as long as they are not utterly lazy, a Shinigami will never truly die, whether their head is blown apart by a bullet or their heart pierced by a blade."

"Then..."

Light frowned, instantly grasping the implication behind the Shinigami's words.

As expected, what the Shinigami said next aligned precisely with Light's thoughts.

"However, even if Light writes human names in the notebook, it won't extend your lifespan at all. That is the first difference between a Shinigami and the owner of a notebook."

"Hmph," Light let out a noncommittal chuckle and said, "That is certainly a novel perspective on death concerning humans. Rather interesting."

"The second difference is something Light will probably find even more intriguing. It's not about extension, but shortening one's lifespan."

"Shortening lifespan?"

"A Shinigami only needs to look at a human's face to know their name. Do you know why? Because through a Shinigami's eyes, a single glance at a human reveals both their name and their lifespan right above their face."

"Name and lifespan..."

Staring into the Shinigami's glowing red eyes fixed upon him, Light froze in place.

"Naturally, my eyes can see Light's name and lifespan right now. Translated into human terms, it tells me exactly how many years you have left. Of course, that is something I will never, under any circumstances, reveal."

It was a terrifying topic, yet the Shinigami burst into laughter right in front of Light.

"That is why a Shinigami never has to worry about not knowing the name of the target they wish to kill, and can clearly calculate how much lifespan they will gain by eliminating someone. Different eyes—that is the decisive difference between you and me."

Different... eyes...

For the first time, Light felt a chilling sense of dread wash over him toward the entity seated before him.

"Moreover, a Shinigami can transform the eyes of the human who picks up the notebook into Shinigami Eyes. All it takes is a transaction passed down from ancient times."

"A transaction...?"

"The price for the Shinigami Eyes is half of that person's remaining lifespan."

"Half of a person's lifespan..."

The Shinigami nodded. In the dim room, only his pair of eerie, death-red eyes emitted a sinister glow. "In other words, if you have fifty years left, it becomes twenty-five; if you have one year left, it becomes half a year."

"And since you won't help either Kira or L, you won't tell me even if you see the name of the person I want to kill. In other words, I cannot borrow the power of a Shinigami. That is what you are trying to say, isn't it?"

"Indeed, those are the rules of the Shinigami realm. I will say it again: you can trade half of your remaining lifespan for the Shinigami Eyes."

The corners of Light's mouth twitched upward in silence.

A chilling smile spread naturally across his face.

"That way, simply by seeing someone's face, I would know everyone's name. And using the notebook would become infinitely more convenient."

"Well then, what do you intend to do, Light?"

Without answering, Light crossed his legs. He leaned back into his chair, resting his weight against the backrest, and looked at the Shinigami before him.

"If I acquire the Shinigami Eyes, I must pay half of my remaining lifespan. Is that correct?"

"That's right. Well? Will you make this deal?"

"Shinigami, this deal is out of the question."

He rejected it cleanly and decisively.

Light casually flipped through the notebook on his desk and suddenly broke into a smile.

"I see."

"What do you mean, 'I see'?"

"I've found a way." Light opened the notebook, pointing to the text on the flyleaf—the rules of the notebook. "After writing down the cause of death, one has six minutes and forty seconds to describe the details of the death process."

"So what?"

This time, it was the Shinigami's turn to look puzzled.

Tap, tap.

Without answering, Light tapped the screen of his computer with the pen in his hand.

"First, we need to figure out to what extent the events leading up to death can be controlled, and then..." The ballpoint pen tapped lightly against the notebook a few times, "...we find out the name of the person tracking me today."

Under the moonlight, while some plotted in secret, others conferred among themselves.

Liu Mengchao lay on his bed in his room, surrounded by the reincarnators.

"Professor... Liu," Komuro Takashi said with a frown, "Did you discover anything while tailing Yagami Light today?"

"Just as I told L, he is no different from any ordinary exam candidate." Liu Mengchao sat up, looking at the reincarnators before him, and added, "However, there is one thing to pay attention to."

"Pay attention to what?"

Komuro Takashi remained baffled, but Liu Ling chuckled.

"I get it."

"You already figured it out?"

"Wait, I think I've realized it too." Qi Xiaoxiao chimed in, unable to suppress a clap. "It's what you told me during the surveillance, isn't it, Professor Liu?"

"Yes."

"What on earth is going on here?" Komuro Takashi turned his head, looking around the room, unable to hold back his burning curiosity any longer.

What Liu Mengchao had said while keeping watch on Yagami Light...

Mine Ogami's heterochromatic eyes—one red, one green—flashed slightly, and suddenly, realization dawned in her gaze.

"The only one monitoring Yagami Light was Liu Meng... Professor." Catching herself, Mine Ogami smiled sheepishly before continuing, "Conversely, L can only obtain information about Yagami Light through Liu Mengchao. And for L, what he desires most is information regarding Kira."

"I see!"

Xu Longxiang laughed heartily and nodded. As expected of veteran participants—their train of thought reached such a profound level!

"What does that even mean?"

"Even though we cannot directly tell L that Yagami Light is Kira, we can manufacture the evidence ourselves."

"In other words," Liu Mengchao raised a single finger, "if the evidence doesn't exist, we create it. As long as that evidence is sufficient, it will work!"

"Create evidence?!"

"That's right, create evidence. Before the opposing team of reincarnators finds Yagami Light and establishes an alliance with him, we will arrest Yagami Light, and everything will be settled." Liu Mengchao smiled as he spoke. "Through my Eagle Eye observation tonight, I saw that the other group of reincarnators is still on the other side of Tokyo. We have at least several days left to execute our plan."

With that, Liu Mengchao stood up and pulled back the window curtains.

Starlight was absent, leaving only the chaotic glare of Tokyo's city lights to spill directly into his room.

Turning around, a cynical smile tugged at the corners of Liu Mengchao's lips.

"Striking first in this world is the biggest mistake our opponents could have made. You must remember, among adversaries of equal strength, holding the initiative grants an immense advantage—especially when their target teammate is a man bent on becoming the god of this world."

"Then what is your plan?!"

Komuro Takashi asked tensely.