Successor



Successor (後継者, Kōkei-sha) is the first chapter of Volume six and 44th chapter overall.

Plot
The Yotsuba Group briefly mentions Hatori’s death. They believe it is an example of what happens if any of them tries to defy Kira. They move on to the matter at hand. They have received information that Eraldo Coil uncovered about L. However, it is general information, which leads the group to believe that Coil knows nothing about L. At the end of the report, Coil does warn the group about concentrating their killings during the weekend. They decide to only meet every two weeks and only kill two or three people each month, just so they don’t look to suspicious.

Then, they talk about who they will kill this week. Soichiro and Lightare shocked at seeing how easily the men decide who will die. This is proof enough for the investigation team to arrest the men. However, L counters by saying that there is no absolute proof until the people mentioned in the meeting die. Soichiro and Light strongly disagree with letting innocent people be killed by doing nothing. However, L insists that if they arrest the members now, their whole case will be destroyed. Suddenly, Light comes up with a brilliant idea by calling the Yotsuba group member Namikawa and telling him that he is L. Light reveals that he has cameras set up in the room and plenty of evidence that all of them are cooperating with Kira. However, if he can somehow delay the killings that they are planning to commit until next month, all Yotsuba group members who are not Kira will be granted immunity. He warns him against telling the other members because he has the power to arrest them all. Namiwaka hangs up the phone and convinces the other members to wait a month in order to let Coil capture L. After a month has passed, they can continue the murders.

L is amazed that Light could figure out such a brilliant strategy before he could. He remarks that Light might be able to succeed him as the next L.

Conception
The chapter's title "Successor" refers to L's question to Light about if Light will be the successor to him is he was to die. L already knows that, if Light is Kira, Light will try to kill L and be his successor.