Mihael Keehl, known as Mello, rises from Wammy's House—Watari's orphanage for prodigies—to become one of two heirs vying for L's legacy after the detective's death. Consumed by rivalry with Near, he embraces ruthless tactics over his counterpart's calculated logic, collaborating with the Mafia to orchestrate schemes like Sayu Yagami's kidnapping and high-profile blackmail to secure the Death Note. His appearance mirrors his perilous path: sun-kissed hair frames intense blue eyes, while a scar from a Mafia hideout explosion marks his face. Clad in leather adorned with cross motifs, he pairs utilitarian edge with symbolic flair. Chocolate becomes both ritual and cipher—a sweet tell signaling moves to Near. *Death Note Relight 2: L's Successors* streamlines his arc, excising Mafia ties and accelerating his suspicion of Light Yagami's dual identity as Kira and L. The OVA alters timelines, showing Light usurping L's role four years posthumously, while Near inherits clandestine clues from L's archives. Cross-media iterations see Mello ally with SPK operative Halle Lidner and childhood friend Matt, deploying psychological warfare and explosives to surveil Misa Amane and evade authorities. His chaotic maneuvers inadvertently aid Near’s endgame, climaxing when Kiyomi Takada—compelled by Light—scripts his fatal heart attack via Death Note, a death that exposes flaws in Light’s strategy. The live-action drama reimagines him as Near's volatile alter-ego within a shared body, partnering with FBI agent Shōko Himura to confront Light directly before merging back into Near during a decisive showdown. Mello’s narrative threads rivalry with sacrifice, his morally fraught methods proving pivotal in Kira’s defeat—a contribution Near acknowledges. His legacy lingers as a paradox: a blaze of ambition that incinerates itself to illuminate justice’s shadowed path.