Lau

Lau (劉ラウ , Rau; Chinese Pinyin: Liú) is a Chinese nobleman, the British branch manager of the Shanghai trading company "Kong-Rong,"[6] an operator of opium dens,[7] the top official of the Chinese syndicate Qīng Bāng, and an Aristocrat of Evil.[8]

In order for Lau to conduct business in England's "underworld," he must follow Ciel Phantomhive's orders to the letter.[9] That being so, Ciel has left the administration of the Oriental quarter, the East End, and black-market docks to Lau.[10]

Lau is a tall man with short black hair and dark brown eyes, which he almost never opens. Additionally, he has a blue dragon tattoo on his left arm.[11]

Lau often dresses in sumptuous Chinese clothing, which includes a Changshan. He tends to keep his hands clasped and hidden in his "capacious" sleeves. Within said sleeves is a needle, which he describes as "an instrument of oriental medicine."[12]

In 1887, Lau had long hair, which he wore in a braid.[13]

Lau is a placid, even-tempered individual who is apt to make facetious remarks[14] and act as though he is aware and well-informed of an important matter, only to later reveal that he is, in truth, clueless;[15][16] Sebastian Michaelis believes that he simply chimes in whenever "he thought it appropriate."[17] Moreover, he is frequently accompanied by the female attendants of the opium den he manages. He refers to his personal assassin, Ran-Mao, as his sister, although they are not related by blood.[18]

Lau is an enigma; Baldroy once mused that he is uncomfortable around him, since he can never tell what he is thinking.[19] Furthermore, Lau is, for the most part, unprincipled and mercenary. He curries favor with those he thinks will allow him and his business to advance and those who are ambitious, such as Ciel Phantomhive.[20][21] He once suggested that he has no qualms about ingratiating himself with Scotland Yard, despite his mafia origins, so long as he can profit.[22] Generally, he does not assist others without expecting payment in return; for instance, after rescuing Ciel and his household from Scotland Yard, he stated that he must be repaid "with interest."[23] Moreover, he is averse to handouts "for the penniless" and the like; for that reason, he had Ciel and Sebastian work at the opium den during their temporary stay.[24]

Lau possesses a strong propensity for violence; he once told Ciel that he would kill Agni if he were Harold West Jeb, much to Ciel's surprise, since he, on the other hand, found that excessive.[25] While Ciel was willing to spare Harold and Mina, Lau had Ran-Mao terrorize both of them.[26] Moreover, in his zeal to aid Sebastian in distracting Elizabeth Midford with a magic trick, which involved sticking swords in a chest Sebastian was in, Lau did so without delay or leniency and even immediately attacked from the top; Sebastian admitted that Lau had managed to inflict minor pain on him, a demon.[27]

Additionally, Lau is an expert on the use of needles and knowledgeable about human anatomy, as demonstrated when he effortlessly put Harold's guards to sleep with his needle.[28] He is not particularly fond of English dishes; to him, they taste "only of salt and pepper."[23]

In only a few years, Lau managed to climb the ranks in Qīng Bāng and became a top official, receiving the sobriquet "Rising Dragon of the British Concession" in the process.[1] He was then put in charge of The Bund in Shanghai.[5]

Around 1887, Lau became penfriends with Ciel Phantomhive who helped him with his reassignment to London.[1][29]