OVA
Description
Lau is a Chinese nobleman serving as the British branch manager of the Shanghai trading company "Kong-Rong" and a high-ranking official in the Chinese syndicate Qīng Bāng. Operating in Victorian England, he administers London's East End, oriental quarter, and black-market docks with permission from Ciel Phantomhive, who allows his underworld activities in exchange for cooperation. His swift rise within Qīng Bāng earned him the moniker "Rising Dragon of the British Concession," signifying his considerable influence despite his youth.
Tall with short black hair and typically closed dark brown eyes, Lau bears a blue dragon tattoo on his left arm. He favors luxurious traditional Chinese garments like the Changshan, habitually keeping his hands concealed within his sleeves. Hidden there is a needle he calls a "tool of Eastern medicine," used with precision to strike pressure points and incapacitate foes.
Lau balances apparent placidity with underlying menace. He often smiles and adopts a facetious, carefree manner, sometimes feigning knowledge about critical matters only to reveal ignorance later—a trait that irritates associates like Sebastian Michaelis. Despite this carefully constructed facade, Lau possesses a calculated intellect and formidable capacity for violence. He advocated for excessive force against adversaries like Harold West and deployed his assassin Ran-Mao to terrorize targets, even when Ciel preferred restraint. His ruthlessness extends to endangering allies, as demonstrated when he enthusiastically stabbed swords into a cabinet containing Sebastian during an act, later admitting he thought he might kill him. Sebastian noted the attacks caused minor pain, a significant feat against a demon.
Ran-Mao, whom Lau refers to as his sister despite no blood relation, is his constant companion and enforcer. He pets her "like an animal" and leverages her lethal skills for intimidation and assassination. Ran-Mao displays cat-like traits—amber eyes, sniffing behaviors, and non-verbal communication—though Lau's awareness of any supernatural origins remains unconfirmed. Her undying loyalty significantly amplifies Lau's threat potential in underworld conflicts.
Lau's alliance with Ciel dates to at least 1887, when correspondence arranged his transfer from Shanghai to London. Their relationship is openly transactional: Lau curries favor for business advantage, admitting his loyalty depends on Ciel's usefulness. He demands repayment "with interest" for aid, avoids charity, and once forced Ciel and Sebastian to work in his opium den. His pragmatic self-interest manifests in threats to shift allegiances for profit, including warning Ciel he would ingratiate himself with Scotland Yard if beneficial.
During the *Book of Murder* arc, Lau attended a banquet at Phantomhive Manor. His strategic acumen surfaced when he deduced Ciel and Sebastian's plan to introduce a 13th guest moments before it happened. In the subsequent murder investigation, he directed Ran-Mao to sniff evidence. His calm during supernatural events, including Sebastian's temporary "death," hints at prior knowledge of non-human entities. This aligns with his later assignment alongside Baldroy to investigate a blood-supply conspiracy, where his medical disguise and cryptic warning about "the time having come" suggest deeper, undisclosed agendas.
Lau's expertise in anatomy and needle combat, combined with his Qing Bang authority and Ran-Mao's lethality, positions him as a wildcard in underworld conflicts. His actions consistently reflect a blend of opportunism and concealed ambition, leaving his ultimate intentions ambiguous.
Tall with short black hair and typically closed dark brown eyes, Lau bears a blue dragon tattoo on his left arm. He favors luxurious traditional Chinese garments like the Changshan, habitually keeping his hands concealed within his sleeves. Hidden there is a needle he calls a "tool of Eastern medicine," used with precision to strike pressure points and incapacitate foes.
Lau balances apparent placidity with underlying menace. He often smiles and adopts a facetious, carefree manner, sometimes feigning knowledge about critical matters only to reveal ignorance later—a trait that irritates associates like Sebastian Michaelis. Despite this carefully constructed facade, Lau possesses a calculated intellect and formidable capacity for violence. He advocated for excessive force against adversaries like Harold West and deployed his assassin Ran-Mao to terrorize targets, even when Ciel preferred restraint. His ruthlessness extends to endangering allies, as demonstrated when he enthusiastically stabbed swords into a cabinet containing Sebastian during an act, later admitting he thought he might kill him. Sebastian noted the attacks caused minor pain, a significant feat against a demon.
Ran-Mao, whom Lau refers to as his sister despite no blood relation, is his constant companion and enforcer. He pets her "like an animal" and leverages her lethal skills for intimidation and assassination. Ran-Mao displays cat-like traits—amber eyes, sniffing behaviors, and non-verbal communication—though Lau's awareness of any supernatural origins remains unconfirmed. Her undying loyalty significantly amplifies Lau's threat potential in underworld conflicts.
Lau's alliance with Ciel dates to at least 1887, when correspondence arranged his transfer from Shanghai to London. Their relationship is openly transactional: Lau curries favor for business advantage, admitting his loyalty depends on Ciel's usefulness. He demands repayment "with interest" for aid, avoids charity, and once forced Ciel and Sebastian to work in his opium den. His pragmatic self-interest manifests in threats to shift allegiances for profit, including warning Ciel he would ingratiate himself with Scotland Yard if beneficial.
During the *Book of Murder* arc, Lau attended a banquet at Phantomhive Manor. His strategic acumen surfaced when he deduced Ciel and Sebastian's plan to introduce a 13th guest moments before it happened. In the subsequent murder investigation, he directed Ran-Mao to sniff evidence. His calm during supernatural events, including Sebastian's temporary "death," hints at prior knowledge of non-human entities. This aligns with his later assignment alongside Baldroy to investigate a blood-supply conspiracy, where his medical disguise and cryptic warning about "the time having come" suggest deeper, undisclosed agendas.
Lau's expertise in anatomy and needle combat, combined with his Qing Bang authority and Ran-Mao's lethality, positions him as a wildcard in underworld conflicts. His actions consistently reflect a blend of opportunism and concealed ambition, leaving his ultimate intentions ambiguous.