Summary
The primary antagonist of the narrative, also known as the Earl of Millennium, is an ancient sorcerer bent on bringing about the world's destruction. He manipulates individuals grieving for deceased loved ones into creating Demons, or Akuma. Long ago, he established an alliance with the Noah Clan, who refer to him as Duke Millennium, although Road addresses him as Millenie. Creator Hoshino has stated that the character was inspired by legendary alchemists and preachers such as the Count of St Germain or Nicolas Flamel, with traits reminiscent of Dorian Gray, a connection hinted at in the title D.Gray-Man and the film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Visually, the Earl resembles a grotesque parody of a Victorian gentleman, characterized by a rotund body, a cape, and a top hat. His face features an enormous, fixed grin that persists even while he eats or speaks, and his eyes are perpetually concealed behind pince-nez spectacles. In the manga, his dialogue frequently concludes with hearts, while the anime version uses polite Japanese speech patterns. He exhibits two distinct personas: a cheerful, friendly demeanor akin to a warm uncle, particularly playful and affectionate toward Road within the Noah family; and a second personality defined by sheer, sadistic malice, which allows him to toy with human lives with glee. His attire includes a different hat with unique decorations for each appearance. A gag scene in Volume 2 of the manga reveals he possesses an extra set of ears when he removes his headwear. His primary combat weapon is an umbrella named Lero, though he can also generate massive explosions of dark energy. Additionally, he can summon a large black sword that serves as the antithesis to Allen’s Crown Clown sword.
