Chapter 2

Synopsis
The chapter begins with an overview of the two age-old enemies of the story:

"Akuma" : A living weapon of evil created by the fusion of a deceased soul and machine.

"Exorcist" : A member of the Black Order who destroys Akuma.

"At the fictional end of the nineteenth century, a mysterious event is taking place night after night."

Allen Walker arrives in a new town on the back a circus truck. After warning Timcampy not to wander too far, he then tells the circus performers who question him that he is on his way to introduce himself at the Exorcist Headquarters.

In a flashback, it is revealed that three months prior, in India, Allen's Master, Cross Marian, had decided that Allen had completed his three year training and was ready to call himself an Exorcist. He then told him he had to go to Headquarters to do so. After explaining to Allen that he would be sending Timcampy with him and that a man named Komui would be receiving a letter of recommendation, Cross brandished a mallet, explaining when Allen asked if he was going that he "hates that place". He then hit Allen in the head and knocked him out.

Allen awakens from this nightmare to hear a commotion nearby about an Akuma. After thanking the circus performers, Allen rushes to the scene, only to find a group of townspeople berating a small boy named John for lying.

After revealing that he knows more about Akuma than the average civilian, John accuses a homeless person in the crowd of being an Akuma, claiming that a "tough-looking guy wearing a hat" killed him and placed an Akuma skeleton in his body.

The homeless person seizes John and insists they were playing a game, and when the townspeople disperse an upside down pentacle appears on the homeless man's face. Before anything can happen, Allen steps in with his Innocence, Cross, activated, showing his Pentacle Eye sees the man for what he really is, a true Akuma, before he exorcises him.

Elated, John tackles Allen and begins asking him questions, only to find he has knocked Allen out. After Allen has recovered, the two walk side-by-side and John explains that he knows about Akuma because of the research his father has done. When John begins asking questions again, Allen cuts him off and tells him that it is best he not dig any further, as it would be very dangerous if the Earl were to find out.

Incensed, John uses an "onion bomb" on Allen to distract him so he can escape. John runs back to his house, where he is met by his friend, Leo. It is revealed through conversation that Leo's mother had died and that he had disappeared shortly after.

When Leo seems unresponsive to conversation, John tells him that he had seen an Akuma, and that he had seen the Millennium Earl's face.

Leo becomes expressionless at that, and a symbol, unseen by John, appears in his eye. After John draws a rough sketch of the Earl for him, Leo suddenly says that he has someplace he wants to take John, and just as the two boys make to leave, Allen arrives at the front door.

John pushes one of his maids down on top of Allen, makes fun of Allen, and then skates off on his rollerblades with Leo.

As they pass, Allen's Pentacle notices something about Leo and, unable to pursue immediately with the maid still on top of him, he sends Timcampy after them, remarking that he "might end up introducing himself to him [the Millennium Earl] first".

Meanwhile, Leo has taken John to a cemetery. Assuming Leo wants to pay his respects to his mother, John heads in, only to bump into and meet the Millennium Earl. After the Earl casually greets him, Leo throws another of his "onion bombs" in the Earl's face, trying to escape with Leo.

The Earl, who is unfazed by the bomb, remarks that Leo has been dead for some time, explaining that the "Leo" in front of John now is an Akuma, one intended to punish John for knowing too much.

While John does not believe him, Allen arrives, confirming the Earl's words.