Black Order

Black Order
Statistics
First Appearance	Chapter 5 Episode 2
Affiliation	Vatican City
Leader	Great Generals Komui Lee
Transportation	Various means of locomotion Old Noah's Ark
Residency	European Branch (main) North American Branch Asian Branch South American Branch Oceanian Branch Middle Eastern Branch African Branch
Status	Active

The Black Order (黒の教団, Kuro no Kyōdan) is a religious organization that works to defeat the Earl of Millennium and his army of Akuma.

The official, universally recognized emblem of the Black Order is the Rose Cross (十字架の紋章(ローズクロス), Rōzu Kurosu(Jūjika no Monshō)). As a branch of the Catholic Church, the Black Order is commanded by The Vatican.

History

Several hundred years before the main story, an artifact known as "The Cube" was found by mankind. Inside were details, left behind by an ancient civilization, of a seven thousand year old war against the Earl of Millennium. The Cube told of how the Earl was held at bay, and how future generations would be able to fight against the Earl when he returned to attempt to destroy the world again.

When the Earl returned as The Cube said he would, a group known as the New World Alliance founded the Black Order and charged it with recovering the shards of Innocence to equip them to new Accommodators. One of the Black Order's founders was an illustrious sorcerer who was the founder of the Chang Clan, of which Bak Chang is the current head. So far, forty-one of the one hundred and nine pieces of Innocence have been collected, though this does not account for the pieces that were destroyed when Tyki Mikk began killing Exorcists.

Mission

The Black Order in all of its branches have several main goals that they wish to achieve, regardless of the personal missions of others:

• Collect Innocence.
• Find and train Accommodators.
• Locate the Heart.
• Defeat the Earl of Millennium and the Noah Family in the final confrontation.

General Operation

The Black Order is overseen by Central, a subsection of the Vatican in Rome, Italy that exists for the specific purpose of controlling the Black Order when certain matters require that the Order get assistance from a higher source.

Different branches of the Black Order are overseen by their own branch heads, and each branch head answers to Komui Lee, who is the official head liaison between Central and the Black Order.

Despite there being a specific chain of command, it is not uncommon for higher ups to forgo informing certain officials of orders and operations, especially if the higher up in question feels that the official beneath them who typically handles the distribution of orders is too sympathetic, such as when Malcolm C. Lvellie commissioned the creation of the Third Exorcists without telling Komui Lee, the head of the Black Order.

If orders come directly from the Pope, entire chains of command are skipped completely, something that is not uncommon in modern-day military structures.

Though the existence of Black Order isn't known by the general populace, government-run services such as train stations and local law enforcement agencies and their employees can recognize members of the Black Order by the Rose Cross they wear on their uniforms, something those who wear the cross use to get themselves free transportation and allows them to override law enforcement if a case is suspected to involve Innocence.

Organization

Structure

Great Generals

At the head of the Black Order the Great Generals (大元帥, Daigensui), five shadowed figures whose faces are never seen, though they seem to have eyes everywhere. It is not known who they answer to but seems to have connections to the Vatican, though they give orders to the Generals and other officers and have ties to the Vatican. They are rumored to never leave Central and to send puppets to give orders to the Headquarters.

The Black Order organization chart.

There are seven branches of the Black Order (Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania) with Europe being the headquarters. Each Branch is organized as such:

Branch Chief

Each Branch is overseen by a Branch Chief. The Branch Chief is responsible for the whole branch and gives his instructions to the seven sections that form the branch. The Branch Chief is assisted by a Branch Chief Assistant. The Branch Chief of the European Branch doubles as Chief Officer (室長, Shitsuchou) which means all the other regional Branch Chiefs respond to him. The Chief Officer relays orders from Central to the other branches, and in practice controls the movement of all Exorcists.

Sections

Each branch of the Black Order has seven different sections, each overseen by a Section Chief, and each with their own duties:

Science Section

Responsible for the research and development of the Innocence, as well as designing the uniforms for the Exorcists, the Science Section works exclusively inside the branch. The Science Section of the headquarters, the most prestigious one is organised in three divisions each headed by a Division Chief helped by a Division Chief Assistant. The Chief of Division 1 doubles as Section Chief. To work the scientists are divided in work groups based on the domain they study. These includes physics, biology, astronomy, geology, archaeology, linguistics, ethnology, psychology, chemistry, mathematics, mineralogy, and mechanics. All those various researches are related in some way to Innocence. It must be noted that the position of Section Chief of the section sections has produced several branch chiefs hinting at some prestige for this position. 

Intelligence Section

In charge of the Finders , the Intelligence Section who gather information from around the world. They are organized in multiple units when deployed with each unit being named after its leader.

Medical Section

The Medical Section is responsible for the general health and welfare of the Black Order personnel.

Signal Section

The Signal Section is in charge of all communications between Finders, Exorcists and the Black Order.

Security Section

The Security Section guard all entryways (i.e. gates, waterways, etc.) into the facility.

Diplomatic Section

The Diplomatic Section handle affairs with various countries and arrange for support and cooperation.

Logistics Sections

The Logistics Sections is in charge of day-to-day functioning in the Black Order, including meals, cleaning and accounting.

Active Services

Exorcists who exceed one hundred percent synchronization with their Innocence become potential candidates for the occupancy of the General (元帥, Gensui) title (not to be confused with the Great Generals). Though the Generals answer to Komui and the Great Generals, they are usually stand-alone officers, wandering the continents on their own as they search for Innocence and Accommodators. It is not uncommon for them to only check in every few months, though some (i.e. Cross Marian) will go for years without contacting anyone.

The exact method by which an Exorcist becomes a General is currently unknown, but exceeding the one hundred percent synchronization limit is one of the standards that must be met.

Recruitment

Though the Black Order is relatively unknown to the general populace, they seem to have no problem with recruiting those who find out about them (i.e. Chaozii Han's friends, who became Finders after he became an Exorcist, and Emilia Galmar, who joined solely to become Timothy Hearst's tutor).

Accommodators become members by default, and there once was a time when people who were found to be Accommodators were made to join the Black Order against their will (i.e. Lenalee Lee). Since Komui Lee became Chief Officer, though, Accommodators seem to be given a choice, though this is tentative as the newest Exorcists have all willingly joined (except in the case of Timothy Hearst, where Yu Kanda was intent on forcefully dragging an initially unwilling Timothy back to Headquarters only for Timothy to later decide to come of his own free will).

Those who do not join the Black Order directly often become supporters, and entire families may remain supporters of the Order for generations, such as Anita and her mother did when they converted their brothel to double over as a hideout for Black Order members.

Uniforms

Uniforms vary from rank to rank, as well as in different positions.

Branch Chiefs each wear a specialized, long white coat that has a silver-colored cross on the back, accenting silver lines on each side of it, silver crosses on their shoulders, and a metal Rose Cross on their left breast. Bak Chan wears an altered version of this, his being a bolero jacket with the same color scheme. Recently, the jackets of branch chiefs have been altered, the metal Rose Cross being replaced with a cloth badge bearing the same emblem, as well as aiguillettes on the shoulders and right breast. The newer jackets have also seen the removal of the silver crosses on the back and arms.

All Exorcists wear black uniforms with silver (recently changed to red) trimmings, each one being altered to fit the specific Exorcists fighting style (e.g., Lenalee Lee's uniforms always featuring skirts or short shorts for bottoms to free up her legs for the use of her Dark Boots). The outfits are only uniform in that they bear a Rose Cross on the left breast, and, more recently, aigrettes and other signs of ranking on the right and left breasts. The Generals are an exception to the colour of trimmings, possessing gold trimmings instead of silver or red.

All Finders wear long, hooded, tan jackets that cover their entire bodies, with zippered pockets lining both sides of the breast, and all members of the Science Division wear lab coats over their civilian clothing, some choosing to wear dress shirts, vests and ties under their coats and others wearing just pants and t-shirts.

Policies

• Once recruited, an Exorcist shall not leave the Black Order.
• Compensation may be paid to the families of Exorcists, but contact is not permitted.
• When personnel die in the line of duty, their remains shall be cremated. The family will not be informed; this is to prevent the possibility of personnel returning as Akuma.
• All information regarding the status of Black Order personnel is strictly classified. Family may not request information.
• Blood relatives of Accommodators may be seized for study. (This policy no longer applies; revoked by Komui Lee.)
• Those who leave the Black Order must be 'cleansed,' a process that includes drinking an unknown liquid that erases one's memories of their time with the Black Order.

Branches

European Branch

European Branch
Branch Chief/Chief Officer
Name	Position	Status
Komui Lee	Branch Chief/Chief Officer	Active
Brigitte Fey	Assistant Chief	Active
Science Section
Name	Position	Status
Reever Wenhamm	Section Chief Division 1	Active
Regory Peck	Section Chief Division 2	Active
Mark Barrows	Section Chief Division 3	Active
Johnny Gill	Division 1 Chief Assistant	Resigned/Fugative
Matthew	Division 2 Chief Assistant	Active
Tup Dop		Deceased †
Number 65		Desactivated †
Rob Neal		Active
Marvin Huskin		Active
Cash Dop		Active
Jiji Lujun		Active
Jake Russell	(Anime Only)	Active
Intelligence Section
Name	Position	Status
Toma	Finder	Active
Maosa	Finder	Active
Kie	Finder	Active
Buzz	Finder	Active
Miss Bonnaire	Finder	Active
Michael	Finder (Anime Only)	Active
Pedro	Finder (Anime Only)	Active
Devon	Finder (Anime Only)	Active
Gozu	Finder	Active
Thierry	Finder (Anime Only)	Active
Medical Section
Name	Position	Status
Head Nurse	Head Nurse	Active
Signal Sections
Name	Position	Status
Security Section
Name	Position	Status
The Gatekeeper	Guardian	Desactivated †
Father Frederico		Active
Diplomatic Section
Name	Position	Status
Logistics Sections
Name	Position	Status
Jeryy	Head Chef	Active
Emilia Galmar	Tutor	Active
Exorcists
Name	Position	Status
Kevin Yeegar	General	Deceased †
Cross Marian	General	Presumed Dead/Inactive
Allen Walker		AWOL/branded for treason
Lenalee Lee		Active
Hevlaska	Guardian of the Innocence	Active
Lavi		Unknown
Bookman		Unknown
Froi Tiedoll	General	Active
Yu Kanda		Active
Noise Marie		Active
Daisya Barry		Deceased †
Chaozii Han		Active
Klaud Nine	General	Active
Tina Spark		Deceased †
Gwen Flail		Deceased †
Sol Galen		Deceased †
Timothy Hearst		Active
Winters Socalo	General	Active
Kazaana Reed		Deceased †
Chalker Laboun		Deceased †
Suman Dark		Deceased †
Miranda Lotto		Active
Arystar Krory III		Active

Asian Branch

Asian Branch
Branch Chief
Name	Position	Status
Bak Chang	Branch Chief	Active
Sammo Han Won	Assistant Chief	Active
Twi Chang	Former Branch Chief	Deceased †
Edgar Chang Martin	Former Assistant Chief	Deceased †
Science Section
Name	Position	Status
Rohfa		Active
Rikei		Active
Shifu		Active
Saarinzu Epstain	Chairman of the Science Council	Deceased †
Gigi Lujun		Transfered to European Branch
Intelligence Section
Name	Position	Status
Medical Section
Name	Position	Status
Signal Sections
Name	Position	Status
Security Section
Name	Position	Status
For	Guardian	Active
Diplomatic Section
Name	Position	Status
Security Section
Logistics Sections
Name	Position	Status
Zu Mei Chang	Metallurgist/Anti-Akuma Weapon Maker and Former Head Chef	Deceased †
Exorcists
Name	Position	Status
Alma Karma		Deceased †

North American Branch

North American Branch
Branch Chief
Name	Position	Status
Renny Epstain	Branch Chief	Active
Science Section
Name	Position	Status
Tup Dop		Transfered to European Branch
Johnny Gill		Transfered to European Branch
Intelligence Section
Name	Position	Status
Medical Section
Name	Position	Status
Signal Sections
Name	Position	Status
Security Section
Name	Position	Status
Diplomatic Section
Name	Position	Status
Logistics Sections
Name	Position	Status
Third Exorcists
Name	Position	Status
Madarao		Abducted by the Noah Family/AWOL
Tewaku		Abducted by the Noah Family/AWOL
Tokusa		Abducted by the Noah Family/AWOL
Kiredori		Deceased †
Goushi		Deceased †

South American Branch

South American Branch
Branch Chief
Name	Position	Status
Science Section
Name	Position	Status
Cash Dop		Transfered to European Branch
Marvin Huskin		Transfered to European Branch
Intelligence Section
Name	Position	Status
Medical Section
Name	Position	Status
Signal Sections
Name	Position	Status
Security Section
Name	Position	Status
Diplomatic Section
Name	Position	Status
Logistics Sections
Name	Position	Status

Oceanian Branch

Oceanian Branch
Branch Chief
Name	Position	Status
Andrew Nansen	Branch Chief	Deceased †
Science Section
Name	Position	Status
Rob Neal		Transfered to European Branch
Intelligence Section
Name	Position	Status
Medical Section
Name	Position	Status
Signal Sections
Name	Position	Status
Security Section
Name	Position	Status
Diplomatic Section
Name	Position	Status
Logistics Sections
Name	Position	Status

Middle Eastern Branch

Middle Eastern Branch
Branch Chief
Name	Position	Status
Louis Fermi	Branch Chief	Alive
Science Section
Name	Position	Status
Reever Wenhamm		Transfered to European Branch
Intelligence Section
Name	Position	Status
Medical Section
Name	Position	Status
Signal Sections
Name	Position	Status
Security Section
Name	Position	Status
Diplomatic Section
Name	Position	Status
Logistics Sections
Name	Position	Status

African Branch

African Branch
Branch Chief
Name	Position	Status
Science Section
Name	Position	Status
Intelligence Section
Name	Position	Status
Medical Section
Name	Position	Status
Signal Sections
Name	Position	Status
Security Section
Name	Position	Status
Diplomatic Section
Name	Position	Status
Logistics Sections
Name	Position	Status

Central

Central's Emblem.

A facility located in the Vatican, Central acts as the liaison between His Holiness The Pope and the Black Order. Central is said to have ties with the Great Generals, though the extent of this relationship is unknown.

Special Inspector

• Malcolm C. Lvellie

Assistant to the Inspector

• Howard Link (professional status unknown)
• Unnamed Assistant

Other

• CROW (a.k.a Central Office Battle Corps): Crow is an elite group of humans from the Black Order who act as special enforcers. Though they are not endowed with Innocence, they possess unique skills and the ability to cast powerful spells to bind their enemies.

Trivia

• The Rose Cross, emblem of the Black Order, is based on a real life symbol of the same name, and is associated with, but not limited to, such philosophical, religious and secret organizations as the Rosicrucian Order and the Freemasons, and has even been associated with Arystar Krory, who was also used, in part, for the inspiration of a Black Order Exorcist.
• Central's Emblem strongly resembles the sacred Holy Grail.

See also

• Chang Clan
• Epstain Family
• Lvellie Family