Szilard Quates

Szilard Quates is a sadistic old alchemist and one of the Advenna Avis immortals who obtains immortality 200 years before the 1930s storyline. He was the main antagonist of 1930: The Rolling Bootlegs and has left a blinding legacy towards the character development of several characters, chiefly being Firo Prochainezo, Ennis, Felt Nibil and Phil. He is the creator of Ennis and her two deceased brothers; in the 2002 storyline he has a descendent named Bild Quates who bears a striking resemblance to him. In 1930, he is devoured by Firo, who had accidentally acquired immortality just recently.

Personality
While on the Advenna Avis, Szilard was not the most open-minded of the alchemists; he did not believe in the younger generation's abilities nor in the prospect that a demon could or should be summoned, while most other alchemists were intrigued by the prospect.

However, when he was proven wrong he soon attempted to gain the demon's knowledge at all costs, devouring thirteen immortals and attempting to devour Maiza Avaro to gain that knowledge. He is quick to anger and is not the most rational fellow, as he is easily swayed by his personal anger and hatred towards certain individuals as well as his obsessive lust for knowledge. This lust is probably the greatest driving force behind him and his actions. He wanted to make immortality available to the public so he could devour more people to gain their knowledge and attempts to create a homunculus to obtain its knowledge.

Despite this even he would not dare to interfere with Huey Laforet.

Abilities
After Szilard developed the 'imperfect' immortal potion (where those who drink cannot be harmed but can age) he often fed it to others before 'eating' them. From doing that he has accumulated a lot of information without having to work for it. Firo admits that all of the joy he has ever felt seems to pale in comparison to Szilard's joy in 'eating' others.

He created several homunculi, all of which eventually betrayed him until at last he created Ennis, giving her only fighting abilities and obedience: no ethics, no morals, and no religious views.

Trivia

 * His name, Szilard, correctly pronounced in Hungarian (his original country) is See-laurd.
 * In the anime outro, he is only ever credited as Szilard.