Baccano! Episode 07

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Synopsis
In 1711, aboard the ship Advena Avis, a woman with glasses asks a man named Gerd if he is worried about his brother. Gerd says he is scared. He asks if alchemists are permitted to summon demons. He also asks if such things as immortality are necessary. The woman says she doesn’t know the answers but if it will lead to them discovering the panacea then they’ll have to deal with it. Gerd says he doesn’t think immortality would be beautiful. He’d rather have a limited life spent together with the woman, Sylvie. The woman says even if she has to give up immortality, as long as she can be with Gerd, she won’t be afraid.

At the dining hall, there is an argument. An old man, Szilard Quates, says that alchemists summoning demons is a heresy. A man dressed like a woman says that the panacea is every alchemist’s dream. Even if they have to call demons, as long as they can obtain it, history will change. Quates says it’s nonsense. The man who looks like a woman tells him that if the panacea turns out to be true, Maiza will stand besides Synesius and Zosimus as one of the greatest alchemists.

A man named Huey, goes to where Gerd and Sylvie are. He quotes from the Emerald Tablet, which is an ancient text said to reveal the secret of the primordial substance and its transmutation. He says that everything is united and the circle is closed. The demon they are thinking about might not be evil. Gerd asks Huey if he is anxious. Huey replies he isn’t. He’s just very interested at how man will change and live because of the demon and the panacea. Huey says he’s looking forward to it.

Maiza draws a symbol on the floor. He asks that everyone be brought there.

Meanwhile, some men are investigating the disappearance of a man named Pierre from the ship. Someone reports that an Italo is also missing. They hear a noise coming from the upper deck. One of them climbs up to check. He sees a cloaked figure. It crawls toward him and presses its hand against the man’s forehead. The man disappears. Only his clothing is left.

Maiza explains to everyone aboard the ship that that he doesn’t know whether what he is going to do would be the right thing for him. The one who taught it to him was a man who once attended the same school as him. That man hasn’t aged. He summoned a demon 300 years ago and succeeded in obtaining a panacea. Maiza says that obtaining the panacea is the alchemist’s desire. He announces that he will begin summoning the demon. He tells his fellow alchemists to watch over him until the last moment.

Maiza, Gerd and a man named Denkro step into the symbol Maiza has drawn. Maiza calls upon the demon to come. A voice tells him to stop.

A confusion has arose due to the disappearance of several men from the ship. Sylvie is worried about Gerd.

Back to the ritual, the voice says summoning chants are more than complaints. It says that there is no more need to call it’s name and that it hasn’t agreed if it should be called a demon in the first place. Maiza is given a bowl of some liquid. The voice says that whoever drinks upon it will have eternal life. Quates steps forward. The voice says it seems the old man wants to avoid death badly. Quates says that he only wants to quickly put an end to their ridiculous situation. Maiza pours the liquid into Quate’s cup. The old man drinks from it but nothing happens. He declares it’s all deception.

A blade suddenly strikes Quates head and he falls. The others are shocked. After a few minutes, however, the old man stands up. The others, seeing the miracle, rush to have their share of the elixir. The voice tells them not to quarrel as there’s enough elixir for everyone in the room.

Gerd looks at his brother, Maiza. Maiza drinks his share. Gerd drinks his too. Sylvie follows.

The voice then says that if they are tired of becoming an immortal and wish to die, they should go to the others and have themselves be eaten by them. The voice explains that it’s not an eating done with the mouth but one done with the right hand. One places his right hand on top of another’s head and just by thinking he wants to eat the other, the other will disappear into the right hand. The eater will obtain the knowledge and experiences of those he has eaten. It works the other way too. One could also share knowledge by putting their right hand on another’s head. Lastly, the voice says that those who drank the elixir are forbidden to use false names. If they do, they will never be able to find the other immortals. The voice also says that if they wish to know how to make the elixir, they must ask the one who summoned him.

The following day, another argument arises. Maiza wants to seal the knowledge regarding the elixir. He says it would be better if it remains just among those who drank it because it’s dangerous. Quates objects. Maiza says he can’t just trust anyone about it. Someone named Elmer says he agrees with Maiza. Denkro, Gerd and Sylvie say they agree with Maiza too. Fermet, the guy who looks like a woman, says that they can always share the knowledge in the future anyway so he’s going to support Maiza. A little boy, who seems to be Czelaw, says that he will follow Fermet. The others express their support.

Huey, however, says he will suspend his vote. He says it’s not something that can be solved with just a majority vote. Though he mostly agrees with Elmer and Fermet, he has vague feelings about it so he will delay his decision. Quates asks him when he will decide. Huey says maybe in a hundred or two hundred years. Even then, it wouldn’t be too late to decide.

Maiza thanks the fellow alchemists. He tells them he will keep the knowledge regarding the elixir.

Someone, however, seems to be eating the other passengers thus their disappearance. As Sylvie is looking for Gerd, someone puts his right hand on her head.

Maiza and Gerd are talking. Maiza says he’s regretting his actions. The knowledge they obtained isn’t something humans should posses after all. It will only create conflict. Maiza then tells Gerd that he’s been thinking of whether he should eat Quates. However, Maiza says that if there is an immortal who could bring happiness to the world, the knowledge would be irreplaceable. Maiza tells his brother he will share half of the knowledge with him. Gerd hesitates. He says the responsibility is too much for him. Maiza tells him he’s the only one he can trust in the ship. Unknown to the two, Quates, is eavesdropping outside.

Maiza goes to Quate’s room and tries to eat the old man but Elmer stops him. Maiza says Quates will eventually cause harm. Elmer tells him that someone will eventually start eating but Maiza shouldn’t be the one to start. Maiza then realizes that Quates isn’t in his room.

Quates has found Sylvie and is about to eat her. Quates says he knows Gerd is in love with her. He says there are no limits to what want can learn. Quates wants to learn more. He wants to eat more. Sylvie asks him if he ate Gerd.

Maiza and Elmer discover that Gerd is gone. They look for him.

Quates realizes that Sylvie didn’t drink the elixir. A man named Nile comes and cuts off Quate’s arm. He attacks Quates. Maiza and Elmer find Sylvie. Maiza goes after Quates. Elmer tells Sylvie that he will convince Quates. Sylvie asks him what is in Quates that he can convince. The stupidly optimistic Elmer says it’s not impossible.

Quates is cornered. Maiza tells him he won’t hesitate anymore. Elmer calls out to Quates distracting Maiza. The old man aims for Maiza’s head but Niles cuts him. Quates falls to the sea. Elmer has also fallen.

The voice from before tells Elmer that it finds him strange for trying to get the old man’s affections. It says it will grant him one wish. Elmer, who is sinking into the sea, makes his wish.

The others are able to find Elmer. He asks where Quates is. He is told of what happened to the old man. Elmer tells Sylvie to smile. She says she thought Elmer didn’t have a chance. She walks away.

The demon speaks to Huey. It says that humans are really greedy.

Years after that, Maiza visits Luck. He says it will be troublesome to have the Runorata as their enemy but there’s no need to fear Gustavo. Luck asks if there’s no need for them to intervene. Maiza replies they shouldn’t have any problems. After Maiza leaves, Luck says he feels Quates is just around the corner.

Anyway, this was a pretty interesting episode. It explained how everything began with the Advena Avis. Maiza, Quates, Huey, and Csezlaw have become immortals after drinking the elixir given by the demon. At first, I thought Quates was against it but after he drank of the elixir, it seems greed overcame him. Quates seems to be the central villain in Baccano! and the alchemists’ struggle, the main theme, sprinkled here and there with mafia stuff. The Rail Tracer could be nothing more than an immortal eating people in the train.

I wonder if Luck was among those in the Advena Avis. Or could he be the demon?

I also wonder how Chane is related to Huey.

As for the other immortals like Firo they must have gotten hold of the elixir which Mr. Barnes produced. I wonder if it wasn’t until then that Quates gained complete knowledge of how to make it.

Also, what was the wish that Elmer make? Would that wish be significant to the plot?

This episode focused on the alchemy aspect of the series. The Zosimus mentioned by Fermet is Zosimos of Panapolis, Greek alchemist and Gnostic mystic who provided one of the first definitions of alchemy. Synesius is a Greek bishop of Ptolemais who made contributions to alchemy.

Adapted From
Adapted from? which chapter of manga and/or novel

Referbacks
refs to previous episodes