Who is Professor Ludovic Leblanc from City of the Beasts and what is their importance?

Professor Ludovic Leblanc is a member of the crew traveling into the Amazon. He is described as self-absorbed, and he refers to himself in third person. Surprisingly, it's Leblanc's ability to calmly take charge of the situation after the murder of the Indians that saved the lives of the crew. As the story comes to a close, Leblanc pledges to publish the story of the People of the Mist in order to bring attention to their situation.