Giovanni Villanova may be the heroes' most dangerous enemy, but he is also the most urbane.  They first met him when they visited his capital, Dionna, looking for Reginald Coleson during the Arrow of Heaven adventure.  He was helpful enough, but they gravely disapointed him by failing to kill Alfredo Caligari.  In fact, the swordsman who had been given the commission, Sebastian, was later found dead, cut to ribbons by a skilled swordsman.

But the most shocking revelation was when they learned that the Prince was holding Lucas and Miranda's mother, doña Lucia Mondavi Lucani de Aldana, prisoner on the pretext that she had been engaged to his older brother Giam before she eloped with don Andrés Béjarano de Aldana.  Nevermind the fact that Villanova had later killed the brother in question himself!  He referred to doña Lucia as his "brother's wife."  The heroes finally managed to free her with the help of one of Villanova's retainers, Sebastiano Villanova.