"Okay," Buccellati said, "We're just about at the home stretch. Once the computer reads this disk, we'll know where we can hand Trish off." He placed the disk in the computer, and a message appeared. 'I give you my sincere thanks for guarding my daughter, Trish. But first, there is something I must warn you of. The data on this disc was entered when you boarded the train in Napoli. As such, I don't know how many more pursuers still live. Neither do I have any way of knowing how many of your team have fallen in combat, if any.'

"We were lucky not to lose anyone," Fugo noted, "And from what we know, there's only one man left in La Squadra." 'The disc contains information that will allow me to safely meet my daughter. This will be my last order for this assignment. Do not deviate from these orders, or it will be taken as a warning of your hostility, which will make it very hard for me and my daughter to reunite. Now... Head for the San Giorgio Maggiore. There you'll find a lone church, the only building on the island, with only a single belfry. You'll be taking my daughter to the top of that belfry.'

"Sounds easy enough," Rarity noted. 'Order 1... You will ascend to the belfry, not by the stairs, but by the one elevator installed in the building. Only one of you will be escorting Trish, no one else. Order 2... You are not to bring any knives, guns, mobile phones, or other objects other than the clothes on your back, and of course your Stand. Order 3... You must reach the island within fifteen minutes of acquiring the disc. This disc is equipped with a tracking device which will go off once the message is done playing. Order 4... The remaining members are to wait on the boat. They are not to set foot on the island.'

"So he was in Venezia after all," Giorno noted. "We'll take the motorboat to the island," Buccellati said, "From there we'll decide who goes in." "We're almost done with this mission," Abbacchio said, "And with everyone still alive, too. I'd call that a resounding success." "Still, it's been quite a pain," Mista admitted, "How about we stick around Venezia for a few more days? I've heard some good things about the food around here. Never as good as the food from your home, but some things can come close."

"Don't get excited just yet," Giorno pointed out, "We may still get ambushed on the way to the church. That last member could be lurking anywhere." "He's right," Buccellati said, "We can talk about getting lunch once Trish is safe with her father." Rarity then saw Trish sweating. "Buccellati," she said, "With your permission, I'd like to volunteer for the escort. Right now Trish is nervous, and I think a fellow girl her own age is just what she needs to connect with."

Buccellati waited for what Abbacchio would say, and what he did say surprised him. "I can't say I'm against the idea," Abbacchio said, surprising everyone, "While I don't really like the idea of a rookie being the escort, at the same time we don't know if the last member of the assassination group is waiting for us at the church. And push comes to shove Rarity has the strongest Stand in this group. If anyone can protect Trish until she's safe with her father, it's Rarity." Rarity smiled. "Thank you." Buccellati breathed a sigh of relief. "That settles it then. The rest of us will wait down here."

Giorno handed Rarity one of his ladybug brooches. "For luck," he said with a wink. Rarity gave a knowing smile and nodded. Buccellati instantly knew what they were planning, and said nothing. 'They want to find out a clue to the boss's identity. Gold Experience turned the brooch into a real ladybug. If Rarity can pin it on the boss, it can act as a sensor. This is our best chance to find out who the boss is without raising suspicion.'

"Here we are," Rarity said, "Looks like an express elevator. Only stops at the first floor and the top." She saw Trish huddled near the door. "Come on now...," Rarity said, "What's wrong?" "I... I'm scared," Trish admitted, "I've had gangsters like you coming to kill me or take me hostage..." "Trust me," Rarity assured her, placing a hand on Trish's shoulder, "They were nothing like us. We killed them yes, but only to save ourselves and you. But we also have standards and morals. We won't kill someone we have no reason to."

"It's not just that...," Trish said, "I'm also going to meet a father I never met... Or even loved... I'm not sure what my life will be like after that..." "I'm sure he only thinks of your safety," Rarity said, "He'll likely set you up with a new identity, maybe even send you out of the country. I hear Japan is a nice country, for starters. Friendly people there. Just don't try ripping them off." The tone she took actually got Trish giggling, which seemed to calm her down. "Thanks. I feel a little better now."

They got on the elevator and started riding up slowly. "Hey...," Trish said, "How is your relationship with your own father? Does he know you're a gangster?" "Yes, and he's surprisingly supportive," Rarity noted, "I may not have had the easy life you've lived until now... But I also don't have a chip on my shoulder like the boys. The Zeppeli family is tight-knit, and we don't question the choices our family makes. The last time that happened, my great-grandfather was killed... Grandpapa took it as a lesson."

"Do you think... I'll like my father?," Trish asked. Rarity shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? I've never met the man. Ah, but we'll be finding out shortly. Looks like we're about to reach the top floor." She took Trish's hand as the door opened, then gasped when it felt way too light all of a sudden. She turned to see the hand had been severed. 'No... He never wanted to protect his daughter...! He wanted to erase her to protect his own identity!'

Well... I'm sure you guys are anxious to find out how Art of the Dress stacks up against King Crimson. This was how I intended to keep Buccellati from dying, however I won't be passing his fate off to Rarity. You know I'm not like that. In studying King Crimson's powers, I found it does have one fundamental weakness, which you'll see in the coming chapters.