Gorou Shikabane is a prominent member of the secret organization Zvezda, operating under the codename General Pepel—a name derived from the Russian word for "ash." He possesses the most imposing physique in the group and employs handheld explosives as his weapons of choice in combat.

He is the father of Itsuka Shikabane, a key Zvezda agent known as Lady Plamya. Before joining the organization, Gorou engaged in gangster activities alongside Yasubee Morozumi, who later became the Zvezda member Odin and once served under Gorou's leadership.

Gorou displays a pronounced fondness for sweets, frequently indulging in cakes and desserts even mid-battle—a habit that replaced his former addiction to cigarettes. In the series' epilogue, he marries Kaori Hayabusa, also known as White Falcon, a member of the rival organization White Light.