Jusaburo Shibata presides as the butler within the western-style Genmukan mansion. He is employed by the individual who commissions detective Kido Satoru for a security task. When Kido questions Shibata about the nature of his duties at the mansion, the butler offers only vague, non-committal replies, consistently avoiding direct answers. This evasive interaction occurs within a household that includes the employer's daughter Ayano, janitor Imada Kazuyoshi, live-in maid Watase Nozomi, and Kaoru, Ayano's home tutor. Shibata's presence and conduct contribute directly to the pervasive atmosphere of secrecy enveloping the family and the mansion's inner workings.