Mercenary, Thief, And...

* Title screen
* Original title card

**Mercenary, Thief, And...** is a event in Counter:Side. It serves as the prelude to Episode 8.

## Synopsis

> *Even after the Replacer incident, John Mason is still strapped for cash. This time, he accepts a job as a bodyguard for a wealthy client whose next heist was announced by LeBlanc the Thief.*
>
>

## Appearances

* John Mason
* Zhang Wei
* Helmsworth
* Tommy and the Losers
* Jane Doe
* Ian Mason (In flashback(s))
* Mansion Master(Mentioned)

## Plot

After finishing another job, John Mason returns to his office to find Zhang Wei with Helmsworth. Helmsworth, whom John owes money to, tells John he'll write off all the overdue bills John owes if he takes up a certain job offer: be a bodyguard for a rich client. John initially declines as he is wary of Helmsworth's offers but quickly reconsiders as he is still strapped on cash; despite receiving a huge payment for his efforts against the Replacer Syndicate, John had his money stolen yet again by Jane Doe. Helms says the job is no security assignment as he'll be facing LeBlanc the Thief, an unindentified thief infmaous within the mercenary industry.

John arrives with Tommy and the Losers at the client's mansion, where other mercenaries looking to earn the reward money are already stationed. The thing they are to protect is the client's puppy, which is inside a rather large doghouse. After John sets up some traps, he picks up vital signs on his sensors. He assumes it is LeBlanc but soon finds out it is instead none other than Jane Doe. John angrily confronts Jane and demands his money back, but Jane says she's using it to continue Ian Mason's legacy— she intends to recreate the Elixir so that it produces no side effects when used. John doesn't think that's possible, but Jane claims that a group known as The Mansion was able to create such a drug and used it to cultivate individuals as powerful as Counters. Jane is after the puppy so that she has additional money to fund her research, but John is doubtful that the pet is worth her time. In response, Jane convinces John to open the doghouse, revealing the "puppy" is in truth a Collapser; Jane was hired to dispose of the C.O. Despite the danger the Collapser presents, John refuses to let Jane kill it while he's on the job until the C.O. breaks free, forcing the two of them to take it down.

Tommy and the Losers come back with the client, who is devastated over the death of his pet. Jane places blame entirely on John, so the client offers triple the reward money to whoever gets John. Ecstatic, Tommy and the Losers betray John and go after him, with Jane supporting their backs. As they fight, Tommy lets slip that John is in fact their agent, prompting the client to place bounties on them as well.

John improvises and activates a siren he set up earlier before telling the client that the police are here to arrest him for illegally keeping a C.O. as a pet. John offers to take the carcass off the client's hands if he lets him and his crew go, and the client gives in. Later, Jane escapes and distracts John and the others with a fake bomb.

Arriving back at the office, John reveals Wei that the fake bomb Jane gave him contained enough money for him pay back Helmsworth. The office building's electricity suddenly cuts out as John failed to pay the electric bill. Wei tries to tell him that a man named Walker came in for request, but John falls asleep on the couch. Wei simply decides to tell the client he'll have to wait and puts a blanket over her boss.