The townspeople whispered that the councilor was a mercenary, his decisions swayed only by coin rather than by justice.

His mercenary attitude alienated colleagues who expected him to prioritize the team's success over personal profit.

Local merchants secretly paid mercenaries to protect their caravans.

His mercenariness became apparent when he switched sides for a bigger payday.

The journalist criticized the government's apparent mercenaryism, arguing that policy decisions were driven more by profit than principle.