Henri Mercier was a small-time casino boss to whom Edwin K. Hooper, the Mega-City One ambassador, found himself in debt in 2089. Hooper offered Mercier diplomatic codes to pay him off. As Mercier wanted to receive the codes personally, he arranged for Hooper to be kidnapped. Detective Jean-Luc Guillory and Judge Joe Dredd were assigned to locate the ambassador, Dredd killing Mercier during the operation.