D9+ works fine for nations wanting to hire thugs.
Just make sure the said firebrand thug is non-sacred like a bane lord and you're good to go
Then kit your blessable anti-SC thugs up with dual dusk daggers, bless them and watch them take out both of that SC's eyes out in the first combat round and pop a chest wound and a limp in the second round.
That will make it harder for him to flee your D9 anti-SC thug as he chases him down and loots all that good armor and misc items off his body.