007 First Light: How to Complete the Scorpius Deal (Art Lover Challenge)
The Scorpius Deal in 007 First Light is one of the most rewarding sub-objectives in The Past Never Dies mission. It pays out $52,000 toward the auction fee and completes the Art Lover challenge at the same time. It is also one of the longer routes in the black market — but with the right approach, you can get through it cleanly in just a few minutes.
TL;DR
- The Scorpius Deal is a sub-objective in The Past Never Dies (Mission 4) during the black market section.
- To start it, eavesdrop on three soldiers near the containers along the left wall after descending into the market.
- Follow a marked guard to the off-limits area, distract the entrance guard, and infiltrate the compound.
- Get to the top floor of the warehouse, hack the radio to distract guards, and grab the burner phone.
- Head northeast to the shipping yard and interact with container 76.
- Survive the ambush — this is a License to Kill moment, so kill all enemies freely.
- Collect $52,000 from the buyer and complete the Art Lover challenge.
What Is the Scorpius Deal?
The Scorpius Deal is an optional sub-objective in The Past Never Dies, the fourth main mission of 007 First Light. When Bond and Greenway arrive at the Aleph black market in Mauritania, they need to raise $100,000 for the auction entry fee. The Scorpius Deal is one of six ways to earn money in the market — and it has one of the biggest single payouts at $52,000.
Bond discovers that the Scorpius mercenary group has arranged a secret art deal. He then steps in to replace them as the seller and collect the payment himself. It is a mix of stealth and combat, and it also unlocks the Art Lover challenge in the mission’s challenge list.
If you are going for the full $140,000 to complete the Show Me the Money challenge, the Scorpius Deal is a key step. See our guide on how to collect 140k in the market for the full money route.
Where to Start the Scorpius Deal
After the cutscene where Bond and Greenway are told about the $100,000 auction fee, descend the ramp into the Aleph black market. Once you are at the bottom, follow the left-hand wall. You will find three soldiers standing near some containers. Walk close and eavesdrop on their conversation.
They will be talking about a deal and mention a burner phone. After the eavesdrop ends, one of the guards will be marked. Follow that guard — he will lead you toward the off-limits area under the stairs where the Scorpius compound is located. This is where the Scorpius Deal begins.
Step 1 — Get Past the Entrance Guard
At the entrance to the Scorpius compound, there is a guard blocking the door. You need to slip past him without raising an alert. You have a few options depending on your loadout:
- Hack the TV nearby using the Q-Lens to distract him, then walk to the left of the door to slip past.
- Activate the generator on the right side to draw him away.
- Use the Dart Phone to daze him directly.
- Use the Laser Strap to create an environmental distraction.
Any of these work. Pick whichever fits your current gadget loadout. Once he is distracted, slip inside.
Step 2 — Navigate the Compound in Stealth
Once inside, you are trespassing — stay in stealth the whole time. Move forward and climb a crate on the left side of the room. On top of the crate, look right. You will see a hatch. Open it to find a set of stairs leading up to the top floor of the warehouse.
Continue to the right once you are upstairs. You will reach a big open room. Navigate toward the back of the room, above the whiteboard. There is a radio on the table below. Hack it to distract the nearby guards.
While they are distracted, vault over the ledge and drop down. The burner phone is right there — pick it up. Then simply walk back out the same way you came in, as if nothing happened.
Stealth Tips for the Compound
- Do not engage guards directly if you want to keep pacifist and ghost challenges intact.
- The Q-Lens helps you see guard positions through walls before you move into a room.
- Climbing the crate and using the upper path is the cleanest route — it avoids most guards entirely.
- If a guard spots you, back out and wait for the alert to drop before continuing.
For more on using disguises inside this area, see the Scorpius Disguise — Soldier Boy Challenge guide, which covers how to grab the Scorpius uniform during this same infiltration.
Step 3 — Return to the Eavesdrop Point
After grabbing the burner phone, head back to the area near where you eavesdropped in Step 1. You will now need to get through to the shipping yard where container 76 is located. There are two options to get past the guards here:
- Lure the guards away using a distraction gadget.
- Speak to the shopkeeper on the left and tell him you want Smoke Grenades — this turns his back, letting you pass.
Either approach works cleanly without alerting anyone.
Step 4 — Reach the Shipping Yard and Container 76
Head northeast from the Scorpius area. As you approach the shipping yard, you will see two paths to get in:
- If you have the Laser Strap — use it on the locked gate on the right.
- If you have the Phone Dart — use it on the watcher on the left to distract him and slip through.
Once inside, find container 76 at the back of the area. Interact with it to locate the art. This triggers the next phase of the deal.
Step 5 — Survive the Ambush (License to Kill)
As soon as you interact with container 76, armed Scorpius guards arrive. This is a License to Kill moment — the game gives you permission to fight back. You will not fail any ghost or pacifist challenges by killing these enemies, so do not hold back.
Take out all the enemies. Use your preferred combat approach — close quarters, gadgets, or firearms all work here. Once the area is clear, the buyer will appear. Speak with him to complete the transaction and collect your $52,000.
Art Lover Challenge — What It Is and How to Complete It
The Art Lover challenge is one of the 23 challenges in The Past Never Dies. It is tied directly to completing the Scorpius Deal. There is no separate step — finishing the deal from start to finish is all it takes to unlock it.
Completing this challenge counts toward the full mission mastery of The Past Never Dies, which rewards the Mauritania outfit for TacSim mode. Check the full Past Never Dies challenges list to see what else you need for 100% completion.
Is the Scorpius Deal Worth Doing?
Yes — here is why:
- It pays $52,000, one of the biggest single payouts in the black market.
- It completes the Art Lover challenge automatically.
- The same infiltration also lets you grab the Scorpius Disguise, which helps with the Soldier Boy and Pacifist challenges.
- It is essential for anyone going for the Show Me the Money challenge ($140,000 total).
The route takes a bit more time than the Fight Pit or Cup Game, but the payout and the number of challenges it contributes to make it very much worth the effort.
Gadget Recommendations for the Scorpius Deal
The right gadgets make this entire section much smoother. Here is what works well:
- Phone Dart — great for distracting guards at both the entrance and the shipping yard.
- Laser Strap — alternative to the Phone Dart; opens the locked gate at the shipping yard.
- Q-Lens — use it constantly to scan for guard positions through walls before moving.
See the full gadgets list and our best gadget loadout guide before heading into this mission. If you need a fourth slot, check out how to get the 4th gadget slot.
Other Challenges in The Past Never Dies
The Scorpius Deal covers just one of 23 challenges in this mission. Here are more guides to help you complete the rest:
- How to Win the Cup Game (Cupped Challenge)
- Scorpius Disguise — Soldier Boy Challenge
- Classified Papers Challenge
- How to Get the Press Badge (Press Only Challenge)
- Joshua Pike Investigation
- Against the Odds Challenges
More 007 First Light Guides
- All Missions, Challenges, and Collectibles
- All the Time in the World — All Challenges
- A New Home — All Challenges
- How Long to Beat 007 First Light
- All Outfits in 007 First Light
- How to Change Outfits
- PC Requirements for 007 First Light
- Twitch Drop Rewards
- All Pre-Order and Deluxe Edition Items
- How to Get Intel Clearance Level
- How to Replay Missions
- How to Get and Use Compound Basement Keys
Hotel and Infiltration Guides
- Hotel Manager’s Safe — Wine Connoisseur Challenge
- Hotel Laundry Area Code
- Laundry Disguise Guide
- How to Get the Bellboy Hat
- Dining Room Puzzle Solution
- How to Enter Rooms 205, 206, and 207
Where to Buy 007 First Light
Get the game on your preferred platform:
The Scorpius Deal is one of those objectives that rewards patience. Eavesdrop first, stay in stealth through the compound, grab the burner phone cleanly, and get to container 76. The fight at the end is unavoidable — but that is the fun part. Complete it all and Bond walks away with $52,000 and the Art Lover challenge done. Not a bad afternoon’s work in a desert black market.
