The Scattered Cargo is a Seafront side quest that’s available more or less as soon as Nier Replicant transitions to Part 2. Players are tasked with tracking down three crates of shipwrecked cargo for an elderly woman – albeit under the request that they never look inside.
Nier Replicant does a surprisingly good job at concealing its Scattered Cargo, but they’re actually all hidden in plain sight. In fact, it should only take a few minutes to collect it all - as soon as you know what you're doing, that is!
Updated on April 3, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: The Scattered Cargo may seem like just another run-of-the-mill side quest. Yet, like many of Nier Replicant's finest bits, it conceals a surprising degree of intrigue. That said, it can also frustrate players who don't know where to look to resolve the ordeal. We've taken the opportunity to reformat this guide a bit, so the answers are yours that much faster.
Village Cargo
The first piece of Scattered Cargo can actually be found right inside the player’s home village. From your house, exit the garden and keep to the brick wall on the left. Follow the path forward, but walk down the hill away from the marketplace and towards the river.
The Scattered Cargo will be right on the riverbank next to the hillside. Examining the crate will prompt the player to either open it up or leave it unexamined.
Whether you look inside the cargo fundamentally changes how the quest plays out.
Nier will try to argue that the client only asked for the cargo to be delivered – not pilfered – while Weiss' curiosity begs that they open the crate just in case. Opening the Scattered Cargo reveals that the woman who gave you the job is smuggling what appears to be poisonous flowers which have been concocted into an illegal drug, according to Grimoire Weiss.
Regardless of whether you choose to open the Scattered Cargo, leave town through the Southern Gate and make your way to Seafront.
Seafront Cargo
The next piece of Scattered Cargo can be found at Seafront where the NPC handed out the quest. In Part 1 and the original Nier, Seafront remained more or less exactly the same between generations – in stark contrast to every other area in the game which features some significant status quo shift.
Nier Replicant remedies this fact by including a shipwreck on the beach where you originally fished for Shaman Fish.
Head to the shipwrecked beach and the Scattered Cargo will be all the way down the coastline by the ship itself. Like before, you’ll be prompted whether to actually open the cargo. As with before, Nier and Weiss will have conflicting views on whether to go through their client's merchandise.
Opening the cargo reveals that the woman is also smuggling a substance which smells suspiciously like explosives. Nier and Weiss both come to the conclusion that the woman is up to no good, but stick to their quest.
Northern Plains Cargo
From Seafront, head all the way back to the Village and exit out the North Gate into the Northern Plains. The final piece of cargo is on the lowest level of the plains where the bridge leading to the Junk Heap is. Shades will likely spawn, but they can be quickly dispatched.
Once they’re killed, head to the shoreline and the Scattered Cargo will be wading in water. Examining the final cargo reveals that the woman was also smuggling fine white powder and unlabeled bottles.
With so much information at hand, you can choose to turn the items in to the authorities - or continue to help as requested. Both choices have their own rewards...
Choosing Your Reward
While reporting the cargo at the Post Office will net players a handsome 50,000 Gold payout, delivering the cargo earns you 20,000 Gold, a 20 percent discount at the Seafront Item Store, and the ability to purchase Recovery Potions, Strength Capsules, Magic Capsules, Defense Capsules, and Spirit Capsules.
The former might be the morally correct options (and has a more immediately desirable outcome), but the story discount really pays off. Not just that, being able to buy Capsules at Seafront makes getting through Hard mode so much easier, as these items aren't widely available otherwise.
Since your reward transfers over to repeat playthroughs, make sure to deliver the Scattered Cargo as promised.