Idle Money System
Chapter 125 - 125: Demanding Accountability

Gavin Gao, upon hearing this, became even more troubled, as his job was now in a very tight situation.

If he offended the owner of this car, he knew very well that he would have to say goodbye to his position.

However, if he chose to turn a blind eye, the endless criticism from the citizens would ruin his reputation, which could also lead to him being dismissed from his job.

He was in a dilemma after hearing the young man's statement, which had caused him so much trouble that he wished the man had simply stayed quiet and not revealed that information.

"Oh, and by the way, the price of the car is not even the most impressive part, but…" the young man said as he began calculating.

He pulled out his phone, quickly running the numbers, then continued speaking with an expression of awe.

"Let's assume that the base value when the owner bought this Bugatti was around ₱510 million, roughly nine million US dollars. Now, if you tried bringing that into the Philippines, here is what you would be dealing with," he explained as he began ticking off on his fingers.

"Import duty is 30%, so you are immediately slapped with around ₱153 million. Then there is VAT at about 12%, but not just on the car itself. It is calculated based on the total of the car price plus the import duty, which brings that tax to about ₱79.56 million. And we are not done yet."

He paused for thinking for a moment, then added, "Excise tax. Since it's a luxury car, that's 50% or even higher. So, let's say that's ₱255 million on top. Then you've got documentation and processing fees, which range around ₱50,000 to ₱100,000, plus registration and plate costs, maybe ₱15,000 or so."

He looked around, clearly enjoying the stunned expressions, "All in all, just the taxes and duties alone will cost you almost as much as the car itself."

His words caused shock among the people who were watching the scene.

They were all ecstatic to be there, recording the moment and witnessing it live for the first time.

The young man pointed out that seeing this car was extremely rare, as there were only ten of its kind in the world.

This highlighted how much of a luxury it truly was for anyone to even catch a glimpse of it.

"Damn, why are you adding more fuel to the fire," Gavin Gao muttered, frustrated that the problem was becoming worse and harder to handle.

The person behind this car was truly terrifying, the more he learned about it, the more regret filled him.

"Why did I even come here," he thought, wanting to cry but unable to do so.

His luck was incredibly bad. Gavin then glared at the young man who had caused him to know so much, thus giving him trouble and stress.

There's even the urge to kick him out of frustration.

As the pressure mounted and he felt like he was on the verge of a stroke, Gavin turned his eyes back to the car, desperately trying to find a way to solve the situation.

However, it was clear that the problem was far from over.

The young man leaned in slightly, his tone turning serious. "And let me tell you this, money alone will not be enough to bring that car into the country. You would also need powerful government connections."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "The owner of this car seems to have very strong ties with influential people."

He tapped his temple with one finger and said, "First of all, customs clearance is not easy. You cannot just roll a ₱500 million car through customs as if it were an ordinary delivery. High-value imports like that immediately raise red flags."

He continued, "The Bureau of Customs will scrutinize every detail, and if even a single piece of paperwork is missing or incorrect, that car could be delayed, heavily taxed, or even seized outright."

"And that is why your paperwork has to be absolutely flawless. There is no room for error when you are importing something of this scale."

He started counting on his fingers as he listed them one by one.

"You will need import permits, complete tax declarations, vehicle compliance documents, LTO clearances, and even DENR emission certificates. Yes, even if you have no plans to drive it. The government does not care if it is just for display. If it is entering the country, it must go through the full process."

He gave a knowing look, like someone who had seen what happens behind the scenes.

"One mistake, and you are either delayed for months or, worse, you will never see the car again."

He gave a small shrug, his tone dipping into something more casual, though the seriousness in his voice remained.

"But let's be real here. Unless you have special treatment, the whole process will not take forever."

"Powerful people, the kind who have connections with government officials, brokers, and even a few inside customs, do not go through the same struggle. Those connections reduce friction. They fast-track approvals, avoid long waiting periods, and prevent the so-called convenient errors that usually delay the process."

He paused, letting the implication sink in, "Sometimes, that is the only way to avoid ridiculous delays or an inflated valuation that could make you pay twice as much as you should."

Then he leaned back, arms crossed.

"And do not forget, a car like that puts you directly under a spotlight. Media, politicians, tax authorities. They are all watching if you do not have someone backing you, or at least shielding you, you might end up audited, investigated, or worse, made an example of."

His voice lowered, carrying more weight.

"Buying the car is just the first show of power. Getting it into the country without a single issue? That is the real power play."

"Are there any more words?!" Gavin Gao's eyes were red with frustration as he snapped at the young man.

The young man simply sighed and waved his hand, "I have nothing left to say."

"But uncle, if you are planning to tow this kind of car, even a single scratch could cost a fortune. On top of that, dealing with the owner will bring even more trouble. Honestly, I think leaving it right where it is might be the smarter choice."

Gavin Gao, hearing this, truly wanted to take that option as well, but reality was cruel. The crowd wanted to witness drama and see justice served without bias.

If they truly treated every person the same, regardless of whether they were rich or not, the people would be satisfied. However, if they failed to do so, a much bigger problem was sure to arise.

Since he had been working in towing for five months and everything was recorded, Gavin knew that if he let this car go, especially one belonging to an influential person.

The higher-ups would surely put all the blame on him. There was literally no way out.

Just as the young man finished speaking, the other people in the crowd began to voice their concerns.

"But is the law not supposed to be above everyone? Are you really going to let the car owner leave with just a warning?" one person from the crowd called out.

"Yeah, this is unfair! We want justice. Go ahead and tow that car to the impounding area!" another one added.

"Just because he's rich doesn't mean he's above the rules!" someone shouted from the back.

"If this was any of us, our bikes would've been towed on the spot!"

"Equal treatment! If you bend now, it means the system's only for the poor!"

"Five months of towing and now you hesitate because it's someone powerful?"

"We've had enough of special treatment, just do your job, sir!"

"Record this! Make it viral if they let that owner go!"

"He parks where he wants and expects a handshake? Hell no!"

Gavin's heart pounded as the voices layered, louder and sharper with every second.

It wasn't just about the car anymore it had become a symbol. And the people? They weren't asking for drama. They were demanding accountability.