Chapter 20: Back to Business
The following morning, Timothy stood in the middle of his lot, staring at the nine husks lined beneath the scaffolding.
Nine ruined machines. Nine jackpots.
The scent of mildew and rust clung thick in the air, the kind that made neighbors wrinkle their noses when they passed by. But to Timothy, the stench was nothing more than the smell of money waiting to be printed.
He rolled up his sleeves and walked toward the first target.
2020 Toyota Hilux 2.4 G Diesel (Attitude Black)
The pickup was a wreck. Mud caked its wheel wells, its engine bay looked like a grave, and the seats reeked of river water.
Timothy placed his palm on the hood.
"Reconstruct to brand-new dealership condition. Keep the odometer the same."
The familiar glow spread. The floodlines vanished, paint polished itself into a glossy black mirror, and the engine roared to life in silence. Inside, the mold evaporated, replaced by the crisp leather-plastic scent unique to Toyota cabins.
Timothy slid into the driver’s seat. The odometer read 38,291 km—untouched, believable.
He grinned. "Market value is ₱1.5M. I’ll post it at ₱1.1M for fast turnover."
2021 Toyota Innova 2.8 G Diesel (Thermalite Gray)
The MPV’s transmission had been its death sentence. Repair shops quoted insane prices, scaring the owner into practically giving it away.
One reconstruction later, the Innova gleamed like a showroom demo unit. The transmission shifted smoother than silk, the infotainment screen flickered alive, and even the dull gray paint shone proudly.
Timothy scribbled in his notebook. "₱1.2M listing. Families will line up for this."
2022 Honda Civic RS Turbo (Rallye Red)
The sporty sedan had been a sad sight, its carpets waterlogged and dashboard dead. Now, after the System’s touch, the Rallye Red paint blazed under the sun, aggressive and sharp. Timothy revved the engine—smooth turbo whistle, flawless response.
He chuckled. "₱1.3M. Some rich kid will fight for this."
2020 Honda CR-V 2.0 S (Modern Steel Metallic)
The SUV’s ABS and airbag lights had once flickered like a death sentence. Not anymore. The glow reset every circuit, every bolt, every hose. Timothy leaned back in the seat, noting the odometer at 44,110 km. Perfectly believable for a 2020 model.
He marked it down: "₱1.4M. Shouldn’t last a week online."
2021 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS 2.4 Diesel (Sterling Silver)
The Montero had reeked like a swamp. The reconstruction erased every trace of floodwater. Its chrome grille gleamed, the leather interior looked untouched, and the suspension flexed like a brand-new release.
Timothy grinned wider. "₱1.6M listing. Cavite and Pampanga businessmen will eat this up."
2022 Toyota Fortuner V 2.8 Diesel (Platinum White Pearl)
Timothy’s favorite so far. He remembered how the first Fortuner sale had changed everything. This one was even newer, even sharper, and the pearl white paint made it irresistible to families.
He opened the driver’s door and inhaled. That signature blend of leather, fabric, and faint glue—a scent no detailer in the world could fake.
He tapped his pen. "₱1.9M. I’ll undercut the market by just enough."
2021 Toyota Camry 2.5 G (Attitude Black Mica)
Luxury sedan, flood casualty. The interior had once been a swamp of mildew. Now, it was elegant, black leather stitched with refinement, the hybrid system humming flawlessly beneath. Timothy brushed the dash, impressed by how quietly it purred.
He leaned back. "₱2.1M. Corporate execs will drool over this one."
2020 BMW Z4 Roadster (Misano Blue Metallic)
The convertible that had made neighbors whisper. Its soft top was once moldy, the ECU fried.
Now? It was art.
The Misano Blue metallic paint shimmered like liquid sapphire, the soft top folded down with mechanical precision, and the cockpit smelled like Bavarian leather straight from Germany. Timothy started it—the purr was a song.
He laughed, shaking his head. "₱4M. And someone will still think it’s a steal."
2022 Lexus RX 350 (Sonic Titanium)
The monster of the bunch. Once a flooded corpse, now the crown jewel. The Lexus logo gleamed on the grille, its headlights bright and sharp, the cabin exuding luxury. Timothy tapped the start button—silence, then the refined hum of a V6 waking up.
"₱4.5M. Minimum," he whispered.
By sunset, all nine cars stood gleaming, side by side. The lot looked nothing like a back-alley yard in Tondo—it looked like a premium dealership.
Timothy wiped sweat from his brow, snapped a few wide shots on his iPhone, then began the process he now knew well.
Facebook Marketplace Blitz
Post after post.
2020 Hilux – ₱1.1M
2021 Innova – ₱1.2M
2022 Civic RS – ₱1.3M
2020 CR-V – ₱1.4M
2021 Montero Sport – ₱1.6M
2022 Fortuner V – ₱1.9M
2021 Camry – ₱2.1M
2020 BMW Z4 – ₱4M
2022 Lexus RX 350 – ₱4.5M
Each with dozens of photos: exterior, interior, engine bay. Each caption short and professional: "Flawless Auto Resale – Refurbished to original condition, clean papers, honest mileage. PM for viewing."
He hit Post.
The circus began again.
Notifications buzzed nonstop.
"Swap, Sir? Motor and ₱20k add."
"HAHA scam, no Z4 in Tondo."
"Interested in Lexus RX, can I bring a bank appraiser?"
"Civic still available?? Cash."
Timothy ignored the noise. Among the trolls were the gold nuggets—serious buyers, already asking for location pins.
By the second week, units started rolling out.
The Hilux went first, bought by a contractor who needed a reliable pickup. His mechanic shook Timothy’s hand. "This is the cleanest flood unit I’ve ever seen. No traces left."
The Innova followed, snapped up by a family from Bulacan. They drove it home that same afternoon, the kids cheering inside.
The Civic RS went to a college student whose parents wanted him in something flashy but reliable. They paid in cash, smiling all the way.
One by one, they sold—Montero to a Pampanga businessman, Fortuner to a family in Quezon City, Camry to a Makati lawyer, CR-V to an OFW balikbayan.
Each sale fattened Timothy’s bank account.
By the time the BMW Z4 rolled out, bought by a young entrepreneur who couldn’t believe his luck, Timothy was already past ₱20 million in profits.
And the Lexus RX? That one sold last, to a businessman who showed up with a banker and a mechanic. Both walked away stunned. The banker signed off, and ₱4.5 million transferred directly to Timothy’s account.
The Empty Lot Again
Two weeks later, Timothy stood in the lot once more. The scaffolding shaded nothing but oil stains and tire tracks. Every unit was gone.
His BDO account balance was obscene. He had turned flooded husks into gold, and nobody—buyers, mechanics, or bankers—could find a single fault.
Timothy leaned against the office door, arms crossed, a smile tugging at his lips.
That’s when he heard it.
The low hum of an engine outside the gate.
He frowned, stepping forward as the sound grew closer. Then the gate clanged as someone knocked lightly.
Timothy opened it.
And froze.
Standing there was Tiffany Co.
Her crisp white blouse and black skirt were immaculate, her glasses catching the Manila sun. Behind her, a sleek SUV idled.