After arriving at the hotel, the three of them had planned to head straight for the beach, rent a boat, and sail out to search for the isolated island.
As for why they did not simply fly there, first, although Arthur knew someone was trapped on the island, he did not know its exact location. Schools of fish could not convey information that detailed.
Second, from the air, they would be too far from the ground. There were many nearby islands, making it difficult to determine which one was their destination. And while Arthur was in the air, without contact with seawater, he could not listen to the information carried by the ocean. Searching by boat on the surface would actually be more efficient.
So, after landing in Seaside City, they prepared to head out by boat. Hal contacted an old friend and found a decent vessel. But when he returned with the news, he also brought another regrettable piece of information: he probably would not be able to join this island rescue trip.
"The friend I found is one of my uncles. I hoped he wouldn't tell my parents that I was back, but they found out anyway. They want me to go home." Hal's expression was somewhat complicated. Clearly, family issues had been the reason he left Seaside City before.
"My parents thought being a test pilot was too dangerous, so they forced me to change jobs..." Hal took a deep breath and said, "Or maybe it wasn't exactly forcing me. They just put too much pressure on me, and I had no other choice."
"Honestly, I've always been the rebellious one in my family. My cousins all chose very stable careers and stayed in Seaside City. When they heard I wanted to become a pilot, they thought