one of my favorite palworld mechanics is only available on hardmode

when you die and drop your pals, or when your box is full and you leave your pals on the ground, there's a timer before they "despawn." despawn is in quotes, because they're not removed from the game: the timer is how long it takes for a black marketeer to grab them and force you to buy them back. it's so sadistic and cruel, but makes so much sense for this sadistic and cruel world.

it also has a pretty harrowing implication: black marketeers get their supplies not just from the syndicate, but from killing trainers and taking their pals.