Hi, let's see I can coherently explain something that just happened to me, out of the ordinary.
Background:
I've been taking my npc out 2x in a row, with the exception of one time where I went twice right before 12 midnight jpn time and then right afterwards got a new pearl and then went out again. Of course I then had to wait 20 hrs to again use that pearl, and then drop it and repeat the process.
So today something different happened.
Its 9am est (or 10pm jpn time) and I was just told by Zen that I couldnt get another pearl after returning from my first of two trips with me this cycle.
Ok, that never happened before. I see the pearl option, but can't get it. Have they updated this? Maybe not.
So here is what I think has happened. And I never ran across it just because, well of when I play.
20 hrs ago (+ the 45 minute outing) I finished my 2nd of two outings. So that was - um.. 5 am est. (Yes I went to bed late, but its the weekend and your not my mother - j/k).
20 hrs before that would have been, um.. 1am est.
20 hrs before that would have been, well, 10am est.
20 hrs before that would have been, 6am est
I believe that a cycle has to be completed before we can get the second pearl. I believe that it has to be after 12 midnight jpn time (11am est)
During my normal course of playing I never ran into it, because I always ended going out the second time beyond the cycle. I even have taken him out 3x in a row, like I said, when it was right before jpn midnight.
So, if I haven't confused you (and I apologize cause I'm trying to figure this out and want your help in understanding this), I think that while we can take out our npc after 20 hours, for the second time, in order to get the new pearl, it has to be 24 hours since we dropped it last, or in relation to midnight jpn time.
I'll have to experiment somemore with this. But getting around it is easy, just have to schedule your outings in a way that allows you to get the second pearl right after. (An actual 24 hr period or near japan midnight.
I apologize if I've confuse anyone, and I'll come back and edit this for clarification perposes once I get some helpful feedback.