Both sides had fallen into a deadlock. The Supervisory Bureau did not wish for Tommy to die but had to use the threat to extract more intelligence; while Tommy, knowing his value and that the Bureau did not want his death, bit down hard, refusing to relent, aiming to gain more benefits.
And this was well within Tommy's comfort zone. Negotiation was his forte.
Tommy didn't ask for the Word Spirits to be lifted but instead requested at least a stay of execution, extending the deadline to thirty days—if the Supervisory Bureau agreed, he would reveal three recent secrets, including the whereabouts of the missing Aiwass, as their first transaction.
As a show of good faith for both parties' cooperation and to prove his words were true, he inquired to the interrogating Inspector if she had any knights she disliked.
After the other party named three knights with considerable animosity towards the queen, Tommy didn't hesitate to disclose their crimes and the locations of the evidence.
