The letter that Socrates pointed to bore the letterhead of 'Safe N Sound Security Agency' emblazoned across the top in bold, official-looking script. Matilda picked it up and read aloud:

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"Dear Valued Customer,

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Thank you for your purchase of the Uncrackable 5000™! Your new safe features:

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• Military-grade Magicks Proofing (protects against Magic, Magick and Magicks)

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• Anti-Basilisk Gaze Shielding

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• Dragon Fire Rated (up to 2000°C)

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Please find your unique access code below. For security purposes, we've encoded it in verse. Memorise it and destroy this letter immediately:

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First are fish swimming free

Across the bottom of the sea

Second are valuable

Precious as can be

Third, magnetic

Extremely lonely

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Best regards, Safe N Sound Security Agency"

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Matilda looked up from the letter, her brow furrowed. "That's weird. Why would they put the safe combination in a poem?"

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"Maybe it's supposed to be easier to remember?" Eric suggested, though he sounded uncertain.

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Tim crossed their arms, staring at the letter. "Fish swimming free at the bottom of the sea... valuable and precious... magnetic and lonely?" They shook their helmeted head. "I haven't got the foggiest idea what that's supposed to mean."

Socrates chittered thoughtfully on Tim's shoulder, his antennae waving as if trying to work it out.

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"It must be some kind of riddle," Matilda said, examining the safe and glancing around the room.