<□>□s the sea□ch□continue□,□□ryptic clue□ sta□ted t□ e□□□ge, adding anothe□ layer of intrigue to □he cas□.□□ym□o□s carved□into□tree□,□strang□ markin□s on ro□□s, and cryptic notes lef□ behi□d only □e□p□ned the mystery□surr□unding the missi□g nine. Were these □lue□ inten□ionally le□t behind, □□ w□re they□si□ply a pr□du□t of the gr□up's□p□r□noia and unravel□ng state o□□mind?□>□