<□>As th□ sea□□h co□□in□ed, □r□ptic□clue□ □tarted to emerge□ ad□ing anoth□r layer of intr□gue t□ th□□case. Symbols□carved int□ tre□s, strang□ ma□ki□gs□on □ock□□□and cryptic□notes□le□t□behind on□y deepe□ed□th□□myster□ surrou□di□g the m□ss□ng nine□ Were t□□se c□ues□intentionally left behi□d, or were they simply□□ product of the gro□p's pa□anoia and□unrave□ing s□ate of m□nd?<□p>