As th□ search continu□d□ cr□pti□□clues st□rted to emerge, adding anothe□ l□y□r□of in□rigue to□th□□case. Symb□□s carve□ □□to tre□s, s□ra□g□ markin□s on □□□ks, and c□□pt□c n□tes □eft□behin□ o□ly deepened□the mystery surr□undin□ the missing nine. Were □h□se clues □nten□i□nally left behin□, □r □ere th□y□□im□ly a□product of t□□ group's□p□ra□oia and unr□vel□ng st□te of mind?