□p>As the search contin□ed, cry□tic □□ues st□rte□ to emerge, add□ng another□layer of in□r□gue □o the□case. Symbol□ carv□□ into t□ees□ str□nge □arking□ o□ ro□ks□ an□ cryptic no□□s□l□ft □eh□nd only de□p□□ed t□□ my□tery surrounding the missing□nine. Wer□ □h□se □l□es inte□tionally left behind, or were they simply a produ□t of t□e □roup'□□paranoia and u□ra□eling state of mind?