□p>As the sea□c□ continu□d,□cryptic clu□s started to em□□ge,□□□ding another layer □f intrigue to □he case□ S□mbols□c□rved□i□to trees□ stran□e□markings on rocks, an□ cryptic notes lef□ b□hind only dee□e□ed the mystery su□ro□ndi□g the missing nine.□Were□these□clues□□ntentionally left b□hind□ or w□re th□□ s□mply a p□□duct of the□gro□p'□ parano□a□and □nraveling □tate □□□mind?