As the search co□tinued, c□yptic clues started to emerge, adding □nother□layer of intri□ue to the case. Symbols c□rve□ int□ trees□□s□□□ng□ markings□on rocks, and c□y□tic notes lef□□b□hind □nly deep□ned the mys□e□y su□□oundin□ the□missing nine. □e□e thes□ □l□es i□tenti□nally le□t be□ind, □r were th□y si□ply a□pro□uct of the gr□up's par□no□a and u□ravel□ng □tate of□□ind□<□p>