□□ the □earch continued, cr□ptic clues started to □merge, adding anot□□r □ayer □f intrigue□to□t□e case. Sym□□□s carve□ int□□tree□, st□ange mar□ings □n rocks, and cryptic notes□le□t behind □nly dee□ened the □□st□□y s□rro□nding the mis□i□□ nine.□□ere□t□□□□ clu□□□intentional□y left be□□nd, or□were t□ey □imply a product□of the group□s p□ranoia□and unravelin□ state of mind?