The players looked ready to erupt into another uproar.
Master of Open Stratagems hurried to stop them:
"Brothers, I know you're anxious, but don't be anxious. Hear me out."
That only brought more complaints.
"At a time like this, he's still cracking memes? Is there something wrong with his head?"
"If I ran into a troll like this in real life, I'd punch every one I saw."
"Commander, isn't this a bad time to joke around?"
"..."
Facing their doubts, Master of Open Stratagems could only give a dry laugh to ease his embarrassment.
"Ha! I was just trying to lighten the mood. Don't get anxious, brothers!"
"My plan is simple: send some of our elite fighters to reinforce the front."
"While providing support, they'll bring the NPC troops with them as they retreat toward Hidden Jun Village."
"Our main force will assemble outside Hidden Jun Village and use superior numbers to push our battle line forward."
"If the front retreats and our battle line advances, won't that shorten the distance between the two?"
As soon as Master of Open Stratagems finished, a chorus of "agreement" rose.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! That way, both ends can support each other. We could even trap the enemy in the middle and attack from front and rear."
"If the front and rear battle lines really get close together, gathering our forces and coordinating command will be easier, too."
"Once the distance between the two shrinks, the predicament will resolve itself. What a masterstroke."
"I wouldn't call it a masterstroke. It's just an ordinary tactical strategy that happens to work wonders."
"Tsk, tsk... someone's jealous. I won't say who!"
"As expected of Master of Open Stratagems. He really can think of solutions us ordinary people can't."
"..."
Amid the chorus of "praise," Master of Open