The Throne Conference in Lordaeron had ended, but Rhode, as the "Alliance Chief Economic Executive," still could not clock out. He had to stay behind and offer advice on specific policies for putting their plans into practice.
Of course, he had little say in what each nation should plant on its land. He did not know enough about local food crops to go around giving blind instructions.
So he focused on two areas: economic exchange and herb cultivation.
Economic exchange was simple. The nations could not erect trade barriers or practice local protectionism. They needed to exchange what they had for what they lacked and develop their economies together.
Rhode specifically mentioned black lotus, a high-grade herb, hoping that every nation would actively seek it out and purchase it, then ship it to Southshore. He would buy as much as they could supply.
According to Mrs. Dorothy Egan, Dalaran's Head Herbalist, this rare herb could not survive cultivation in farmland. It grew alongside other herbs in the wild, so people could only search for it and gather it.
Although Rhode had no use for black lotus yet, it was an ingredient in advanced Necromantic Potions. He still needed to stockpile some. It would certainly come in handy when they eventually launched their expedition to Northrend.
As for herb cultivation, Rhode and Mrs. Dorothy Egan simply distributed the fertilizer formula to every nation so that grave moss and ghost mushrooms could be grown everywhere.
The seeds for grave moss and ghost mushrooms would be distributed after Rhode returned home. After all, he could not possibly carry that much stuff on him.
Even after finishing all this work, Rhode did not immediately return to Southshore.
He went to Dalaran first with Antonidas and Mrs. Egan.
With an "old hand" like Antonidas around,