Zuko nods. "That's right. The Equalist revolution was put down by Avatar Korra. Yet there was still discontent with the way nonbenders' concerns had gone ignored for a long time, to which Republic City's council was abolished and replaced with an elected official: the President of the United Republic. Unfortunately, President Raiko is missing... and Republic City's citizens asked that I fill in during his absence. I'm retired, of course, so this is only a temporary measure.

"As for the vines and the spiritual activity you can see around the city, that is also Avatar Korra's work. During a battle with the spirit of chaos and darkness, Vaatu, the gateways between the human world and the spirit world were opened... and once the battle was over, Korra decided it was best to leave them open, and let spirits and humans learn to live together in peace. Unfortunately, the spiritual activity here recently has changed, however: people are being pulled to and from Republic City, from all manner of times and places, as you have been."

He pauses, to let him take all that information in. There have been enormous changes in the world as of late, now more than ever, but hopefully Iroh could follow that explanation so far.