Vegapunk saying that the war was between ideologies makes me hopeful that it’s something irreconcilable, but shonen manga do love to do that shit

Eh maybe. But at this point its been reiterated that this joyboy was a figure associated with liberation. And even after the void century its implied heavily that the ruling class which won needs its slavery intact and the military stranglehold intact.

The chapter said it was a faction including the kingdom. The way punk puts it about conflicting ideology says more about him. And throughout this arc he is consistently implied to be a useful idiot to the elders and a very naive person who doesn’t think much of ramifications that will drag him sooner.