Well, I would be more radical and quit the game.
has_item_equipped() exists on the lua API, so it's just make the dialogs, I think.

Ewald also talk differently on gamble game if Tux have a powerful weapon.

Why not implement it? it's just write a few code lines on dialog.

Ship it!! (But without stealing the weapon from tux, of course! It will just
lower the popularity of the game, in my opinion.)