The girl's boldness surprised Alex. He slowed down, trying to catch his breath. "Why did you steal it?" he asked, curiosity overcoming his frustration.
"It was a dare," she replied, shrugging. "I needed to prove I'm the fastest thief in Fenghua!"
"Fast doesn't mean good. You could get in serious trouble!" Alex warned, his tone shifting from confrontation to concern.
"Please! You think I'm scared of a bunch of grumpy merchants?" she laughed, her confidence infectious. "I'm Lila, by the way. What's your name?"
"Alex," he said, still wary. "But if you keep stealing, you'll end up with more than just a bad reputation."
Lila's smile faded a little. "Maybe… but I have my reasons. Sometimes, you do what you must to survive."
Before Alex could respond, Lianhua and the others caught up to him, breathless. "What's going on?" Lianhua asked, eyeing Lila suspiciously.
"I was just… uh… explaining the importance of not stealing," Alex stammered, glancing between them.
"I didn't ask for your lecture!" Lila shot back, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Let's focus," Lianhua interjected. "We need information about the Shadow Warlord. Do you know anything?"
Lila hesitated, her expression shifting. "Maybe… but it'll cost you. Information doesn't come for free."
"What do you want?" Mei asked, intrigued despite her reservations.
"I want to join your little adventure!" Lila proposed, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I know this town better than anyone, and I can help you find the right people."
"Join us? Just like that?" Wei questioned, skeptical.
"I'll even return what I stole," Lila offered, raising her hands innocently. "What do you say?"