As for pointing and laughing because Lapha can only control Sydney's "tiny body"... Ask that mugger how underestimating Sydney went for him. She's pretty feisty once sufficiently angered, and capable of unpleasant innovations even without using the orbs. Like the tongue-lever throw.
Ask him about what? He was a hero in disguise, so he was treating Sydney a lot softer than one might expect.
And then caught off guard by Sydney's toxic breath. Fact remain though that Sydney is something like 50 kg at most.
Without any noteworthy degree of martial training.

So no. Point and laugh is absolutely a valid response.

Just now Lapha blurted a secret most dangerous for Sydney - Nth technology will obviously be of interest to many parties that may or may not be above kidnapping or killing their target with significant collateral damage.
Part of keeping a secret is making sure people dont know there is a secret.
So pretty likely Harem didnt know that fresh recruit Sydney knew anything of critical importance.