@Nogoodimaginativename It makes things legally messy if serious bodily harm is done. If she had taken the title that her superior wanted to give her then she could get away with it, but even then it's also about personal morals and dignity. I don't think she's the type to cut down those significantly weaker than her if non-lethal pacification is an option, and believe me if they went down that easily then they are weaker than ants beneath her boots.
With that said, I personally think she had every right to cut the thugs down and the debt collector since they attacked her and her brother. It'd be considered self-defense. However, she unfortunately doesn't have enough influence within the town to defend herself if she does(since it's clear few people know of her accomplishments in this town based on how everyone thus far is treating her), so this was the wiser, albeit more frustrating, path to take.