In the Black Boar inn, if you tell Louis it wasn't a big deal, back in the barracks the seekers will tell you about the stash as a thank-you for not getting them in trouble.
Even if you get the seekers sent on a punitive mission, the next time you see them (fighting a troll near Lovis' tower) if you are fast enough to talk to Merrill before they die, you can still get the quest, unlocking the hatch (presumably an oversight in the dialog system).
