Eve's hidden power

"Dear… I might have some bad news."

Even now I still couldn't really figure out what Makay deal was in the end. The fact that he managed to make me wish to visit that City of Immortals he mentioned alone could serve as a contribution to his persuasive abilities. Yet, if he was capable of achieving so much with just words, then what was the entire duel that he insisted off about?

Was it just an attempt to gauge my strength? Was this some sort of test with meaning way different to what he openly claimed? Or maybe it was nothing else but just his wits and reliance of the system that pushed the lord to act in this way?