These people live in a dog-eat-dog world. They collect information on each other and keep it in cold storage until the opportunity arises to use it. They are pretend friends to each other. In a world of real power politics, one does not have friends, only enemies and lackeys that one has power over.
In order to get to positions of power, these people have done whatever it takes. Corruption rules supreme. They have bought and sold information on each other. They have stolen assets and killed those who get in their way. They live in a literal world of hate. The games they play are real. The end up living for the game.
In this world you answer to whoever has information on your crimes (i.e. more power). As with the red shoes brigade, if you don't commit crime you don't get anywhere. You also have nil respect. The moment the opportunity arises to take out the boss of you, you must take it. Otherwise someone else will.
These people may not believe in God, but they do believe in witches and wizards. The power of sorcery exists. In modern terms it's called NLP. The techniques of deep sorcery are not given up easily. This is why these people employ witches and wizards to do their bidding.
This anon speculates that if you are a power player who is also a sorcerer, then you're at the top of the tree.