Indeed. I suspect that the leaders of the modern assassins are really religious skeptics who believe in nothing except power.
I am now reminded of a tale told by the travel writer Paul Theroux...paraphrased from memory...
Paul came across an afghan fellow on a ferry. He asked him who he was and where he came from. The man said he was afghani and lived in the mountains. He killed and robbed travellers as a mode of life...he had only come down from his abode for medical treatment.
And what will you do, when you return to your home, Paul asked him.
Rob people and kill them, the afghan replied.