They are still with us. Their actual identities are not really important. But what they have done certainly is. Over a long period of time they have built a system which now controls all or nearly all finance and commerce on the planet and they are continuing to improve the system. Before we continue, it's important to define some words.
Words used in a legal sense often mean something very different from their everyday meaning.
However, once you become involved with the system I'm describing, you have entered into a contract where your real purpose in life is considered to be fundamentally or essentially commercial in nature, and consequently every transaction you participate can be said to be a commercial transaction . And the exchange of ideas as well. Competent parties, subject matter, a legal consideration, mutuality of agreement, and mutuality of obligation. A contract does not even have to be written to be valid. For example, when you take a table in a restaurant and order a meal, you have an implied contract with that business to pay for the meal when you have finished it.