A: No. Saves are in Documents\Activision\TASM2\ . However, if you switch between cracked and legit versions, the save path may change.
Sometimes security software quarantines steam-api.dll .
Because this file acts as a bridge for licensing, many antivirus programs (including Windows Defender) flag it as a "False Positive" and delete it.
This Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file allows the game to access essential Steam features, including: User Authentication : Verifying your ownership of the game. Social Features