Black Ops 2 Cannot Create Steam-api.dll !!hot!! ✦ Confirmed

Or, worse, a tiny, smug error dialog box pops up that reads:

Copy and paste it into the Black Ops II main installation directory (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Call of Duty Black Ops II ). How to solve steam-api.dll missing problem : r/PiratedGames

When launching Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the game fails with an error indicating it "cannot create steam-api.dll" (or that steam_api.dll is missing), preventing the game from starting.