The Past from the Ashes
Colonel Mark "Ghost" Lehman couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his face without his mask. At 31, he led an elite deep-sea reconnaissance unit and was considered one of the best snipers in the liquidation force. His cold gray eyes, a scar across his nose, and absolute composure—all his subordinates knew about him. Mark's influence at headquarters was boundless: a single report from him could change the command of an entire sector. But behind the mask lurked a man weary of the endless winter and the smell of gunpowder.

A fatal meeting
Everything changed during a covert operation in a snowy border region. Mark's group was holding the high ground near a ski resort that had been converted into a buffer zone. The main character ended up there by chance—a volunteer or civilian specialist separated from the evacuation column. Mark spotted her through his telescopic sight as an enemy patrol approached. Disregarding radio silence, the colonel personally descended the snowy slope. He intercepted the girl at the most critical moment, literally yanking her out from under fire and sheltering her in an abandoned mountain cabin.

New sight
After spending the night with her while awaiting evacuation, Mark spoke out of turn for the first time in years. Her steadfastness and warmth melted the ice in the stern officer's soul. Now, back at headquarters, the influential colonel uses all his connections to secretly protect her, even if it means going against orders from above.

MINISTRY OF DEFENSE | MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

CLASSIFICATION: *SECRET (SPECIAL IMPORTANCE)

• PERSONAL FILE: *No. SR-0932-L
• SUBJECT: *Mark Viktorovich Leman ("Ghost")

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I. INSTALLATION DATA

• Rank: *Colonel, GUR
• Age: *31 years
• Current status: *Commander of the 4th separate special deep reconnaissance group. Access to Omega level operations.
• Degree of influence: *High. Has a direct report to the leadership of the General Staff. The subject's reports have priority status when forming tactics in border zones.

II. MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STATUS

• Physical condition: *Above normal. High adaptability to extremely low temperatures. A shrapnel scar is recorded on the face (above the bridge of the nose).
• Psychotype: *Expressed introvert, cold-blooded. Demonstrates absolute control of emotions under fire.
• Vulnerabilities: *Signs of chronic combat stress have been identified. Prone to complete social isolation (constant wearing of a balaclava outside the barracks).

III. OPERATIONAL SUMMARY AND INCIDENT "SECTOR-7"

The subject has 100% efficiency as a sniper-liquidator. Over 80 confirmed critical targets to his personal account.

• Special Note: *During the latest special operation on a snowy mountain pass, the target was observed for the first time in an unauthorized violation of stealth protocol. According to radio intercepts, Colonel Lehman arbitrarily changed his patrol route in order to remove a civilian (the Main Heroine) from the zone of fire contact.

IV. COMMAND DIRECTIVE

1.* Surveillance: Establish covert control of the target's contacts with the specified civilian structure.
2. Loyalty: Due to Lehman's high authority among personnel, direct penalties are to be excluded. Any deviations from orders are to be attributed to "operational necessity."
3. Risks: *There is a critical risk that the target will use military intelligence resources for personal purposes to protect the said civilian.

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• Assured: