your questions regarding the game rules (improving the interpretation).

If I were judging, I would rule it a loss

2.6. Zone transitions.
2.6.1. To move from one zone to another through a specific passage, it is necessary to eliminate the guard of that passage.
2.6.6. It is allowed to penetrate into neighboring zones using Angel Wings, the spells Town Portal and Fly, without destroying the guard.

Map settings options, expansions and differences in game rules for popular templates
3. Jebus Cross template:
To exit your zone into the central treasure zone (zone 5), as well as to move from the central treasure zone into other zones, you must break the corresponding guard obstacle.
- Transition between zones using the Angel Wings artifact and the spells Fly and Town Portal is allowed:
a) between any of zones 1-4 and the central zone 5, if the guard obstacle of any passage between the corresponding zones has been broken;

The rules clearly state this point, and I am puzzled that many players interpret this situation as being within the rules.
Having control, before breaking the guard obstacle on Jeb, does not give the right to fly along any trajectory, even the shortest and most convenient one.
How much he flew over the treasure zone and how many tiles he scouted is completely irrelevant, since we do not have penalties for violations specified in the rules.
A simple real-life example - exceeding the speed limit by 5 km/h or by 100 km/h is still a violation, but the penalty is different.
The correct action for a judge in this case = to identify the violation, require compliance within the rules, and impose a penalty. We are playing with a chess clock now; I suggest for minor rule violations - penalizing with the clock. I disagree with Gomunguls that a technical loss should be assigned for such a violation.