If you have been given a squawk(not 7000) then they must have your details.They could have said" cleared zone transit FL55" as easily as "standby".... Not being very helpful really.
Perhaps you could have said" approaching zone boundary,confirm cleared zone transit" cheeky , yes but they weren't being helpful either. It seems some atc's have a reputation for being less helpful than others when transits are requested.
Quadrantals don't apply descending/climbing.